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Preparing for College Early
A two- or four-year college degree is becoming more and more important
for unlocking the doors to economic and educational opportunity in America
today. Getting a college education requires a lot of time, effort and
careful planning by parents and students, but it provides knowledge and
skills students will use for the rest of their lives to help them succeed
in whatever they undertake. By going to college students:
- Get (and keep) a better job. Because the world is changing rapidly,
and many jobs rely on new technology, more and more jobs require education
beyond high school. With a two- or four-year college education, your
child will have more jobs from which to choose.
- Earn more money. On average a person who goes to college earns more
than a person who does not. Someone with a two-year associate degree
earns more than a high school graduate. In 1998, a man with a bachelor’s
degree or higher earned almost 98 percent more than a man with only
a high school diploma, and a woman with a bachelor’s degree or higher
earned almost 84 percent more than a woman with only a high school diploma.
- Get a good start in life. A college education helps your child acquire
a wide range of knowledge in many subjects, as well as advanced knowledge
in the specific subjects they are most interested in. College also trains
students to express thoughts clearly in speech and in writing, to make
informed decisions and to use technology—useful skills on and off the
job.
Students who are not interested in going to a four-year college or university
for a bachelor’s degree can benefit from the skills and knowledge that two
years of college provide to compete in today’s job market. These students
may want to pursue a technical program in a community, junior or technical
college, which provides the skills and experience employers look for. Many
high schools and some local employers offer career-focused programs called
“tech-prep,” “2+2,” “school-to-work”or “school-to-career,” which are linked
to community and technical colleges. These programs coordinate high school
course work with course work at local colleges, and in some cases give students
the chance to learn in a real work setting. This way, the high school material
better prepares students for college-level work, and also starts the student
on a clear path toward a college degree.
Students interested in technical programs will probably want to take
some occupational or technical courses in high school, but they also need
to take the “core” courses in English, math, science, history and geography
that are outlined in step 2.
What Kinds of Jobs Can You Get with a College Education?
One of the major benefits of acquiring a college education is having
more jobs to choose from. Parents and students should talk about the kind
of work that interests the student, and find out more about the kind of
education that specific jobs require. For instance, some jobs require
graduate degrees beyond the traditional four-year degree, such as a medical
degree or a law degree. As students mature and learn about different opportunities,
they may change their mind several times about the type of job they want
to have. Changing your mind is nothing to worry about—but not planning
ahead is. For more information on the educational requirements of specific
jobs, contact a guidance counselor or check the Occupational Outlook Handbook
in your library.
Examples of Jobs Requiring College Preparation
Two-Year
College
(Associate Degree) |
Four-Year
College
(Bachelor's Degree) |
More
Than Four Years
(Various Graduate Degrees) |
Computer Technician
Surveyor
Registered Nurse
Dental Hygienist
Medical Laboratory Technician
Commercial Artist
Hotel/Restaurant Manager
Engineering Technician
Automotive Mechanic
Administrative Assistant
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Plant Operator
Heating, Air-Conditioning,
and Refrigeration Technician
|
Teacher
Accountant
FBI Agent
Engineer
Journalist
Insurance Agent
Pharmacist
Computer Systems Analyst
Dietitian
Writer
Investment Banker
Graphic Designer
Social Worker
Public Relations Specialist
|
Lawyer
Doctor
Architect
Scientist
University Professor
Economist
Psychologist
Priest or Rabbi
Dentist
Veterinarian
Public Policy Analyst
Geologist
Zoologist
Management Consultant
|
Source: Compiled by the Planning and Evaluation Service of the U.S.
Department of Education from various sources.
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Copyright
© 2001 BayCon Group, Inc. All rights reserved
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