The transition from college to career is one of the most challenging jobs an individual will experience. This is particularly true for students who have limited work experience. The fact that 50-80% of new college graduates leave their first job within three years may be due to poor career planning and problems inherent in the college-to-work transition. Four dimensions can be considered to influence this process: (1) college versus corporate culture; (2) cognitive development; (3) "successful" and "emotional" intelligence; and (4) competencies. It has been suggested that the first year on the job is so critical that failure to achieve success can negatively impact an individual's career for many years. To counter this situation, preparation should begin in the junior year when a student's interest in a major is gaining strength and when there is time to experience curricular and co-curricular activities. Students need to be challenged to consider their basic assumptions about cultural differences between college and workplace, about cognitive growth, about what constitutes intelligent behavior, and the role of competencies. (Contains 17 references; 1 figure, 3 appendixes; and 2 tables.) (JDM)