All of this has left people wondering not just how to survive college or college dorm life, but whether or not they should attend college in the first place.  Additionally, many students are also wondering if they should only attend college if they are going to major in a career with a “big pay day.”  Increasingly, people are beginning to question whether or not college makes sense for everyone.

While there is no denying that the job market is far tougher than in the past, some other facts are also undeniable.  College graduates still earn far more than those with just a high school degree.  Those who go on and get professional degrees earn even more than those who earn college degrees.  Or stated another way, college still does pay.

Yet, the world is full of people with graduate degrees working minimum wage jobs.  This is a fact of life and a reflection of the current economic situation which is, unfortunately, likely to continue for some years to come.  So what is a student considering college to do?

No matter what kind of college degree you get, you will be more employable than those without a college degree.  This is just a fact. While you might be thinking twice about a degree without a big payoff, you’re still better off with a degree of some kind.

Not all high-paying degrees are right for everyone.  After all, a job that makes you truly miserable is one that you will not do forever.  Many people don’t actually stay with the careers that they are trained to do.  The reason for this is that once they enter the workforce and enter their chosen career, they hate it.  The money looks great on paper, but they discover after they begin the job that it’s not for them.  This is definitely a factor for every student to consider and here is why.  College degrees can be expensive, and professional degrees can be doubly so.  The last thing you want is to be stuck with a massive college bill without a career path to pay for it.

So on one hand you are better off with a college degree, but you also have to consider how much your degree will allow you to earn when you graduate and how much your college debt will be.  All of this underscores how important it is to have good advice and a knowledgeable mentor or two.  Also investigating all of your options is essential.

You can find the right college for your needs and one that will help you plot out your future career.  Just remember to plan well in advance, and weigh all of the choices before making a decision.

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1. Get Your Medical Degree Online: What You Need To Know
2. 5 Unique College Majors (and the Cool Jobs They Can Land You)
3. The Many Faces of Continuing Education

The costs of a college education are rising dramatically faster than inflation.  This means that being able to afford a college education is no longer as easy as it once was.  In fact, college graduation rates appear to be going down, not up, for the first time in decades.  While this is a complex topic, it is also tied into the issue of knowing your major.

There is no doubt it can be very difficult to decide what you want your major to be at the age of 17 or 18.  In short, it is actually pretty unfair.  For many students, the cold hard truth is that deciding your major may come down to being a financial decision.

The “financial wrinkle” in deciding your major means that it is worth the time you will invest to closely decide what career path and degree program is right for you.  The odds are excellent that you will have ample advice and perhaps even considerable pressure from your parents and others.  If they are paying for your college, this could prove to be another wrinkle in your equation.  Yet, ultimately it is your life, and you will have to live with the decisions.  So, if you just know you are going to strongly dislike a given career, this is something that you must consider in advance!

Clearly, the sooner you can decide on a major, the better off you will be.  Once you are in college, you may change your mind.  But there are some ways that you can safeguard against this happening and keep from spending a fortune in the process.  Focusing on general requirements while taking one or two classes in your major is a good idea.  The chances are good that if you are destined to truly hate a given major, you will know it or at least have a strong suspicion after a couple of classes.

Picking a major is tricky… and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!  Deciding upon a major can, in many cases, be deciding upon a career.  That is a pretty serious responsibility with a lot of pressure.  Deciding that you are on the wrong path early in college can be just as important as picking the right major to begin with.

Your most important question isn’t how far in advance you should be selecting your major.  Instead, you should be figuring out how to take the steps necessary to make sure that you are selecting a major that will lead to a successful career and long term happiness.  In the end, keep this fact in mind; experts believe that in the future, people will be switching careers numerous times over the course of their lives.  So even if you do make a mistake, there may still be hope.

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1. Choosing a College Major You Can Live With
2. Why an Undecided Major isn’t So Bad: High Point University
3. College Rumors Get Ironed Out

The clock is ticking! Get ready for college life!

We know lots of you are heading off to college soon. To get you in the mood, we’re re-posting one of our greatest hits: 10 of the best movies about college life.  Why? Well, as unrealistic as these depictions of college life might be, they’re sure to get you ready for the new school year!

Accepted (2006). This clever comedy, starring up-and-coming actors Justin Long and Jonah Hill, is about what happens when a student doesn’t get into his favorite college: he decides to create his own. It may not exactly be credible, but you’re bound to find plenty of laughs in this lighthearted film.

Dead Man on Campus (1998). In this dark comedy, two students on the verge of failing go looking for a suicidal roommate to exploit a little-known campus rule: any student whose roommate commits suicide will receive perfect grades for the semester. As you might imagine, things don’t go exactly as planned.

Road Trip (2000). Starring Tom Green (whatever happened to him?) and a host of other notable names, this movie takes on the legendary college tradition of the road trip, filled with plenty of gross-out humor.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984). This classic film of the 1980s is one championed by geeks and nerds everywhere. If your dream is to start the next Google, this is the movie for you.

