Following the college pipeline is an easy choice for many young adults. It’s straight forward. It’s what their parents wanted. It’s exciting.

While there is a pretty big jump from high school to college, it is still pretty familiar for the most part: go to class, do your homework, put in some effort for projects, write papers, and pass the final. What happens when you have passed all those finals at the end? What comes after the walking across that stage and diploma in hand? Didn’t those four years seem to go by fast? But, more importantly, what do you do now?

While some go off to graduate school, most look for a job in their desired career field. Afterall, most people go to college to get a job relating to their major, but the transition from student and quasi-adult to an industry professional can be hard for many graduates. For example, about 50% of college graduates do not directly utilize their degree in their career (underemployment) or are unemployed. While your major does play a large factor in this, college internships are just as important because they reduce the risk of underemployment by 50%.

However, all too often, college students put their heads down into their textbooks and don’t look up at the finish line right before them. In fact, 59% of graduating seniors never partake in an internship while at college. Internships are the most common way of getting a job offer out of college. On average, companies offer 72% of their interns full-time positions when they graduate, and 80% of employers state that intern programs are the best return on investment for new hires. Also, 75.5% of hired interns remain at the same company after one year compared to 51.5% of other entry level new hires. This suggests that the interns can find companies that are a better fit and result in higher job satisfaction. Not only that but graduates with internship experience receive double the job offers in their field with 1.61 offers per graduate compared to 0.77, and they have, on average, a higher first-year salary. This starting advantage can give them the leg-up on their peers for promotions in the future. College students so often underestimate the power of experience and networking.

This is why the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities is dedicated to bridging the gap between school and industry, literally and figuratively – just cross the Washington Bridge to West Bank, and you end up in the heart of Minneapolis, home to 15 Fortune 500 Companies! This offers Minnesota students the internships they need to excel in their respective industries, and the data clearly shows. 92.1% of students from the Carlson School of Business graduate with at least one internship. These internships also offer $21.24 an hour on average that can help students pay for school while gaining the skills and connections they need to succeed, but this extends past the business school as well. There are plenty of companies and internships sponsored through and outside the school in the state. In fact, 75% of the internships students had were within the state. Additionally, these companies are diverse in industry sectors and are in demand for new interns every year. The University of Minnesota sponsors many of these internships through Handshake or department emails. Ultimately, Minnesota students have access to some of the best partnerships available.

Thus, while it can be easy to focus on the next assignment, test, or party, it is critical that students think about their long-term career goals and look for internships that align with their interests. Having a high GPA is important, but the work experience that is acquired from these internships is vital to one’s success after college. It is never too early to start looking for internships and other professional growth opportunities, so get started today!