Listed below are five tips that we should all consider after graduation:

1. Don't live online

There is no way that we can get an idea of what life is all about through Twitter or Facebook. We need to stay informed. The more we know,the more we can do with our lives.

2. Focus on your financial future

We are living in an economically challenging time and we should avoid as much debt as possible. Instead of borrowing money for things we don't need, what if we focused on putting money in our company's 401(k), or what if we bought stocks or mutual funds? We're young and the last thing we want to think about is retirement but focusing on our finances now, could improve our financial position in the future.

3. Be flexible and see your transferable skills

If you have a specific degree in accounting or finance do not make the mistake of thinking that you therefore have to work as an accountant or financial analyst. In this economy, we need to be willing to use our skills and abilities in a variety of settings. The world is constantly changing and we need to be flexible enough to change with it.

4. Don't think people owe you

We have no right to expect to start living our life at the same level that we enjoyed when we were living with our parents, or when they were paying our bills. It took our parents 20 plus years to get to the standard of living that they now enjoy. It would be crazy for us to think that we should start out at the same level they are at today. And its even crazier to want them to subsidize our life so we can live that way.

5. Now's the time to take the leap of faith

If there is something you really want to do with your life, even if it's something that other people ridicule, then there is no better time to try it right now, before you have the responsibilities of home mortgages, a spouse, and children. If you're inspired by an idea, follow that inspiration. You'll never be sorry you tried too soon. The one most devastating phrase you will ever say is, “I waited too late”.

Hello Everyone,

I've recently been pondering over what my impact will be on the College of Business at the University of Illinois once I graduate. This is something that each and every one of us should think about before we leave our respective colleges. In order for me to provide a solid answer to this question, I must first define what it means to be successful.

Success is not defined by how much money one has or how many goals one as reached. To me, success means nothing unless you are able to help someone else along the way. What do I mean by this? Let's say that one of your goals is to get an MBA. It would be great for you to go and get it but what if you could inspire someone else to get an MBA or even a CFA or CPA along the way? Not only would you have met your goal but you would have helped someone else set a new goal towards something that they may have never thought about in the first place. Inspiring others is beautiful, intangible and priceless.

When I leave this campus I want people to know that it's not the color of a person's skin that determines their success but the will and determination of that person to persistently wake up and go after it.

Think about this and let me know what you want your legacy to be.

Lately I have been so encompassed by school that I haven't had a chance to sit back and just relax. As a result, I completely forgot about April Fools Day until I received a phone call which completely caught me off guard. I was so busy thinking about everything else that I failed to realize that I was being pranked. It wasn't until I was informed that it was just a joke that I began to see how recent stress had impacted my thought process and my life.

April Fools is a day for jokes but to me it was a day for me to realize that all my hard work will pay off and I shouldn't be stressing myself out with only 5 weeks left. Since then I have been less stressed and have begun to fully enjoy my final weeks here as an undergraduate student. to everyone reading this blog, do all that you can to not be stressed out. Stress can negatively impact your life, which none of of need. Just the fact that we are alive should put a continuous smile on our faces.

Stay focused and let's all graduate!

Ryan

It's been a while since my last post, hasn't it? Well, I've been pretty busy with all my classes and extracurricular activities and have a lot to talk about! We've had some nice weather lately, which we should all appreciate! Instead of studying in the library for the past few days I have studyied outside. 

I have been reflecting on my senior year thus far and I am more than satisfied with my accomplishments. Approximately 5 weeks from now, I will be a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Business. Four years ago I was just a freshman trying to decide what to do with my life. Now, I am taking what I've learned to build a better future for myself and the society I am encompassed by. But this is something that we are all doing, right? Many of you reading this blog are interested in pursuing higher education at a flagship institution like the University of Illinois. I just want to say that no matter what, always try your best and don't forgo opportunities that can positively advance your position in life. There's nothing worse that looking back and saying, "I wish I would have done that". Be productive and do the things that you want. I'm not telling you to be fearless but now is the time to try new things! Why? Because most of us do not have major obligations like mortgages, marriages, or children.

If life was a car, you should be the driver. Don't let someone else steer your car (your life) for you.

Ryan

Hello Everyone,

If you have a Twitter account, please be sure to follow the College of Business --> http://twitter.com/uiucbusiness .

The College works hard to keep it updated and has been a great resource for current and new students alike. It's always nice to get updates about things in a simple format and that is what the @uiucbusiness Twitter account provides! You can also communicate and ask questions via the Twitter account. Give it a try!!

I came across a very informative blog post written by Alessandra earlier that can help potential freshmen UIUC students. Summer registration is an exciting experience and should not be taken with a grain of salt. Review the following points below which may help make your registration day more successful!

1. Come prepared:

As your registration day approaches, your particular college sends you “homework” to do. This definitely is more fun than regular homework, trust me. You get to look through all the classes that are available and pick out quite a few that fit your interests. I strongly recommend starting this as early as possible. It takes a significant amount of time to get familiar with college curriculums.

