A common motivation for attending college is to get an undergraduate degree. However, the state of the current economy leaves some wondering what advantages this degree will carry once they graduate.
Chris Meschuck, a CU alum, still believes in the power of the college degree.
“I think that having my degrees from CU has helped me start in a better position in my career, and have given me significant experience that to this day I still fall back on,” said Meschuck.
Meschuck graduated in 2003 with a degree in city planning and went on to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Colorado Denver. Long before earning his degree in Boulder, he was already creating his own path to success.
Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Meschuck arrived with his own DJ business, Digital Entertainment.
Although he already had an established business, Meschuck admits job-hunting was still necessary.
“I went through four months of job-seeking after getting the [graduate] degree,” Meschuck said, also noting that he continued seeking out clients for his business. Meschuck added that having his own business made the transition to ‘the real world’ a whole lot easier.
Ronald Stump, the Executive Director of the Alumni Association, agrees that the value of a college degree is incomparable, saying that its value “keeps compounding over the years.”
Meschuck, who is a member of the Alumni Association, also attributed some of his success to the close connections he keeps with the University.
“The Alum Association helps get contacts through their activities,” Meschuck said. “These contacts have been really important. Recent grads should think about staying involved with the association.”
The Alumni Association publishes a newsletter, the Coloradan, four times year. The newsletter helps faculty, staff and alumni keep in touch with current on-campus events and with each other.
Other groups, such as the newly established CU Business Networking, an online service available to alums, help sustain the University’s vast network.
Victoria Peglar, Editor of the Coloradan, spoke about a networking event which was held in December by the senior counsel. Its goal was to connect current students, particularly seniors, and alums.
“We are hoping to put up more events like this in the future,” Peglar said. She said her hope is that students have a strong network to rely on once they graduate.
So where does this leave the graduating class? Employers are assuring students they will hire the same amount of graduates from the 2009 class as the 2008 class.
However alarming the job and economic outlook, Meschuck offers advice for the graduates of 2009.
“Start looking and look everywhere,” Meschuck said. “I was looking all over the nation, I almost moved to Arkansas. Don’t get discouraged. I must have sent 50 applications. Shoot for everything you can.”
Contact CU Independent Esteban Hernandez at Esteban.Hernandez@colorado.edu
