College Students' Expectations After Graduation

 A recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that employers plan to hire 31% more graduates from this class than they did from the class of 2021.

One interesting fact that they discovered in surveying this years seniors is that they tend to over estimate what their earnings will be.  For example, journalism, psychology, and liberal arts majors expected to make $107,040 one year after graduating.  But the actual average salary is $44,800.

Obviously, this information is likely a little too late to help in working with this year's graduates.  But, it is a strong reminder that one of our tasks as we connect to, meet with, and disciple upperclassmen, is to help them see things in a more realistic way.

I am all about those ministries who do Senior "Adulting" seminars and help them with everything from budgeting to cooking, etc. As you finish this semester and evaluate it, I hope you will give thought to what are you doing to help those seniors transition into the "real world". 

Besides just helping them, what does this have to do with ministry?  Many cannot do what they feel called to do because of the large amount of student debt they must immediately start to pay off.  Perhaps, they borrowed so much money because of their unrealistic expectations. 

We all enjoy looking through rose colored glasses occasionally. But, that is not the best way to prepare for where God may lead us in the future.  Do your students a favor...don't be a grump about the future.....but help them connect to realistic expectations.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

Have a Plan for Contacting Incoming Students

 Part of how "Good falls are made in the summer." is contacting those students who will be coming to your campus in the fall.  Whether you get 2 or 3 names or you get hundreds of names, what you do with them and how you contact them goes a long way toward what will happen this fall.

1.  Contact them as soon as you get their name.

As a college football fan, I am always interested in why an athlete says they signed with a particular school.  One thing you hear often is, "They were the first to show interest in me."  I think early interest in them matters.

2.  Write them a PERSONAL, HANDWRITTEN note.

They will get a ton of formally printed letters or flyers.  A handwritten message will stand out.  It does not have to be more than 4 or five sentences.  Use nice looking cards or make a card with some picture or pictures from your ministry.  The days of these being way too expensive are way gone due to all the online services.  Handwritten says "I am interested in you personally."  One Head Football coach known for his success requires his Assistants to write a certain number of handwritten cards to potential recruits each day.

3.  Send them multiple things over the summer.

Some years ago one University said they believed they had to mail to an incoming student seven (7) times to make sure they got their information.  I don't know that seven is a magic number, but I do buy the idea of multiple contacts over the summer.

4. Have an upperclass student contact them.

Both a contact from the Campus Minister and a contact from a student are important.  This can be your Student Outreach Team or just different students who you can count on.  They key words here are, "count on">

5.  Give them something or offer them something.

What you give them can be as simple as a flyer that says, "The 5 Dumbest Mistakes Freshmen Make at _________University".  Or, it can be "6 Study Tips".  For those with more budget, it can mean sending them a sharp ministry tee shirt.  But, it better be good, attractive and comfortable.  Or, make them an offer.  "If you are interested in knowing more about our ministry, just send me a message with your tee shirt size and I will be glad to send you some information along with the shirt. Some have done sun glasses with their name on it, etc. One BCM guy told me he was going to send them my "Tips for College Freshmen".   It starts a conversation with them.  If you send a message with an enclosed postcard to return, clip one of the corners off of the card.  One marketing company learned that postcards with a corner clipped off got returned by a higher percentage.  Who knows?

6.  Add them on social media.

This can be done one of two ways.  They will see your regular ministry posts.  OR, create a special Freshmen account and post tips throughout the summer to benefit them and let them know of different events of interest.  You could send a "Weekly Freshmen Tip".  It could be everything from favorite student restaurants that give discounts to best snack places on campus.

7.  Ask them to send you names of friends who will also be coming to your campus.

Incoming students can be the best source of the names of other incoming students.  Ask.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.

Some Disturbing Numbers

 Alan J. Roxburgh in his book, "Joining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World" shares these statistics.

"If you were born between 1925 and 1945, there is a 60% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born between 1946 and 1964, there is a 40% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born between 1965 and 1983, there is a 20% chance you are in a church today.  If you were born after 1984, there is less than a 10% chance you are in a church today." 

If Roxburgh's percentages are remotely correctly and I "feel" from my own observations, etc that they are, it would point to the struggle we have in youth and college ministry today AND for the need for well done and effective youth and college ministry.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124  Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades," is available at Amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9

A Ministry Crisis??

 A college ministry friend recently posted a job opening.  It was for a one or two year Assistant Campus Minister/Intern.  In the past such postings had gotten 20 to 30 resumes very quickly.  This time it got none, zero, squelch, nada! Not even one person responded asking for more information. I was sharing that with a friend who works for a state wide Baptist Convention.  He said that was true in youth ministry and that churches were continually calling him desperate to find a Youth Minister for their church.

The county seat First Baptist Church I grew up in and was a huge blessing in my life and calling to the ministry almost never had a Sunday with attendance under 300.  That was a bad Sunday!  Recently, their Sunday morning attendance was 50.  They have been without a pastor for several months and have not been able to find a full time pastor.  They have an excellent facility and a reasonable budget.  Will it survive?

Some believe that in our emphasizing the need to plant churches and talking to those called to the ministry of the need for church planters that we have blocked all other options out.  I believe that is a factor, but not all of the cause of this "shortage".

Are we in the beginning of a crisis of Vocational Ministers?  If so, WHAT can we do about it?

College Ministers are a BIG part of the answer.  2 Things We Must Do:

1.  We must speak often and clearly about God calling some to a life of Vocational Ministry.

For a long time I believe we have not spoken of the calling to ministry nearly as much as we formerly did.  As a youth going to camp every summer, I heard the speakers speak of the call to salvation and the call to ministry.  I made my commitment to ministry at a summer camp.  In our emphasis in sharing the call to salvation to this generation, I fear we have stopped talking about the call to ministry. When I was a youth in church, we only had a preacher and a part time song leader.  I did not know of all the other full time ministry roles.  It was clear from the reaction when I sang that God was not calling me to be a Worship Leader.  Was being a Pastor/Preacher the only option?  It was not until college that I learned there were other options.

Some Questions we can help clarify:

How does God Call someone?  How do we know, if God might be calling us?  What if I am not perfect and may not be the best speaker? Does God call women to full time ministry roles? What are some of the full time ministry positions? 

2.  We must work with those who have responded to the call to Vocational Ministry or are willing to explore it?  

One College Minister I know meets every Friday for lunch with those students that feel called or are exploring it.  He answers their questions.  He encourages them.  He brings guests who minister in different areas to meet with them.  Some meet occasionally on an individual basis with those exploring God's call.  

Two Resources I highly Recommend:

1.  SBCcalled.com. is a fairly new resource that has job descriptions for all sorts of different ministry roles, information about seminary and much, much more.  You don't have to be Baptist to  look at it.  We won't tell.  Check it out.

2. Is God Calling Me?  is a great little book by Dr. Jeff Iorg.  Every College Minister ought to have one or two on their desk or in their backpack.  It is a quick read and super practical.  Give it to those who are exploring the call or even that you think should consider it.

I believe that College Ministers are a key part of dealing with this developing crisis.  Speak about God's calling and work with those who are exploring it.  You may be surprised whose heart God will touch or is already working in about his hand on their life.

Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen:  124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.