The
college preparation and application process is relatively
simple, once you familiarize yourself with the college basics.
The topics below will help you learn more about college basics:
Why
attend college?
A college degree can open doors and provide many opportunities
in life. A college education means:
•
Greater
Knowledge
A college education will increase your ability to understand
developments in science and in society, think abstractly
and critically, express thoughts clearly in speech and
in writing, and make wise decisions. These skills are
useful both on and off the job. A college education
will also help you learn how to think critically and
analyze information.
•
Greater
Potential
College can expand your knowledge and increase your
potential to get a job. It is a challenge that teaches
you responsibilities and betters your life. A college
education can help increase your understanding of the
community, the nation, and the world – as you
explore your interests, discover new areas of knowledge,
consider lifelong goals, and become a responsible citizen.
A college education also provides greater knowledge
of and appreciation for different ideas, philosophies,
cultures, and people.
A college education also provides you with an increased
network of references for a future career. What you
do in college is as important as your grades because
the contacts and friends you make will be the people
who recommend you when you begin to look for a job.
•
Increased
Job Opportunities
The world is changing rapidly. Many jobs rely on new
technology and already require more brainpower than
muscle power. In a person’s working life, more
and more jobs will require education beyond high school.
A college education will increase the number and variety
of jobs from which you can choose. A college degree
is synonymous with higher income, a better standard
of living, and a more satisfying job.
•
More
Money
Overall, a person who attends college earns more than
a person who does not. For example, in 1997, a person
with a college degree from a four-year college earned
approximately $18,000 more in that year than a person
who did not go to college. Someone with a two-year associate's
degree also tends to earn more than a high school graduate.
A college education can increase your earning power.
Men between 24 and 34 years of age can earn 54% more
with a college degree than if they only had a high
school diploma. Women in this same age group can earn
88% more.
•
Career
Advancement
Many companies now require a college education for any
promotion to management positions. Even a two year degree
can be all that stands between you and the desired career
change.
Examples
of Jobs Recommending or Requiring a Degree:
The Chart below is a partial listing of different occupations
and the educational background generally required or
recommended for each. Some people who go on to acquire
jobs in the four-year-college column obtain a graduate
degree or some graduate education, but many of these
jobs can be filled by people who do not have more than
a four-year college education. For more information
on the educational requirements of specific jobs, contact
a guidance counselor or check the Occupational
Outlook Handbook in your library.
Two
Year College (Associates Degree)
• Administrative Assistant
• Automotive Mechanic
• Cardiovascular Technician
• Commercial Artist
• Computer Technician
• Dental Hygienist
• Drafter
• Engineering Technician
• Funeral Director
• Graphic Designer
• Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration
Technician
• Hotel or Restaurant Manager
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Record Technician
• Insurance Agent
• Registered Nurse
• Surgical Technologist
• Surveyor
• Visual Artist
• Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Four-Year
College (Bachelor's Degree)
• Accountant
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Dietitian
• Editor
• Engineer
• FBI Agent
• Investment Banker
• Journalist
• Medical Illustrator
• Pharmacist
• Public Relations Specialist
• Recreational Therapist
• Research Assistant
• Social Worker
• Teacher Writer
More
Than Four Years of College (Various Graduate Degrees
Required)
• Architect
• Biologist
• Chiropractor
• Dentist
• Diplomat
• Doctor
• Economist
• Geologist
• Lawyer
• Librarian
• Management Consultant
• Paleontologist
• Priest
• Psychologist
• Public Policy Analyst
• Rabbi
• Scientist
• Sociologist
• University Professor
• Veterinarian
• Zoologist
