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How do I make a good college choice when I don't know what specific career I want, but have a general sense?
Affordability and location are important also. #career #college #path
7 answers
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Matthew’s Answer
Hi Test. Although there is an unnecessary stigma against Community College, I think it is a very reasonable option to take. You don't have to commit to any particular career yet. Your concern for affordability would also benefit from going to Community College. At the end of the 2 years, you may have a better idea of career paths you'd like to pursue and can transfer to another University.
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Frank’s Answer
Hello Test,
Deciding where to continue your education can already be difficult even if you have an idea of a career you want but even if you are unsure of a specific career you might have a few you are interested in. If there are a few you are interested in, I would look at schools that offer classes for those career paths so you still have time to figure it out and do not have to worry about transferring. You can even do research into how the school measures up to its peers in those fields. I know from experience I went into college thinking I wanted to do computer forensics but after taking some of the classes and talking to teachers about what it would be leading to, I decided to switch to computer science which was luckily for me alone the same education path I was already on and offered by my college. Just keep in mind what you want to do and keeping options open is not a bad thing. Good luck with your future growth.
Deciding where to continue your education can already be difficult even if you have an idea of a career you want but even if you are unsure of a specific career you might have a few you are interested in. If there are a few you are interested in, I would look at schools that offer classes for those career paths so you still have time to figure it out and do not have to worry about transferring. You can even do research into how the school measures up to its peers in those fields. I know from experience I went into college thinking I wanted to do computer forensics but after taking some of the classes and talking to teachers about what it would be leading to, I decided to switch to computer science which was luckily for me alone the same education path I was already on and offered by my college. Just keep in mind what you want to do and keeping options open is not a bad thing. Good luck with your future growth.
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Test,
Unless you are in a very specific field, your college choice should be about location and cost. These days colleges are very similar in their results. Businesses are looking for a college degree from an accredited college or university. They rarely ask you where you graduated from, just that you did and that it can be proven. Again, unless you are in a specific field, the degree program often doesn't matter either. For example, in my job in learning and development, skill is often more important than the degree you earned. I have peers who have degrees in Education, English, and Computer Science. A college degree often opens the door to a variety of careers, not just those in the degree program that you study. Like I said, this can be different for careers like Law and Business where the college you go to can influence where you work or how quickly you are hired.
Gloria
Unless you are in a very specific field, your college choice should be about location and cost. These days colleges are very similar in their results. Businesses are looking for a college degree from an accredited college or university. They rarely ask you where you graduated from, just that you did and that it can be proven. Again, unless you are in a specific field, the degree program often doesn't matter either. For example, in my job in learning and development, skill is often more important than the degree you earned. I have peers who have degrees in Education, English, and Computer Science. A college degree often opens the door to a variety of careers, not just those in the degree program that you study. Like I said, this can be different for careers like Law and Business where the college you go to can influence where you work or how quickly you are hired.
Gloria
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Hi there. I think going into college with a general sense of your future career is more than most people, believe it or not. Going in with an open mind is what I suggest. Take classes in as many different areas as possible to get a better idea of options. It's ok to not know exactly what you want to do - it's normal! I also recommend looking into Liberal Arts schools so you can gain a well-rounded education, have access to professors and leaderships opportunities. Good luck!
Updated
Paula’s Answer
Hello Test A.
A good option to consider would be to perhaps see if there are any short courses you can do on line or at your local college to give you a sense of different topics and working styles. This would also help you to learn some of the disciplines required when considering a particular course. Some online studying courses may offer short courses of 4 weeks or 2 months, etc. as "taster" courses without committing to something more long term. I hope this helps.
A good option to consider would be to perhaps see if there are any short courses you can do on line or at your local college to give you a sense of different topics and working styles. This would also help you to learn some of the disciplines required when considering a particular course. Some online studying courses may offer short courses of 4 weeks or 2 months, etc. as "taster" courses without committing to something more long term. I hope this helps.
Updated
James’s Answer
I would recommend spending some time researching liberal arts colleges. The liberal arts teach you 'how' to think, and from there you're able to apply learning to a number of professional industries and career paths. Liberal arts colleges also offer a wide variety of majors, though there is a typically a core set of classes your need to take in order to graduate from the program.
Updated
Madi’s Answer
The way to make a good college choice is to weigh the different factors. Factors can include: your majors of interest, the price, how far it is from your current home, whether you want to live on campus or commute, scholarships and aid offered, demographics, etc. So while you may not know exactly what major you want to choose right now, you may know the answers to the other factors. This way, you can choose a school that meets all your other needs and then research the majors and courses at that college that interest you.
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