How To Choose The Right Degree
Having trouble figuring out what might be the right degree or school for you? Next to getting the actual degree, this is probably the hardest job you will ever have. It requires a good and thoughtful look at yourself and some straight forward answers. Try asking yourself the following three questions and see what happens:
1. What are the chances of getting a job with your chosen degree? If you're like some people, this might not be as important as making sure that you love what you are doing. But with a slowly recovering economy, an aging population and the emerging environmental industry, you are probably looking at a career that is going to involve computers and/or is highly technical, and is varied and not full time. With full time employment on the decline, and with more part time jobs taking their place, prepare yourself for a working in an environment where multi-tasking is the norm. Health issues, new technologies, and services will become the main concern of the political economy and will be a major part of your life. Computer training and other technical competency skills are also going to be in demand no matter what career you choose.
With this narrow picture in mind, it's important that you know who you are and where you want to go in your life. It might even be a good idea to start a portfolio of your accomplishments that will help you keep track of your skills and interests. When it comes time to make a decision about your future education, you can refer to this portfolio and remind yourself of the goals that you set for yourself.
2. What degree is best for you? To find out what degree will work best for you, ask yourself a few questions:
What skills do you have and what are you good at? Since we aren't the most objective judges when it comes to our own skills, personal faults or strengths, ask your guidance counselor or even a good friend, boss or family member whose judgment you trust. Get them to tell you what you're good at and what skills you've demonstrated. You might be good at resolving conflicts or have an aptitude for anything to do with numbers. Skills are something you collect and will continue to excel at.
What interests you? Think about what you enjoy doing? Sports? Cars? It could be anything. Make a list of everything that you wouldn't mind learning more about. You may love to do something, but are you any good at it? Will training help you to be?
What kind of environment would you most like to work in? Inside or outside? Do you want to work with children? Take care of people? Work on a computer? Take on a trade? Do you like being around people when you're working or would you prefer to have a job that's solitary?
What's your family situation? Do you have young children you'd prefer to stay home with? Or are you free to go into an office? Where are you located? Are you in an area where there's a healthy local job market or will you need to telecommute?
All of these things will be a factor in your decision.
3. How can you choose the best university, college or online school to help you get the career your want? Here's a list of rules that you might want to keep in mind when making your final choice:
Rule 1: Make absolutely sure that you meet the requirements of the degree or occupation you want to enter. This is critical. For instance, there is no point trying to get an MBA unless you have a bachelor degree with a fairly high grade point average.
Rule 2: Be practical, realistic and honest with yourself, i.e., make sure you have a backup plan. What happens if you start a program and don't enjoy it? Always keep your options open and have an alternative in mind just in case.
Rule 3: Comparison shopping. Look carefully at all the universities, colleges and online schools that meet your requirements and compare them. Are they flexible? Do they offer financial support?
Rule 4: Be true to your own choices. Do it for yourself and don't let yourself be influenced by other people's ideas of what you should do. If you want to take a certain kind of degree or a particular career, then go for it! Even if things don't go as you planned, you'll never have to wonder "what if".
Rule 5: Remember that you have a long life ahead of you. Choose the widest possible highway to travel leaving yourself as many alternatives routes as possible. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
If you keep these things in mind, you'll be well on your way to finding a better education and a better career!.