Workshop helps students prepare for life after college

On April 6, students and alumni gathered to participate in an agenda packed schedule of informative future information for soon to be graduates.

The "Lets Get Professional" workshop had a full agenda from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a keynote speaker, Winston Jenkins, from Mannersmith Consulting. Followed by this polished, professional update was separate sessions with useful topics such as 'painless networking', 'debt management', 'graduate school' and an 'insiders guide to recruiting.'

Academic and Career adviser Christine King feels that workshops like this are very important to college students.

"These topics cover many of the things you need to know to make the transition smoother after graduating college," said King.

Although the first speech talked ineptly about the corporate and professional workforce, it still can provide resources and communication ideas for those of other career choices.

"No matter what your major is you could benefit from this type of experience," said King.

At the end, Jenkins asked students to write her a note saying one thing they learned.

Senior Amanda Reynolds said, "I learned things I didn't know, but I was annoyed throughout the whole thing. It was very superficial and it's sad we have to conform to the corporate world."

Annoying as it may be, professionalism is something you need to have in any work culture.

The debt management session run by Keene State College alumni Tori Berube left some feeling appreciative yet nervous. Berube, who works for the NHHEAF organization put debt management into perspective by highlighting on Stafford loans, Perkins loans, repayment, grace period, forbearance and loan forgiveness, all of which will be directly affecting our lives if not now in the very near future.

"Student loans build your credit history. It's just like a car payment or an apartment lease," said Berube.

Berube stressed that the credit and money decisions we make right now will be playing a major role in students' lives in the next seven years.

"In the next seven years you will be buying homes, raising families, or buying cars," said Berube.

The choices you make with your money right now affects the probability of that.

Coming in second after Washington D.C., New Hampshire students are finding themselves in major debt.

When asked about our states problem Berube said, "It's a touchy subject but tuition at state universities in New Hampshire lag behind what the rest of the country has in funding for higher education."

According to Berube, the average KSC student will graduate with $22,000 in debt with 10 years to pay it. If you go to graduate school the money will keep building interest from your undergraduate schooling.

Berube stressed the facts of knowing where your loans are and what's happening with your money at all times. She also explained how important it was to know your credit report.

"The average American's FICO score is 723 from a scale of 300-800," said Berube.

Credit reports are beginning to play an even bigger role in our lives with recent companies that take interest in your credit report and may even be looked at in the process of job hiring. Even simple things such as an unpaid $30 medical bill can affect your credit score.

Nine thousand dollars worth of credit card debt is what the average American is facing based on an 11-card carrier.

It's important now that you save money. Berube informed students that there was no penalty for making payments before loan repayment actually starts.

Paying ahead will decrease the total amount of interest that you pay on your loan and will help to repay your loan faster.

As of now, students are balancing school, social life and minimum wage paying jobs wondering how they are going to become successful in a society which is making hard to obtain high level working positions without a degree.

"Very few students can afford college on their own now a days. It's the families paying for higher education," said Berube.

If you have any other questions about debt management or how to check your credit report visit mappingyourfuture.org or annualcreditreport.com.