Click on the video below to see an example of how the college program works from the perspective of a student who is in the process of getting into the college program, the class she is taking and how her career pathway will lead to a nursing career.
College Degree VS. No Degree
Earning a college degree is still the most reliable way to improve your career opportunities and earning potential. As the chart above shows, college graduates earn more than non-degree workers and experience lower rates of unemployment.
Once you've made the decision to pursue a college education, it's time to figure out exactly what type of degree to pursue. There are a variety of college degrees and each has advantages and disadvantages. There isn't just one "right" type of college degree. The value of a college degree is a function of what the college degree offers you. Your job is to determine which college degree, or certificate, best helps you achieve your personal, educational and career objectives.
Completing an associate degree program may qualify graduates to enter the workforce. Transferable associate degree programs cover the general education requirements needed to continue a student's education at a 4-year university. The most common degrees available at the associate level include the following:
- Associate of Arts (A.A.)
- Associate of Science (A.S.)
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
bachelor's degree program is an undergraduate program that usually takes four years to complete. Enrolling in a bachelor's degree program requires that students choose a major area of study, such as finance, history, communications or biology. Graduates from a bachelor's degree program are qualified to work in entry or management-level positions, depending on the field.
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
A bachelor's degree is also usually required for admittance into a graduate program. The different types of degrees available in a bachelor's degree program include the following:
Master's degree programs are graduate programs that let students specialize in an area of study. They typically take 1-2 years to complete. Along with an undergraduate degree, enrolling in a master's degree program usually requires a minimum GPA and an acceptance score on a graduate entrance exam, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Many master's degree programs require a thesis or capstone project for graduation.
Earning a master's degree may qualify graduates to work in advanced or executive-level positions. A master's degree is also required for entrance into some doctoral programs. Different degree programs available at the master's degree level include the following:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Doctoral degree programs, also known as Ph.D. programs, are the most advanced type of degree program available. Admittance into a doctoral degree program may require individuals to hold a master's degree, although several programs accept candidates who only hold bachelor's degrees. Additional requirements to be accepted into these programs may include submitting standardized test scores and sending in letters of recommendation.
Completing a Ph.D. program usually takes several years, and often involves the completion of a dissertation and a major research project. Medical-related doctoral programs may have students complete hands-on clinical hours with real patients during the final years of the program.
Ph.D. graduates are qualified to work as experts in areas of business or research, and professors at the postsecondary level. Common types of doctoral degrees include those listed below:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Juris Doctor (J.D.) Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
A huge myth about college is that it only teaches you theory. Even though you will learn theoretical knowledge, you will also learn important life lessons such as discipline, time management, leadership, commitment and much more. Additionally, you will be exposed to new ideas and professional people who will contribute to your overall success and ultimately your career path.
Before you enter the workforce, it’s crucial to work on the following skills: communications (writing, speaking, and interpersonal), teamwork, analytical ability, multitasking, organization, leadership, problem-solving, tenacity, and dependability. Workers can develop these skills and values in a variety of different ways, but college is the place where many inexperienced and green teens transform themselves into highly desirable college graduates and prospective employees.
Internships have a lot of great benefits for college students. You can apply knowledge learned in the classroom while gaining valuable work experience. You are able to get a foot in the door at a company that you intern and are able to obtain references for future job opportunities.
As examples for the final two bullets, you may want to use an X-Ray Technician program at a community college vs. a literature major in a B.A. program. Is X-ray tech a job? Yes. Is literarian? No. A literature major may go on to law school though—and lawyer is a job.
Avoid the simplification that bachelor’s degrees never prepare one for a job, but you may want to point out that they are not considered end degrees in Europe. Bachelor’s degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) can lead directly to jobs. Bachelor’s degrees in the humanities may often lead to master’s programs or professional degrees—but the writing skills developed in them are vital to many high paying jobs.
Another myth about college is the ability to afford it.
Through Job Corps Advanced Career Training program, financial support and housing are still provided for students while they attend college after you finish the basic training for your Job Corps technical and academic program.
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an application process that determines how much in grants and loans that you qualify for.
“An education is a cherished commodity, and the price tag reflects it. Many students interested in receiving a college degree will need financial assistance but thankfully, plenty of financial aid is available, especially where undergraduate scholarships are concerned. Philanthropic organizations, large corporations, understanding individuals and the government all work together to provide students with the support they need to attend college.
That's good news for anxious undergraduates worried about the financial consequences of obtaining a post-secondary education. Two types of scholarships – the corporate and the private - can be particularly helpful to these individuals.”
