Real world skills learned in college are important and they can earn you $70,000.

Students working in an investment club with Krannert School of Management showed high returns for their experiments in the market, but they also serve as a good example of one of the most important aspects of college.

Get some "real world" skills now.

There's much to be said for the book knowledge learned in classes and for the grades that will eventually be behind that degree.

Students would normally learn real world skills in the first few months of actual job time, making mistakes and learning from them at the expense of your growing career and employer.

Students can be given the opportunity to make these first mistakes and learning the basics of a job they may have someday while still enrolled in the University.

Internships, cooperative programs and student programs that participate in the field are great opportunities for students to learn the "real world" aspects of their chosen field of study.

There are also a few better ways to discover whether your major is really what you want to do with your life. Even though you may find learning biology, for example, from a book very easy and to your liking, the life of a professional biologist might not be one you enjoy.

What a horrible realization to come to after spending four years and thousands of dollars in student loans that you've got to pay off for the next few decades of your life.

This burden can be lessened by work done now in preparation for a possible career.

Krannert is not the only school to offer student opportunities for work in the industry. Every school on this campus offers internship opportunities just waiting to be filled by students wanting a career someday.

College is more than a place to burn yourself out on homework, party with friends and sleep late. It's also a place to plan out your future and to ask essential questions like "Where do I want to be in 10 years?" and "Am I happy with what I'm doing right now?"

Find some answers.

n Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Melissa Davis and Laura Pelner.