Part of being a college graduate is figuring out what you need to do after graduating, and currently the Class of 2026 is facing a challenging future. College graduation is one of the most anticipated events for a student enrolled in higher graduation. However, the Class of 2026 are expected to face the worst job market in 5 years, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In an article by ABC7News, a survey reports that about 39% of postgraduates blame their colleges for not teaching workplace skills or behavioral standards. While 53% of postgraduates experience burnout at least once a week, and more than half seek help for symptoms like depression and anxiety. Many college students are not being adequately prepared for what life is like when you no longer are in school. Due to this, many students are doing the preparation early so they aren’t stuck in limbo in the future.

There are also several aspects of life that students are losing as they graduate; college provides structure and a set schedule that students are able to follow. When they are experiencing life after college, losing that structure could be a difficult learning curve for postgraduates to experience. “I’m pretty worried about the lack of structure I’m gonna have in the future, I’ve been in school for 15 years at this point, so going into a life where I won’t have such a set schedule feels overwhelming” says Zanab Ibrar, a junior Rutgers–Camden student graduating this May.

Social life is also something else postgraduates need to navigate, being in college forces you to be in close proximity with like-minded individuals around the same age as you. This allows for an easier time interacting and forming lasting relationships, however not having that imposed closeness can make forming relationships a much more difficult task. “While I’m excited to finish school, something that I’m going to miss is how social college is. You’re surrounded by so many people who are around your age and have similar goals to you, so that aspect of social life is definitely going to be different in the future.” says Wendy Nguyen, a senior student graduating this year.

Finances are also something that needs to be accounted for, graduating is a costly thing, paying for caps, gowns, even applying for graduation comes with their own fees. Not to mention that many postgraduates have student loan repayments that they need to plan for. “When I was in my first year, I wanted to move out immediately after college, however the finances that go into moving out after college is a lot to account for. Now, I have decided to slow down and build up my savings before jumping into getting an apartment” says Wendy Nguyen.

However there is still support out there for alumni, several universities continue to help their alumni beyond graduation, especially with finding employment. “There are many students that don’t know that the Career Center is still here for them after graduating. We work with a lot of alumni, and our services are available to people who already graduated. There is a lot of support for alumni settling into their life after college.” says Margeret Land, a Career Management Specialist at Rutgers-Camden. 

If someone is graduating, then there are several helpful options out there for postgrads to use. Overall, it’s important to develop skills that are sought out in the job market and to calculate your financial situation. However, there are options for support or help available for you as you are transitioning into the “real world”.

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Financial aid is something many college students look towards for support paying for college. However, as Department of Education cuts have slowed down financial aid, Rutgers has reported that they plan to increase tuition costs for their annual budget. 

According to USA Today, there have been several colleges that have reported financial aid delays due to the cuts in the Department of Education; the layoffs taking place has caused the Department to operate at a much slower pace. At least 40% of colleges have said that financial aid servicing has caused them to have issues, there have also been outages of key systems. According to college officials, contacting the Federal Student Aid office was also delayed which has caused concerns regarding availability. Alongside this, the One Big Beautiful Bill had eliminated Grad Plus Loans and implemented a cap on loans for professional degrees (Law, Medicine, Clinical Psychology). 

Rutgers also increased tuition for the 2025-2026 year, for in-state students it has increased by 5%, while there was a 6% increase for out-of-state students. The reason for this increase is due to Rutgers’ $5.9 billion budget, which is supported by this tuition increase. Other fees like housing have also gone up with this change.

Some students, who have been having problems with financial aid, have had to take gap semesters as a result. “When I found out I wouldn’t be able to afford my spring semester I went to the financial aid office right away…Making sure that I am able to have the money to come back was my top priority…” says Xia Durham, a Junior Accounting student at Rutgers–Camden. 

Due to issues with financial aid, she couldn’t afford to come back for the Spring 2026 semester, this resulted in her graduation date being delayed. “There was nothing that I could have done…I needed to wait till the Fall to continue my classes, but I’m not letting it stress me out too much, I try to see it as a required break from my coursework.” 

There are programs at Rutgers-Camden to help low-income students who need support including the EOF program. They provide support like additional financial aid, counseling, and tutoring for disadvantaged students. 

“The Educational Opportunity Fund allows for students to experience college with the financial support they need, cuts to funding prevents us from giving that chance for them.” says Matthew West, EOF’s program manager. This kind of support can help students navigate a system that they may not be used to. There are also grants and scholarships that students can apply for support as well. For now, if you are a student, it’s best to understand what your current financial position is, and how these changes will affect you in the future.