Earning a college degree is an important step in life and has become a key part of the "American Dream". Some steps to life success include finish high school, get training and go to college, get a career, buy a house, raise a family. College allows you to write a different story for your life and your family. But most jobs that require a bachelor's, master's, doctoral or professional degree tend to also provide more benefits. This can include health care, retirement investment, travel and other perks. These types of benefits are rarely offered for jobs with a high-school-level education requirement. Part of the reason employment benefits are so important is because they offer stability for your family, especially in the case of health care.
Don’t forget the work we did in Lesson 12! MyPACE makes determining whether or not additional degrees will pay off in your field easy. Just click on the name of the related occupations at different educational levels to quickly see their salaries.
Here the B.A. doesn’t seem worth the additional two years, but the six total years it would take to get an M.A. sure pays off!
The last bullet is 3 total years, not 3 additional years. This means that if a student intends to finish an Associate’s Degree in ACT, which takes 2 years, he or she must complete CTT and any academic requirements (such as a High School Diploma or High School Education) in 1 year.
The house and car comparison should lead to a discussion of loans. Adults often take loans. Some, like a car, may be necessary to hold a job, or to take a job further away for higher pay but the car itself on its own didn’t guarantee a higher wage. And it depreciates in value.
A home loan is often a good long-term investment and can lead to wealth. But owning a home does not affect your salary.
College may require a loan, but as we examined in lesson 12, that loan may pay for itself with the increased salary you can demand with the degree. It may even pay for itself in just a few years. After that, the additional wages are pure profit.
Acknowledge that this is all scary to consider up front, but there are numerous success stories.
That said, make sure that you acknowledge that starting college if you are not ready or serious about it is a sure-fire way to generate unwanted debt.
On U.S. News & World Report website you can find out the net cost for any college or university of your choice and how much in grants, loans or scholarships you might qualify for.
On this site you can choose any college or university you are interested to find out the cost.
Once you click on your university of choice, it will take you to screen to either agree to their terms and conditions to start the calculator or you’ll have to sign into their system. Each institution is different in their use of the net calculator.
Once you agree to the institutions' site policies, there will be a series of questions you will be asked in order for the system to calculate the amount of tuition you would pay and the amount of financial aid you could receive.
On U.S. News & World Report website you can find out the cost for any college or university of your choice.
Once you get through all the questions from the university, your results are calculated so you get an estimated net price for the university costs after grants and scholarships are deducted from the tuition and fees.
Yellow Arrow 1 represent the estimated annual tuition and fees for American University.
Yellow Arrow 2 represent the estimated total grant aid, which is based upon the questions you answered, the university estimates the amount of annual grant aid you would receive.
The information in the Red Circle is the amount that is left over after grant aid has been applied. This is the amount you will be responsible to pay for through loans or out-of-pocket.
The requirements for each college or university will vary by institution.
Every Associates and Bachelors programs require you to have a high school diploma or GED.
Each institution has an application document for students to fill out. Sometimes in bachelor’s degree programs, you will have to also apply to the school your major is housed in. For example: if you want to major in engineering, you start by applying to the university you want to attend and after two years of completing your general education, then you will apply to the School of Engineering at the university. This is the specific department that your major is under.
As part of the application process, most 4-year universities will require a personal statement essay for you to talk about how you are, your interests, why the school should accept you into the institution, etc.,
Another requirement of admissions and acceptance into an institution is taking the SAT or ACT. This is determined by different institutions and if they require it. Most 2-year community colleges do not require students to take either of these exams.
As you are applying to different schools, you need to make sure you have the money to attend. Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine how much in federal grants or loans you qualify for.
Your center has an enrollment process for ACT. Moreover, not all centers have an ACT partnership. If yours does, you must meet its requirements, which always include completing a CTT program and earning your HSD or HSE. You may also need to meet certain TABE scores. All of this must be completed in your first year in the program, so you have enough time to complete a college certificate or degree in a total of 3 years. Your behavioral and attendance record will certainly be considered during the application process. College students must be independent and mature—and if you join ACT, you represent your Job Corps center while you are at the college.
All three high school equivalency (HSE) tests have some form of higher passing score, sometimes called a College and Career Readiness (CCR) score. You will want to make sure you pass at that higher level to ensure you do not need to enroll in remedial coursework (non-credit-bearing). Remedial coursework is highly associated with dropping out of college—but those courses still cost the same amount of money, and whether you fail or pass a course, you still need to pay.
How to pick a college in MyPACE
From the occupation screen, scroll down to the pathways section.
Click on the ACT & COLLEGE option.
Choose a local college and program. (All programs will be related to the occupation, so you can be assured this college will lead to your intended career.) Click “Learn more.”
You can also click on the link to the right that says lincolntech to go to the website to find more information about the university.
0 comments:
Post a Comment