Applying to College vs. Applying to Jobs: My Perspective

As a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have been on both sides of the spectrum; applying for colleges and applying to jobs. The start of your college career will be marked by applications and so will the end of it — but you will go through big changes during this time period. Thinking about who I was when applying to colleges and who I am now while applying to jobs, I feel like a completely different person with vastly different interests and goals. For myself, it is not that surprising how much I have changed over the years. I have always pictured college, much like searching for your first job, to be a time marked by exploration and self-discovery. 

For myself, there were many overlaps between my experiences applying to colleges and applying to jobs, as well as some distinct differences that set them apart. So, what has my experience been like applying to college versus applying to jobs? How have I grown and developed since then? Let’s find out.

Who are you developmentally now vs then? How has this impacted your approach to the applications?

When I was first applying to colleges, I was not really taking the time to think about who I was and what I wanted out of a career and life. In my mind, I knew that college was the next step for me, so it was just a matter of getting accepted and enjoying the ride.

While I do not regret my carefree attitude when it came to applying to colleges, that approach helped me realize the importance of really understanding who you are and what your needs are when applying to colleges or jobs. Now, when applying to jobs, I like to not limit myself and apply anywhere I believe would be interesting. When it comes to final round interviews and weighing my options, I like to sit down and list out the pros and cons of each opportunity and potential path. I have learned that when the time comes you will know what is best for you and what job opportunity is the right path, something that I really did not consider when applying to colleges.

As carefree as I was, I hated applying to colleges. I hated rejection, feeling like I had little control, and I hated being disappointed. I learned throughout college and applying to jobs that having this mentality is not good for you. You have to pick yourself up and keep moving forward, something that I am truly happy I realize now at this point in my life. 

Was there a challenge trying to compress your achievements and accomplishments into such short applications? 

Yes, while applying to colleges and jobs. In both applications, you only have a limited amount of space to really showcase who you are as a person. When applying to colleges, I personally believe that you have more freedom to express who you are through the lengthy Common Application, your personal statement, recommendation letters, and potential supplement essays compared to applying to jobs. In some cases, you may even be able to speak with some colleges’ admissions office to help them not only better understand you but put a name to a face. While it still can be difficult to showcase yourself through an application, I truly believe that the process of applying to colleges gives you more opportunity to do so.

When you apply to jobs, you typically fill out a pretty standard application and submit a resume, which at this stage in your career should only be a page long. I always struggled with determining what should have a spot on my resume. I personally believe that what makes a “good” resume can be a little subjective, so I always struggled with making the most universally approved resume that will land me a job.

While both applying to colleges and jobs can be a challenge, trying to compress your achievements and accomplishments into such short applications, it is ultimately how you use the space provided to showcase your personality and character that truly stands out no matter how short the application.  

What are the things about yourself that you highlighted when applying to college then vs applying to jobs now?

When applying to college, I really focused on highlighting not only my writing skills but also my character. Since I was applying to major in English, I thought my college application was a good way to highlight my skills in the discipline. I also felt as though I expressed myself well through writing, so I put a lot of heart into my personal statement and I wanted that to shine through to the admissions offices of the colleges I was applying to.

Additionally, colleges, much like jobs, really want to see if you will be a good fit, so I found it really important to showcase who I was. I was able to really stress this through recommendation letters, my personal statement, and any supplement essays to really show the colleges I was applying to who I was and why I deserved to be there. 

When applying to jobs, I also really like to highlight my writing skills, personality, and experience. A solid resume is crucial when applying to jobs — this can really help determine whether or not you get pushed forward to a first-round interview. With this in mind, I like to use my resume to showcase my writing, experiences, and even my personality. I believe that you can still make your resume fun and exciting, and I think that goes a long way in the job process. 

How did you face the challenge of finding the "right place" (college/employer) and the "right thing" (major/career)? 

Facing the challenge of finding the right path for both college and your career can be difficult, especially at such a young age. For myself, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I truly wanted, while acknowledging what I want today might not be what I want in the future.

I think it is pretty unreasonable to be expected to plan that far ahead in high school for what you want to do with the rest of your life. I always made sure to remind myself that it was okay to change my path once I discovered myself more in college.

I think having this openness to changing your career path or major will help make your journey to discovering your interests, in not only in college but in your career, that much smoother. Also, it's important to take the time to really sit down and think about what you want out of life, in a job, or college, and really do some soul searching into what feels right for you. I know personally that taking this time to reflect often really helped me navigate through my interests in college and my career. 

How did the role of locations, friends and family impact your decision in where to apply?

Truthfully, this did not really impact my decision when It came to applying for colleges or jobs. I actually was pretty dead set on moving out of Massachusetts for college and likely my future career. For myself, I viewed this time in my life to be the best opportunity to explore what life was like in a new state. I already knew that I loved Massachusetts and that it would always be here waiting for me if I decided to come back.

As you can tell, I did end up staying in Massachusetts for college, which I do not regret. At UMass, I am a comfortable distance from my home and family. I can visit when I want but I also have some freedom with this distance.

I know a lot of people will base their decision on where to apply for jobs or colleges on the location of that opportunity, but personally I do not let the location of a place deter me from giving it a chance. Even when applying to jobs, I always apply to positions all over the United States. My mentality is that I would hate to limit myself from great opportunities just because it is somewhere far away. I do not want to live my life with regret for limiting myself. 

Did you face any pressure to pick the college or job with the best reputation, versus what's best for you?

To a certain extent I would say I did, especially when applying to colleges. In my mind it was all about name and prestige — this is what was going to set me up with the best jobs and a great future.

Throughout my college application process, I quickly learned that just because the school has a great reputation it does not mean that it will be the right fit for you. For example, I have someone really important in my life who attends an Ivy League institution. I visit this university very frequently and even considered applying there at one point. While there is no doubt in my mind that these schools offer a lot to their students, I just could not envision myself attending this university at this stage in my life.

When I visit, I often find myself comparing life at this university to what I experience at UMass, and I just cannot see myself trading what I have here simply for the reputation of another school. I think it is extremely easy to get absorbed in the reputation of a job or college, but ultimately you have to decide what will be the best for you and your needs in the long run — a big fancy name is not guaranteed to make you happy.