Paving the Way to a Smooth Graduation

"An internship helps a student decide what he enjoys as well as what he never wants to do again," says Spaulding. "This is very important information to have. It's better to learn this now than to accept a full-time job and discover three months later that one cannot stand the type of work."

Dan Galuska, who graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in 2006, interned at Connecticut military engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney during summer breaks. "The internship, I believe, was crucial in preparing me both professionally and emotionally for my post-graduation career. It gave me the opportunity to apply learned knowledge in a real world, fast-paced environment."

And the connections Galuska made at Pratt & Whitney helped him secure a job with the company upon graduation.

Work on Your Network

Whether you're looking for a prized internship, a dream job or just a post-collegiate mentor, networking is a skill graduates must prepare to hone as they launch their new careers. And it can start before graduation as a source of job leads and other advice.

Dan Lennon, a senior communications and theology major at Boston College, has worked with his school to meet and speak with alumni about job possibilities. "In the Boston area," he says "there's no school with better connections."

Schools and professional organizations, meanwhile, offer receptions where students can introduce themselves to professionals in their fields of study; American's Reid has used these to help guide her job search.

Finally, sometimes valuable information can be found closer to home: Many students turn to friends and family for support during the final months of college.

"Having a great circle of friends and a great support system from my family helped me deal with all of that stress," says Amy Anderson, who graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., in 2006. "They were always there if I just needed to relieve some stress by talking, and they gave me good advice on what to do next."

Ready for Takeoff?

Between job and apartment searches, classes and internships, senior year may appear daunting. But by planning for graduation throughout the college career, many students find they are amply prepared for a cool stroll across the state come commencement.

Already packing in visits to her academic advisor and the career center, University of Massachusetts junior Kristen Anderson hopes she'll be one of the cool ones. "I think it is very important to start preparing for graduation at this point," Anderson says.

She can take some solace from the experience of those who passed before her. Without a job or place to live prior to graduation, 2006 American University graduate Liz Buser was nervous things wouldn't work out the way she'd planned. After juggling an internship on Capitol Hill, a full load of classes and finding a full-time job, Buser is very happy with the way things fell into place.

"It is amazing how things work out differently than you expect," Buser said, "but turn out great in the end."