If you are in college, you probably hope that graduating will be enough to launch your career. For those of you still in high school, you are likely working hard to get into the best college you can with the same hope. That path worked for your parents. It no longer works for you. The Jobs You Want Rigorously Test For Skills Not Taught in School Employers, both “elite” and otherwise, use intensive skills assessments throughout their hiring process. These tests identify whethe

MIT has the highest median mid-career income of any university in the world. Its graduates are among the most economically successful and technically accomplished professionals globally. When you think of MIT alumni, you likely envision innovators, startup founders, and engineers working on breakthrough technologies—the kind of people who help land rockets on barges or develop cutting-edge AI systems. Yet a closer examination reveals a broad spectrum of outcomes. Some achieve

As of October 28, 2025 High-paying entry-level jobs are quickly evaporating. White collar hiring is freezing. This is very different from the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Layoffs occurred as companies shrank or shut down. Now, layoffs are occurring as company growth accelerates . These jobs are not coming back. 41% of large global companies plan to make job cuts due to AI over the next 5 years. The total number of high-paying skilled jobs in the world is going to shrin

The entry-level white-collar job market is undergoing a fundamental realignment that is rapidly upending decades of established career pathways. Once-reliable stepping stones into professional careers—junior analyst positions, associate law roles, software developers, and entry-level consulting jobs—are rapidly disappearing as artificial intelligence transforms how work gets done. For new graduates entering the workforce, this signals the end of the traditional career launch

MIT has the highest mid-career median pay of any university in the world. Here is the top 10 as of 2024

At Futures Forge we want to assemble the strongest possible teams across all our courses: smart, motivated peers who can match your intensity and push you to grow. That’s where we put our energy.

(Or any Ivy school?) Let’s cut to the chase: nope. How do we know that? And what are the implications?

Many high-performing students we speak to ask us, “How do I become a great leader?” They want to learn how to motivate others, communicate better, and use the strengths of their peers to help the group. These students have likely experienced good leadership before, and hope to emulate it, or perhaps have read about the impact of a great leader.

From part 1, you know that feedback is critical to becoming your best self, and that most of us have an aversion to receiving constructive feedback, likely taught to us in childhood. The first step to overcoming this aversion is to just pay attention to yourself. Sense your aversion to asking for feedback, or a certain amount of defensiveness in yourself when either getting it or thinking about asking for it.

Many ambitious students ask their mentors, coaches, or role models for advice, hoping to uncover the secrets to success. These students are typically high achievers, excelling in school and striving to get ahead of their peers. Their mentors may give actionable tips–like “setting clear goals” or “creating a study schedule”.

Imagine, you are given an objective by your boss, the scope is wide, and the expertise level is low but it’s on you to get an outcome. This is common in the start-up world, you face new challenges each day, big goals are set, and you need to ultimately get a net positive outcome (get closer to the goal). How do you start?

Students face challenges, solve problems, and navigate complex interactions every day. Yet most move through these experiences without pause–completing tasks, resolving issues, or having tough conversations, only to move on without much thought. Top performers take a different approach. They intentionally set aside time to reflect, analyze their actions, and learn from their experiences–this is their secret weapon to getting 10x more learning and growth out of everything they

Most teachers we know complain that students are constantly late. One thing we’re finding is that teachers are inadvertently encouraging this behavior. When students are late, we typically see one of three responses: Shame: “You're late. Take your seat, and we'll talk after class.” Letting it slide: “Glad you could join us. Let’s get started.” (Or many simply don’t acknowledge it) Preventing it: Calling everyone in from the hallway with one minute left.

Students in the U.S. have a plethora of options when it comes to picking up extracurriculars: there’s debate classes, coding clubs, mentorship programs, and endless other options. Ambitious students seek extracurriculars they think will make a difference in their college application and success, whether through the experience, “prestige,” or networking opportunities.

At Futures Forge we are big believers in learning what other people think is working, and what is not! We put this into action this past summer.

Adaptability is the most important skill you can develop as an entrepreneur. It’s a skill that venture capitalists directly look for when making investments. They ask “what if” questions to determine how you think, and how adaptable you are in situations where your business might fail.

All of the knowledge you need to do just about anything is in your pocket, usually for free. A quick google search or youtube tutorial can teach you almost anything, from PHD level science to cooking a new dish. Online courses and certification programs are becoming increasingly viable ways to develop career skills and qualify for tech roles. With the rise of AI this access to knowledge has become even more streamlined.

Do you know anyone who has graduated college in 3 years? Most likely you don’t, but you probably know folks who have graduated in 6. The difference is not merely intelligence or industriousness, but also approach. Most people don’t even contemplate graduating college in 3 years because they believe it will be difficult. If properly approached, it can be quite easy–and can give you a dramatic advantage in your career.

I studied Chinese for eight years in high school and college. Eight long years of coursework, memorization, drills, and exams. Guess how much Chinese I learned? About as much as I learned German in five months, spending just 30 minutes a day.

Yes, if you’re MIT-smart. Certainly, the MIT brand does a lot for you, and it is a tragedy that one has to slog through 4 years of university to prove one is smart, when the university admissions officers can already decide whether you’re smart before you show up. But in our current reality, graduating from a top university confers the brand, and it will help you.