4 answers
Nathan
Student
Elyria, Ohio
4
Questions
Asked
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What would you consider to be the most useful degree in the 21st century?
Hi, I'm Nathan and I'm currently a senior in high school and looking to attend college and achieve a degree. I currently have no definitive plan on where I'm going to go to college or what I'm going to do after high school. As a professional, what advice would you give me as a senior in high school to set me up for the most success in the future?
#college #degree #future #career #success #money
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4 answers
Juan Aponte
Exam Consultant with Dell Technologies
4
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Juan’s Answer
Hello Nathan,
I don't believe there is one best overall college degree. After some time, your work and life experiences become more important than your college degree. There are skills that are currently in high demand and others that may be in the future. I recommend researching and learning about three things: what you are good at, what you like, and what is valued in the workforce. These won't always align perfectly. Being educated is more valuable than any specific major. Higher education includes more than a 4-year university. I agree with Alexandra's recommendation. It is not an absolute requirement that you enroll in college right after you graduate high school. Working full-time and saving, apprenticeship programs, certificate programs, and certifications are all great options.
I recommend asking your close friends and family to recount their experiences. Yours will differ, but you may gain valuable insights from them. I also recommend networking with working professionals to learn about various education and career paths. You will meet individuals who work in vastly different fields than their college major but learned to transfer their skills to a different type of work.
Lastly, recommend developing a growth mindset. This will help you learn from any life experience. All the best as you work towards your future success.
Research all the available options to you after high school graduation.
Identify your strengths, interests, and workforce needs
Network with working professionals to learn about various education and career paths.
I don't believe there is one best overall college degree. After some time, your work and life experiences become more important than your college degree. There are skills that are currently in high demand and others that may be in the future. I recommend researching and learning about three things: what you are good at, what you like, and what is valued in the workforce. These won't always align perfectly. Being educated is more valuable than any specific major. Higher education includes more than a 4-year university. I agree with Alexandra's recommendation. It is not an absolute requirement that you enroll in college right after you graduate high school. Working full-time and saving, apprenticeship programs, certificate programs, and certifications are all great options.
I recommend asking your close friends and family to recount their experiences. Yours will differ, but you may gain valuable insights from them. I also recommend networking with working professionals to learn about various education and career paths. You will meet individuals who work in vastly different fields than their college major but learned to transfer their skills to a different type of work.
Lastly, recommend developing a growth mindset. This will help you learn from any life experience. All the best as you work towards your future success.
Juan recommends the following next steps:
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
845
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
I am not sure if there is a specific degree program for the 21st century. 2020 has highlighted that the medical and technological fields can use more creative minds and innovate minds. These fields require particular skills and mindsets. However, I would tell you that getting a college degree, any degree, would be good for you as a person in the 21st century. Your challenge is multi-fold with this. First of all, you should focus on a degree program that reflects your own desires, skills, and talents. I say this because when you have a passion for something and do it well, work can feel like a privilege rather than a burden. I feel blessed that I am able to do what I love, even when the work gets hard. Second, college debt can be a difficult burden to overcome. You do not have to go to an expensive, high level school to get a good education and a diploma that will get you a good job. You do not need to spend all four years at a major university. You can earn valuable credits at a lower cost at community colleges. As to setting yourself up for success, I would tell you to make sure that even after you have received your college diploma, keep learning. That learning does not always have to be related to your career. Constantly learn new things. This will keep you curious and creative. When you expand your knowledge of the world, you expand for yourself what is possible for you to achieve.
All this being said, I would finally recommend that you finish college as soon as you can once you have begun. Go down to part time or even take one class at a time, but move with focus to get that degree.
Gloria
I am not sure if there is a specific degree program for the 21st century. 2020 has highlighted that the medical and technological fields can use more creative minds and innovate minds. These fields require particular skills and mindsets. However, I would tell you that getting a college degree, any degree, would be good for you as a person in the 21st century. Your challenge is multi-fold with this. First of all, you should focus on a degree program that reflects your own desires, skills, and talents. I say this because when you have a passion for something and do it well, work can feel like a privilege rather than a burden. I feel blessed that I am able to do what I love, even when the work gets hard. Second, college debt can be a difficult burden to overcome. You do not have to go to an expensive, high level school to get a good education and a diploma that will get you a good job. You do not need to spend all four years at a major university. You can earn valuable credits at a lower cost at community colleges. As to setting yourself up for success, I would tell you to make sure that even after you have received your college diploma, keep learning. That learning does not always have to be related to your career. Constantly learn new things. This will keep you curious and creative. When you expand your knowledge of the world, you expand for yourself what is possible for you to achieve.
All this being said, I would finally recommend that you finish college as soon as you can once you have begun. Go down to part time or even take one class at a time, but move with focus to get that degree.
Gloria
Aditya Arun
Tutor and Student
5
Answers
Madison, Wisconsin
Updated
Aditya’s Answer
The most useful degree to any individual is the degree that supports their direction in life. Figure out what it is you wish to achieve in life. Think hard about the job that you would be happy doing for the rest of your life. Once you have that, try to find a degree that matches this passion. If your passion changes as you live life change your major or get another major. Be sure to choose the most suitable choice for you at this moment in time because at the end of the day you have to live with the choices you make. So, make your own decisions.
Alexandra McCoy
Site Reliability Engineer - SaaS Reliability Enablement
42
Answers
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
The advice that I would give to you is "life is a journey that has more than one path". There are many professionals who started out not knowing what direction they wanted to go in or what they wanted to do. There are also many professionals who knew exactly what they wanted to do at your age and ended up in a totally different career.
I think the important thing is to figure out what you like to do and do something. No matter what you do in life, I am a firm believer that we can learn from every experience and will end up using these learnings later on down the line.
If I understand correctly, it sounds like you want to go to college but you do not know where or what you want to study. If you have not applied to any schools, how about saving some money and taking a couple of course at your local community college? This way you can try some different courses you're interested in without paying to much.
If you have applied to colleges but have not selected which one you'd like to attend, and if I remember correctly, you have some time before you have to declare a major. You can take some of the core classes (math, english, art) that are required while doing further investigation with your counselor regarding what you want to do.
If you have not applied and do not want to take classes without being sure what you want to study, why not look into jobs in your local area and see if there are ways for you to get experience/mentoring from professionals who are currently doing what you believe you are interested in.
The advice that I would give to you is "life is a journey that has more than one path". There are many professionals who started out not knowing what direction they wanted to go in or what they wanted to do. There are also many professionals who knew exactly what they wanted to do at your age and ended up in a totally different career.
I think the important thing is to figure out what you like to do and do something. No matter what you do in life, I am a firm believer that we can learn from every experience and will end up using these learnings later on down the line.
If I understand correctly, it sounds like you want to go to college but you do not know where or what you want to study. If you have not applied to any schools, how about saving some money and taking a couple of course at your local community college? This way you can try some different courses you're interested in without paying to much.
If you have applied to colleges but have not selected which one you'd like to attend, and if I remember correctly, you have some time before you have to declare a major. You can take some of the core classes (math, english, art) that are required while doing further investigation with your counselor regarding what you want to do.
If you have not applied and do not want to take classes without being sure what you want to study, why not look into jobs in your local area and see if there are ways for you to get experience/mentoring from professionals who are currently doing what you believe you are interested in.
Hi Alexandria - this is great insightful advice.
Sheila Jordan