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Ramadan is a time for reflection, devotion, and strength for many Muslim students, an entire month is dedicated to praying, and getting closer to their religion. However, with the constant demands of college, balancing both your personal life and your academic life can be extremely difficult, especially with certain challenges that come with participating in Ramadan. 

The month of Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, meaning its specific date changes every year. Those celebrating Ramadan get up before dawn to have a meal before they start fasting until sunset. This is done every day for the month of Ramadan, alongside this Muslims also are required to pray 5 times a day, also spanning from sunrise to sunset. While this schedule seems manageable, it can be a struggle for college students to maintain alongside their academic responsibilities.

“College doesn’t slow down during Ramadan. Students are fasting from sunrise to sunset while still trying to keep up with schoolwork and extracurriculars” says Muslim Student Association President, Laiba Mahmood. Alongside having to deal with their daily schedule, Muslims students also have to do it while not feeling their best physically, this all can be especially demanding for students who dorm in college away from home, since their usual support system isn’t there.

Participating in Ramadan can also prohibit social activities, due to the fasting or praying many Muslim students may not be able to participate in social gathering events due to their own obligations. Some gatherings, like going out for lunch, may feel isolating since they aren’t able to participate as well. 

“Professors and classmates sometimes don’t realize how physically demanding fasting can be, especially during long days of classes, exams, or work” says Nazifa Hasna, the MSA Secretary.

Participating in Ramadan takes up time and energy Muslim college students usually have, not having proper food accessibility for Muslim students adds onto their struggles. Many dining options are not halal for Muslim students, so food preparation on top of normal activities can be a difficult task for students, especially after fasting the entire day.

However, there are ways colleges are accommodating Muslim students during Ramadan, according to an article by Inside Higher Ed, several colleges have decided to implement accommodations for Muslim students, like extended dining hours for those who need to break their fast, or providing boxed meals. Other accommodations that can be given are different exam session times, so that Muslim students are able to take their exams after breaking their fast.

At Rutgers–Camden specifically, Ramadan events take place on campus such as the Community Iftar that occurred on March 2nd, in the Campus Center. There is also a Wudu station (a place where Muslims can wash themselves before prayer) in the Campus Center for Muslim students who need to pray. There are also several other Muslim-focused events that the MSA holds during the month of Ramadan, that anyone can participate in.

While it may be difficult to balance academics and the expectations of Ramadan, there are support systems out there for students. “Ramadan builds a really strong sense of community. Even though it’s challenging, students come together for iftars, prayers, and support, which makes the experience really special” says Nazifa Hasna.  One of the main purposes of Ramadan is community, and while Muslims may have their struggles during the holy month, participating in your community, and devoting yourself to your religion makes it worth it for many individuals.

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %

Internships are seen as an essential step for seeking entry-level positions, at least 72% of college students use internships as a guide for what they want to pursue in the future. However for the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to find and secure an internship due to multiple technological, financial, and work experience-related hurdles. Other barriers like an increase in the hiring pool also contribute to the difficulties that students face.

Per The Washington Center, 41% of the class of 2025 have at least applied to one internship, a 7% increase from 2023’s figure of 34%. Alongside that, applications per internship have nearly doubled in the last two years. Experienced hirees are also being prioritized as well, causing it to be difficult to find employability as a first-time job seeker in a new field.

Zanab Ibrar, a 3rd year student at Rutgers–Camden discussed how mentally exhausting it can be to apply for several internships, “The most difficult part was the mental toll it took. It was very discouraging to see rejection letters after rejection letters…the ones I wanted to hear back from just never replied or said anything back, even though we had great conversations at career fairs.” Alongside trying to pass classes and engaging in non-school activities, finding an internship can be an additional burden for the average college student.

However, there are multiple resources to help with the search for internships, one of those is meeting with the Career Center. The center’s main goal is to aid students in finding employment and setting them up for success in the future. They can help with resumes, interviewing, and finding internships to make sure students are fully prepared.

Ibrar spoke on their experience with the Career Center, explaining how, “The Career Center helped a lot, going there helped offload a lot of stress that came with my search.” They also shared that, “Networking 100% plays a part… I made sure to create good professional relationships that probably helped me behind the scenes.” 

The Career Center aids students in networking. They host career fairs and other networking events frequently and they also put students in contact with alumni through Student Alumni Career Connect. SACC is an online platform that connects students with alumni from across all Rutgers campuses to promote networking and mentorship. 

While the search for internships can take a toll on students and applications are becoming much more competitive Rutgers offers many resources to aid students in their job search. Whether it is asking the career center for help or building a network, there are several ways to make acquiring an internship easier.

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

0 0 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %