1. How Colleges Should Prepare Students For
http://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-need-to-prepare-students-for-the-
current-economy-2013-2The Current Economy
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One of the most pressing concerns for higher education institutions today is whether they’re
offering real value for the considerable tuitions they’re charging.
This unease, which has permeated campuses across the country, is absolutely warranted.
Students and their families are increasingly worried about the return on their investment in
higher education; as a result, the burden of proof has now fallen on colleges and universities,
which must demonstrate that they can truly prepare each and every student for a successful life
and career after graduation.
Unfortunately for students, parents and educators, there is no established or readily accepted
standard or metric to measure how “successful” a college or university is in arming students for
the post-diploma decades.
And this presents a genuine problem, because, if the current confusion, uncertainty – and even
cynicism – about higher education continue, we may find that one of America’s greatest
institutional assets is downgraded in people’s minds. In fact, according to one survey, it’s
already happening. The collateral damage from this reputational degradation will only hamper
our nation’s future economic prospects and possibilities.
Recognizing the stakes, a number of colleges are doubling down and enhancing their career
placement services for students. They are doing this in a pragmatic and thoughtful way that
ensures that short-term skills and training for the “real” world don’t eclipse or erase higher
education’s over-arching mission of creating a generation of curious, analytical and open life-
long learners.

2. At my university, for example, we’re offering a four-year career development plan called “Hire
Education.” The program is focused on four themes tied to each college year: Explore,
Experiment, Experience and Excel.
The “Explore” phase begins freshmen year for students, with a career development seminar
that’s taught in close collaboration with corporate partners and lays the foundation for a lifetime
of career management.
During the class, students start to discover their professional path with a Strong Interest
Inventory®Code Assessment and begin to hone vital career skills during interactive lab
sessions where they come face-to-face with corporate recruiters for mock interviews and
elevator pitches.
The seminar lays the foundation for students’ subsequent career development as they
“Experiment” with industries through career fairs and networking events; “Experience”
internships, more than 90 percent of Bentley students complete at least one; and, ultimately,
prepare to “Excel” in a dynamic workplace.
By the time graduation is in sight, students have had four years of focused and targeted career
advising and, in the process, they’ve developed and implemented a customized career action
plan that offers a solid and sustainable bridge to the economy of the 21st century.
There are a host of other noteworthy job counseling and placement programs at other colleges
and universities such as Xavier University and WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis.
We are seeing results and helping to make the education we offer our students more relevant
and more valuable. In fact, 98percent of our 2012 graduates received job offers or are in
graduate school. And this placement rate has been above 90 percent since 2007.
There are other positives here, too – especially the low default rate on students’ college loans.
The latest number at my university is .09 percent, which means that 99 percent of our students
successfully pay back their loans, a direct correlation to successful job placement efforts.
Higher education is at a crucial crossroad today. New models and new programs are
proliferating, as the role of colleges and universities in our society is being debated. All of this is
well and good – even healthy.
But, in the meantime, I believe we need to place much greater focus on both career development
and measurable employment outcomes for our students. As we offer students a quality
education, we must also set a higher standard for their future.
Finding and holding a good job is the first big step toward students’ post-graduate success.
Read more: http://w w w.businessinsider.com/colleges-need-to-prepare-students-for-the-current-economy-2013-
2#ixzz3YtpMHlDV
Colleges need to do a better job of
preparing students for the job market
We are in the midst of a crisis. Talked about often yet rarely examined, more than half of America’s college graduates are
unemployed or underemployed. And those lucky enough to find any type of employment often find themselves in positions
that require a high school diploma or less. Why is that? This generation of graduates may soon be called another lost
generation.

