Becoming an undergraduate and ultimately graduating from the university is one of the big accomplishments of life. For many, gaining admission into the higher institution has been a struggle they have not been able to conquer. So, it calls for joy when you are able to secure admission into any of the higher citadel of learning to study a course.

The number of years it takes to study a course varies from one discipline or department to another as well as from one country to another. Here in Nigeria, my country, (If you are reading outside Nigeria), it is expected you spend a minimum of 4 years and maximum of 6 years in the university, depending on the degree programme.

After spending years in the four walls of a university or any other higher institution studying a course, and getting into the real world, only a handful of graduates are able to prove that, yes, they had actually gone through school. It is indeed surprising that majority are just graduates in the name or better still in paper (certificate) and not in the value they are able to deliver. As it is said, they passed through school without allowing school to pass through them; in that, they are not different from the man who had not gained any formal knowledge. In leadership, business, relationship, communication, and other areas where they are expected to show the power of their formal education, they seem to be disappointing, and it is a big minus to them and the world as a whole. I say this because the purpose of education is to make positive contribution to the world, making it a better place to live in. It’s to make life-transforming impact in the lives of others by helping them to solve problems.

Now the question is, what really makes the difference? Why is it that some graduates are able to deliver value and others cannot? This article gives the answer to these questions. In this article, I will show you 3 categories of undergraduates (or graduates) and the best that is recommended that you should belong to so that you can become a problem solver or value giver after leaving school.

Now, let’s get going.

3 categories of undergraduates/graduates

As I have said, undergraduates can be classified into three.

Paper-focused
The first class of undergraduates is the paper-focused undergraduates or students. What are the characteristics of this group? As the name sounds, paper-focused students or graduates are those who are only concerned about obtaining a certificate without giving attention to experience and skills development. They believe that their only aim of being in school is to bag a degree or obtain a certificate and as such, they have no time to spend in other activities. They are bookworms; always attending classes, doing assignments and making sure everything pertaining to their studies is in place. When you tell them about taking part in extra-curricular activities such as sport games, they give excuses that they need to meet up with their studies and so do not have time for that. Calling them to participate in school politics is a waste of time. In the religious groups such as campus fellowship, they run from active or leadership roles, all in a bid to focus on their studies. All they do is read to pass their examination. Apart from their academic books, they have no time for other relevant books – such as self-help or inspirational books – that can add value to them. And of course, they graduate with excellent grades. Some among them bag first class honours. But the only thing is that, they lack vital interpersonal or people skills. They are poor communicators as they never had time interacting with others except their books. They have no leadership skill as they never play leadership roles, not even a class representative or study group leader. All they have is a sound paper certificate. Graduates from this group can best be said to be certificated but uneducated because education is not only the acquisition of good academic degrees but being able to apply the learnt knowledge in solving problems or adding value to the world.

Experience-focused
The second category of students I want to talk about is the Experience-focused. This is the opposite of the Paper-focused group of undergraduates or students. The only aim of this group of undergraduates is to experience every activity taking place in and around the campus, leaving their studies to suffer. They are ready to miss classes or lectures when they have an occasion to experience. While some want to be part of all the activities on campus such as politics, sport games, religious activities, parties, etc., others buried their heads in just one or a few of them. They spend all their time, energy, resources in gaining experiences with no attention on their studies. At the end of the day, they come out having great experience in politics, leadership, business, etc. but with poor certificate. Of course, having these experiences is good, but if it is enough to have experience, what is the essence of going to school to study a course in the first place? While a sound certificate does not guarantee success in the real world, it is a requirement for success. It adds to your value; placing you in a better position to fit into the market. This is why some top corporate organizations, including universities give best graduating students automatic appointments even before graduation.

Hybrid
The third category of undergraduates or student is the hybrid group. Students in this category are both paper-focused and experience-focused. Meaning that, while they work hard studying their books, they find time to take part in extra-curricular activities such as politics, sport games, religious activities, etc. Unlike the paper-focused undergraduates who read to pass examinations, the hybrid group read to not only pass exams but to know; in that, they read wide. They try their best to utilize every opportunity to gain skills and experiences. They create time attending seminars; during holidays, they look for internship programs where they can enhance their professional skills. Some try their hands on starting businesses such as organizing tutorials for junior students, starting a mini-bakery business providing snacks for both students and lecturers, etc. They develop the skills which employers look for in a graduate. For their seriousness in book work as well as taking part in other relevant activities, they end up having good grades and great wealth of experience in leadership, business, sport, etc.

These are the three categories of undergraduates. Having known them, I believe it is now clear why many graduates are unable to fit into the market or create something that could add value to themselves and the world in general when they finally get into the real world. Now I put it to you; among these 3 classes of undergraduates (or students), which do you belong?

Wrapping it up

Assuming you’re an employer of labour who is seeking for qualified graduates to occupy some positions in your organization or corporation, which of the above categories of students/graduates (paper-focused, experience-focused, and hybrid), would you accept to work with you and why? Tell us in the comment box the reason for your choice or decision.

Thanks for reading.Oghovemu Daniel Okpu is a blogger, writer, Book Editor and Personal Development Trainer. His life passion is to help people become the happy better version of themselves, unleash their fullest potential and live their best life.
[url]https://globgist.com/want-to-succeed-after-graduation-be-among-this-class-of-students/[\url]

Nice piece. I belong to the paper-focus group. Love plenty A's. Time to shift a little to become the hybrid type.
Thanks for d enlightenment.

I am glad you like the article, I'm honored. To be focus and determine in your study make you stand out when others are sitting, when others are standing you become outstanding, when others are outstanding you become standard.