2. Don’t leave your homework for the night before either.

Now, I don’t mean to sound like a parent here, but honestly, there is just way too much new information for you to sufficiently absorb in one night to pick out the best classes for you. This is the first time you guys are really going to be in the driver’s seat of your education; it’s exciting and something to be taken seriously. Also, take time to get familiar with your email and enterprise before coming to campus. Finally, explore all the other great stuff they have for you on I-start (I am jealous – I didn’t have that way back in my day!).

3. ASK QUESTIONS

At your summer registration day, you will be constantly surrounded by a whole lot of people with tons of knowledge on anything and everything Illinois. As orientation leaders, we went through weekly trainings to be able to answer any (and I mean ANY) questions on Illinois. Don’t be shy, we all love helping you out!

4. Explore campus

Take time to get familiar with your trusty campus map. Most likely you will have a few hours of free time during your day. Also, you will most likely already have your dorm assignment by then. Many are open for you to check out so you can get an idea of where you will be living. Also, check out the gym, the health center, the libraries, etc. This is yourcampus!

5. Bring snacks.

Think about it – most of you probably had breakfast around 6 AM before you hopped in the car, and you won’t eat again until noon. You will need brain fuel! You don’t want low blood sugar getting you down when you need to pay attention to your adviser. It might sound like I am a kindergarten teacher, but you won’t see me even going to classwithout a granola bar.

6. Have fun!

There is going to be so much information coming at you, and it will seem a little overwhelming. Being in a completely new place is also a little nerve-wracking. I know I was nervous – summer registration made it real. Just know that everyone else is feeling a little nervous too! Relax, learn a lot, and enjoy it!

You can read more on registration advice here --> http://blog.admissions.illinois.edu/?p=4763.

Did you know that there are 168 hours in each week? That's a lot of hours if you think about it! I have three big exams this week and a few cases to analyze. Senior was not meant to be an easy year and I can see that all my skills developed in prior years are being put to the test. Even though this will be a busy week, my time management skills will help me prioritize my time in the most important areas. I will keep you all posted on my progress this week so stay tuned!

Hi Everyone,

I was browsing the College of Business website today and came across an article entitled, "Finding a Job in a Tough Economy". What amazes me is that Rajkumar, a recent grad of the MS-Tech Management program  was able to circumvent the conventional ways of finding employment. The article mentions how he utilized Craigslist, Twitter, and LinkedIn to gain a competitive advantage throughout his job search.

Here is the link to the article --> http://www.business.uiuc.edu/publications/news_item.aspx?ID=724

I encourage you all to read it and I'm quite certain you will learn from Rajkumar's experience!

Ryan

Hello Everyone,

I thought it would be important to discuss the James Scholar Program. Here is a brief description that the College of Business provides:

The James Scholar Program encourages high achieving undergraduates to expand scholastic opportunities beyond the minimum requirements.  Named for one of the University of Illinois’s distinguished presidents, Edmund P. James, this program recognizes students of extraordinary ability and achievement.

There are a number of requirements that students must fulfill for the James Scholar Program. Please visit this link for the complete list. As a James Scholar you will develop professional growth and meet educational needs. One of benefits of the program is the ability to register early for classes. Registering classes is not always the easiest task. Sometimes, you may need to take a class but there are no available seats or the section you want to get in is closed. Students may constantly try to find an opening due to a student dropping the class or because more seats were made available. This can be time consuming and requires sitting at a computer! As a James Scholar this stress can be reduced with early registration.

Each time I registered early, I never had a problem finding an open class section to register for. I also had a wide selection of classes to choose as a result of being a part of the select few able to register at that time. This meant that I could sign up for elective classes that would normally fill up once registration was open to all students.

If you are currently a James Scholar, make sure you review the requirements of the program to maintain your status. If you are not currently a James Scholar, you can nominate yourself.

Ryan

According to student housing:

Innovation LLC is a new living-learning community that welcomes students from all majors who share an entrepreneurial spirit. Students who thrive on invention, creative problem-solving, and fostering positive change in the world will feel at home in this inclusive community. Located on one floor in the Illinois Street Residence Halls, Innovation LLC features The Garage, a fully equipped workshop where individuals and teams can collaborate, develop ideas, and put their plans into action. Innovation residents also benefit from access to special courses, guest speakers, and resources to bring their ideas to reality.

This is exciting news, and should be considered by all UIUC student entrepreneurs. I can only image what great use Innovation LLC would have been to me if it were available two or three years ago. It's something to consider. The entrepreneurs on campus are at times spread out and its nice to see a community being built to bing entrepreneurs together. The College of Business supports entrepreneurship. That's one of the reasons why I chose to attend the University of Illinois in addition to the high level academics.

You can view more information on Innovation LLC here.

Ryan