3. As the founder of a sports sales training and consulting firm, I have seen this story line all too often. Students enter the field
unprepared and unable to perform the functions that w ould ensure their success. They assume jobs are plentiful and an
application is all that stands in their w ay from gaining entry into the field. This is not the case. Job opportunities are few and
far betw een, especially in today's economic times. Especially in the sports industry, companies and professional teams opt
for unpaid interns to handle w orkload w ith the expectation that their turnover really doesn't cost them anything. The reality is
that it costs everybody tremendously.
Moreover, students enter the w orkplace w ith a silver spoon mentality. Everybody w ants the corner office on the first day.
This is not reality. Students must come to learn that internships and other entry-level roles are critical entry w ays to full-time
employment, and that no job is too small or mundane. This is also w hile companies must learn that it is their responsibility to
actually invest time and training into these new hires to ensure their success.
As our society has become increasingly w ired via social netw orks, students have lost the ability to interact face to face. This
is a problem. Business deals are still done w ith a shake of the hand and not the click of a mouse; this is especially true in
revenue-generating positions, w hich presently dominate the available opportunities in every industry.
What colleges and universities need to do is offer more practical simulation-based training programs that prepare students
to perform the functions that are expected of them w hen they are hired. For example, though over 400 universities across
the U.S. offer sports management programs that drive students tow ards careers w orking w ith professional sports teams,
these programs do not train students in the practical skills necessary to be successfulin sales or other related sports
management areas. Understanding the principles and strategies for communicating to and influencing a customer are critical
functions that students are not learning in the classroom. The time to enact change is now . With better training and a more
focused programming aimed at fundamental skills for real-w orld job opportunities, students w illbe better equipped and in a
better position to grow and thrive. If w e do not enact change now , then w hen?
Do you agree or disagree: college and universities must do a better job of preparing student
for the workplace.
The topic of "occupation" never failsto arouse people'sattention. In the rat race of today'sworld, the rate of unemploymen t becomeshigher
and higher. Every individual islonging for a suitable job, but itisfact that new graduatescan't find a satisfied job.Therefore,a new issue
arises: whether universitiesshould make studentswell-preparedfor the workplace. Some people thinkthat the university isnot preparation
for life, but university islive. And they contend thatstudentsshould hunt for jobson their own. However, asfar as I am co ncerned, I believe
that collegesand universitiesshould helpstudentsto find their job.
First of all, universitiesshould set up more courseson the different fields, which coincide with theneedof society. Then thestudentswho
have interest in one area could get specialized knowledgeand trainingbefore they go to jobinterviewsand it ismore likely for them to pass
the interviews. Take my friend Tony asan example. After writingsome articlesfor the school newspaper, he wascompletely attracted.
However, when Tony decided to change hismajor to journalism, he wastold that hiscollegedidn'toffer that major. He wasve ry disappointed
and lost a chance to learn what he really liked. When he graduated from college, he missed a lot of great chancesto work as a news writer.
Moreover, not only do graduatesneed specializedknowledge to do well in their job, butthey also needsom e abilitieslike how to
communicatewith their bosses and how to corporate with their colleagues. In thisway, collegesand universitiesshould provi destudentswith
more chance to joinin club activitiesand performances. Because while joininga club or preparing for a performance, studentscan learn
something that they can't acquire from academic courses. During these special 'classes', students can improve their practical skill, enlarge
their imagination, gain organizationcapacity andcommunicationabil ity.All of these thingswill benefit them intheir work.
Finally, universitiesshould providemore informationfor junior andsenior students. They can organize lecturesteachingstu dentsthe basic
rulesof job applicationsand how to make a deep impression on jobinterviews. They can use some partsof the school newspaper to publish
the informationlike the summer intern chancesor the programswith local companys. I believe thatwill truly helpstudentst o get a good job.
Clearly, we can confidently conclude thatschoolscan offer more courses, activitiesand information to help studentsbe well -prepared. So I
totally agree that collegeand universitiesmust do a better job of preparingstudentsfor the workplace.
Do you agree or disagree: College and universitiesmust do a better job for the workplace.
Do you agree or disagree: college and universities must do a better job of preparing student for the workplace.
Nowadays, it is so competitive to get a good job, and lots of young people cannot find work after graduating for
a long time. Of course I agree that college and universities should put more effort on helping students prepare
for the workplace. In the following, I would like to explain m opinion by reasons and examples.

4. The main problem is that many students pick a major without fully understanding what jobs it will qualify them
for once they graduate, and then they are frustrated to learn that the major does not come with a clear career
path or one that they are not interested in following. My cousin, John, who is major in Mathematics, totally do
not know what kind of job he could find after graduating. Until now, he still does a part-time job which is not
much pay each hour. So helping students understand jobs associated their major is the most important thing
that a school must do.
Too many students graduate with the belief that their degree will lead straight to a job. Schools should turn their
concept into a right one that in most fields, a degree is simply a minimum qualification, not an instant pass to
easy employment. For instance, when two people have the same degree, the employer would consider which
one has experience because he can spend less time and money on training. Even though good grade might be
important in our college life, there still are other achievements helping us make a superior resume.
To sum up, based on the reasons mentioned above, I believe it would be safe to conclude that schools should
do a better job of preparing students for the workplace. Although some may still argue that schools do not have
the responsibility of students` future work from time to time, I still believe that the advantages of helping
students prepare get a good job would some outweigh those of the opposing viewpoint. With all that said,
shouldn`t schools put more efforts on preparing students for the workplace?
TOEFL Sample Essay
olleges and universities must doa better job of preparings
Topic 52: What change would make your hometown more appealing topeople your age? Use specificreasons and
examples tosupport your opinion. | Score& Analysis
In my opinion,colleges and universities have toassist their students toprepare for their future jobs. Schools should
offer courses helping students tofind their interests and plan their future.Besides,Practice and Career Development
Center at school should be moreprofessionaland functional.
tudents gotoschool toget a degree hoping tofinda better job. They donot know what they’velearned at colleges and
universities are usefulat the workplaceor not.It is schools’ responsibility tomake sure what they offer tostudents
could be applied at the industry. Professors havetoupdate theteaching materials in order tofollow the trend.Iwent
to a NormalUniversity in order tobe a teacher. My school helped me a lot in preparing me tobe a good teacher.Allof
the professors at our university have theexperienceof being a high school teacher,sothey know what kind of
knowledge and skills their students need tobecome qualified high school teachers. Alsoour university offers us a lot
of opportunities tobe good practice teachers at high schools. Now Iam a junior h igh school teacher, and Ifinally
realize that those experiences helpedme tobecome a wellprepared teacher.
The percentage of employment of graduates from the school is v ery important. It is one of the factors that people use
to judge a school and can be used toattract new students. Nowadays,government asks colleges anduniversities to
make money on their own.The more student one university has the better financialstatement it has.Alsothe
donation from graduates is one important income of the university.And the university can use the money toimprove
their facilities and tohirefamous professors.In this way theuniversity becomes better andmuch more attractive to
new students.
I do believe universities and colleges should pay more attention to help students get ready for future jobs.