Page 58 - myGuide

“I love Psychology but my parents tell me to go towards Accounting since CPAs make a lot of money!”

“My friend got her Bachelor’s in Sociology and just works in retail….”

“A degree in English isn’t going to provide as many employment opportunities as a degree in Business Administration will…”

As a college student, choosing a degree will be one of the most important decisions you will have to make. Many students are unclear about how a degree program can relate to future employment. This is understandable as society tells us to go to college, get a degree, and it will help us make a lot of money! It is important to understand that there are other important factors to consider when pursuing a college education. A college education will help prepare you for the job market; however, it doesn’t necessarily lead directly to a particular profession.

A college education does help you in the workforce, but not for the reasons you may think. You will acquire specific skills such as problem solving, organization, research, critical thinking, how to articulate findings, etc. through a variety of courses ranging from basic general education courses we all have to take to courses related to a specific area of study. These are transferable skills that employers value and can be taught within any major.

There are certain careers that require specific degrees such as nurses, doctors, and lawyers. You may be surprised to find out how much flexibility exists in a variety of fields. As an example, history majors don’t necessarily become historians. They can become stockbrokers, advertising executives, bank managers, or entrepreneurs.

Bottom line – you want to take the time to consider several factors to ensure you select the best degree plan to help meet your goals. Selecting a degree program simply because you think it might lead to a high paying job is not enough. It must be an area of study you are interested in and passionate about. You must be able to enjoy the material you will study in order to be successful and enjoy future job possibilities. Employers make it a point to hire and promote based on quality work performance – and quality work performance usually depends on how much you enjoy your job.