In this blog, I want to discuss the importance of utilizing your school’s resources. The reason is that I want to emphasize a simple fact: just because you attend a well-known school, it does not guarantee success. To unpack this statement, let’s use an example:
Let’s say Ken is an incoming freshman at Harvard University, majoring in Computer Science. Throughout his four years at Harvard, he was an excellent student academically, consistently maintaining a straight 4.0 GPA for all four years and being on the Dean’s List for every semester. And that’s all Ken did: he did not skip any classes, completed all his assigned homework, studied for his exams, and repeated the process every day. However, when he was looking for summer internships following his junior year, he struggled. He became frustrated at why, despite his outstanding academic achievements, he could not find an internship.
Given this hypothetical scenario and assuming the job market is strong for CS majors like him, here’s my question to you: What did Ken do wrong?
The answer lies in the fact that simply going to your classes is not enough when you have not used most of the available resources offered by your institution. A common misconception that many students have about prestigious institutions is that they assume the school’s name will guarantee them a job upon graduation. Although a well-known school name on your resume will open up more doors for you naturally, it is still not enough. The truth is that recruiters are less likely to hire students who excel only in school but lack essential soft skills, such as communication and collaboration, as well as skills outside the classroom. For example, if a recruiter sees your institution’s name on your resume, they will most likely pass you through the initial screening round and onto the next interviewing round. After that, it is up to you to perform in the interview; not even Harvard can guarantee you a job. A prestigious institution can give you opportunities and connections.
Well then, the follow-up question is: Where and how should I spend my college years?
Although I agree that everyone’s situation is unique, I believe that taking advantage of resources available at your school, such as alumni connections and clubs, will benefit you in the long run.
Clubs are where like-minded students like yourself meet up and share insights about the industry you are going to join in the future. What that means is that clubs like my school's Finance Club often invite alumni speakers and professionals currently in the field to share their experiences on how to get your foot in the door. These talks are exclusive to club members. Of course, there is a lot of information on the Internet that has these, but the connection and insider information are what keep many people from these gate-kept opportunities. For example, when I was applying for summer CS internships, I didn’t know what LeetCode is or how to effectively study for an Online Assessment (OA) until I joined my school’s coding club. There, I spent time with other people who are going through the same process, helping each other out. The time I spent in this club gave me more value and insights about the CS industry than I would have gained if I had figured it out on my own. The level of support is paramount when you surround yourself with people who share similar goals.
Lastly, the alumni network is another essential resource in any school, especially at prestigious ones, because it gives you a foot in the door. In industries where referrals can mean your resume won't end up in the rejection pile, reaching out to alumni and seeking referrals is a great way to get a step ahead. Here, I’m not saying you should just reach out to alumni to get their referral, because that would be a waste of their time since they wouldn't learn anything about the person they’re referring. What would be helpful is if you reached out to alumni, shared your career goals, and discussed whether their position aligns with what you want to do. The referrals will come, but what matters more is that you spend your four years figuring out which career positions you want to pivot into. Therefore, talking with alumni is the best way for you to get both insider insights about the industry and to determine whether you're a good fit for the job as early as possible. Additionally, they can be great mentors, steering you in the right direction.
I hope these insights highlight that the best way to spend your time in college is by making the most of the resources available to you. After three years at a liberal arts college, questioning whether my degree was worth it at a non-Ivy school, I realized I had been focusing on the wrong thing. It wasn’t about the name of the school — it was about finding a strong support system, which showed me just how valuable a college experience can be.
That’s it for now, so stay tuned for more blogs coming your way!
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