Creighton University students all have challenges to face no matter what college they are in. Students from Arts & Sciences, Business and Nursing all agree on that. What they do not agree on is which college is ‘the hardest.’

Students from different colleges seem to believe their college is the hardest one, said John Roller, Arts & Sciences junior.

“I think a lot of science people think that people in the liberal arts don’t have to work as hard, but since I do both, I know they do,” Roller said. “It’s a different type of work. They have different assignments and a lot of different things to do. So it’s not easier; it’s just different. And I think it would be hard to be in the College of Business because they have to give a lot of presentations and often have to work in groups.”

Roller is studying theology and is pre-med. He said he hopes it will help him get into medical school because it is a unique path to take. He also hopes theology will help him avoid getting ‘bogged down’ by all the science classes. However, he said there is a downside to being theology and pre-med.

“My schedule is too full. Theology classes have a lot of papers, and the sciences have lots of tests, so it’s kind of a double whammy,” he said.

Ben McAnany, Business junior, also said the type of work involved in the different colleges makes a difference. He said the math behind the business is what makes it hard.

“Keeping the numbers straight is the biggest struggle,” McAnany said. “We have to put in the time and effort to actually do well in the course and sometimes it’s not even enough.”

McAnany said the different core requirements also make a big difference for the first few semesters.

“Whereas Business has a core which is simple, Arts & Sciences and the other schools jump right into difficult learning,” McAnany said. That is why for the first couple semesters, Arts & Sciences kids complain and Business kids do not.”

“The main difference I see, however, is how students study. Arts & Sciences students tend to wait, memorize, push things toward the end whereas business students have a set plan and have a goal. It’s not the amount of work that they do, it’s how they do the work.”

McAnany said he thinks that out of the College of Business, Arts & Sciences and the Nursing School, the Nursing students have the toughest job.

“They rock. I couldn’t imagine studying as much as they do,” he said.

Carrie Herr, Nursing junior, said nursing students study a lot. Taking multiple science classes at the same time is tough because of all the memorization, she said.

“The hardest part is preparing for our actual career rather than just the next step in life,” Herr said. “The main thing is deciding what field of nursing we want to

work in.”

The colleges at Creighton all have their challenges, but ultimately, all students will have the same struggle while finding a job, said Lisa Brockhoff, the associate director of Creighton’s Career Center.

“Regardless of the school they are in, students need to plan in advance and expect to spend at least three to nine months on their job search,” Brockhoff said. “This is overwhelming and sometimes discouraging for many students because they don’t expect it.”

Brockhoff said one of the biggest mistakes seniors make in their job search is not doing a thorough search and getting discouraged too easily.

“The job search can be hard and it takes a lot of time, but when you find the job you’ve been looking for, it’s very rewarding,” Brockhoff said.

The career fair Oct. 5 is a great way for students to explore their options, Brockhoff said.

At this time seniors could be identifying types of jobs they’d like, or companies for which they’d like to work. Brockhoff said that Jobs4Jays and the Career Center are great resources.

Brockhoff also said the process of searching for jobs is the same for all students. They all need to network, identify where they would want to work and send out letters. She said all of Creighton’s students are well-prepared when they leave – if they have planned ahead.

“The education provides the foundation, critical thinking skills and book knowledge needed for a student’s chosen career,” Brockhoff said. “I think the perception students have is that different majors are more marketable than others, but this is not the actual outcome.”

A recent National Association of Colleges and Employers survey showed that employers are looking for skills that are gained in every major and rated qualities they are looking for in applicants. Communication skills came in first with a ranking of 4.7, five being highest. Other skills on the list were honesty and integrity, interpersonal skills, strong work ethic and analytical skills.

McAnany, Roller and Herr all said they have plans for after graduation. For McAnany he said it was just to break into the job market and work his way up. Herr said her goal is to get a job in the specialty of her choice. Roller wants to volunteer and do service for a few years and then go to medical school.

“Successful students have a plan, use the resources available during school, are solid students and get internships,” Brockhoff said. “It is less about the major and more about how you have prepared.”

News Reporter Michael Batchelder contributed to this report.