Van Wilder (2002). This National Lampoon film about a guy who spends seven years at college majoring in partying is full of fun.

Old School (2003). This hilarious film, starring Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, and Vince Vaughn, is about what happens when three middle-aged men try to recapture their college glory days.

Animal House (1978). One of the all-time college classics, this movie frightened parents everywhere with its portrayal of hard-drinking and partying college students. As you’ll notice when you arrive at school, John Belushi is the official mascot of college boys everywhere—it’s time to get acquainted.

PCU (1994). This gross-out college comedy features Jeremy Piven in a starring role, well before he entered the limelight for his infamous agent role on Entourage.

American Pie 2 (2001). American Pie was a classic high school comedy, and its first sequel follows the whole gang to college for even more hilarious and often disgusting humor.

Undeclared (2001). Technically, this is a TV show, not a movie—but we needed to include it anyway. Created by Judd Apatow (the director of 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), and starring now-famous actors like Jason Siegel and Seth Rogen, this short-lived series offers an offbeat, sentimental, and hilarious look at college life that looks a lot like the real thing.

Stay tuned next week for more great college tips. Subscribe to our blog today so you don’t miss a thing!

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Don't let the work pile up--schedule in study time!

Ensure Your College Success

Network – College is a great time to network. It’s not only a good idea for what comes after college (you know, real life) but it’s doubly good in case you miss a class due to illness! If you can’t be in class, you will have someone else that you can call to find out what you missed—and to have a set of notes from the day’s lecture to copy!

Eat Well – Now more than ever your college cafeteria offers a ton of meal choice. Sure, you can eat French fries and a burger every single day—but don’t! The Freshman fifteen is avoidable but more than that, a healthy diet can keep you, well, healthy!

Get Involved – The wall flower will never have the college experience they had hoped! College is a time to try new things: Get involved in clubs and activities, don’t be afraid to chat up anyone who sits beside you in your college classes, and make your Freshman year everything you wanted. Bonus: If you miss class due to illness, you will have someone around to fill you in on what happened as well as give you notes to copy.

Know Your Professors – Your college professors aren’t just there to lecture, pass out assignments, and assign research papers. While it might seem scary, introduce yourself personally after class (maybe come up with a question about the course as an ice breaker). Knowing your college professor can be really helpful if you run into scheduling conflicts later. If you join the ranks of the majority of college freshman and end up changing your major, having a mentor in the field that you are interested in is invaluable!

Study Time – This might sound a little silly but you should think about scheduling yourself time to study! It’s very easy to fall into the “I’ll get to that later” routine and later never seems to happen. College isn’t like high school. You will have lots of reading and studying to do just about every night. Stay on top of it early to keep it down to a minimum because cramming for a test at the last minute? It just isn’t fun.

Next Year

Don’t stop there! Make a mental note to carry out our advice throughout your college career. Good study habits, networking with others, and having a back-up plan in case of illness is always a good idea, no matter what year in school you are!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Opensourceway.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Rice University

There is a difference between selective schools and Ivy League schools. In general, Ivy League refers to athletics and encompasses schools like Harvard and Yale. However, there are many selective schools that aren’t considered Ivy League, like MIT and Stanford University, that are also competitive.

Selective Colleges

While any college is more likely to accept a well-rounded student with a great GPA, at a selective college? It’s doubly important! Your involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, and other activities is a key factor of college admission—and having more than good grades is a big part of achieving admission at your dream school.Selective schools are in great demand yet typically admit a very small percentage of students who apply.

Less—Selective or Non-Selective Colleges

Don’t let the term fool you: A non-selective college doesn’t mean they let just anybody in! Like any other college, a non-selective will still have standards. They usually operate on a more open admission basis, or rolling admission, where they will accept college applications until their student body is full—which is good news for you if you decide to apply at the last minute!

Who Gets in to Selective Colleges, Anyway?

Selective colleges admit the best of the best: those over-achievers who are very involved in not only their high school or homeschool groups but their community as well. They have taken (and survived) AP classes and Honors courses and passed with flying colors. They may be fluent in a second language or have some other well-developed talent or skill.

MIT

Highly selective schools consider many factors of college admission. They look at your application as a whole and decide whether or not they need someone who fits your profile.

If they have only one cello player who happens to be graduating that Spring, and you happen to play the Cello, you might get in. The same goes for students from a particular state. If the school needs a student from that state so they can mention with pride that they have students from every state in the US, you might get in.

Again, don’t think that this means that your GPA, test scores, and community service don’t matter—they most certainly do! However, a selective college has many factors to consider. Your legacy status and notable achievements are just another piece to fit into the selective college admissions puzzle.

Where Do You Fit In?

Public or private college, big campus or small, it doesn’t matter—any college can be selective or non-selective. The key to choosing a college isn’t about shooting for the most selective school, it’s about looking for the school that is the right fit for you!

Image #1 Courtesy of Flickr, Onilad.
Image #2 Courtesy of Flickr, Francisco Diez.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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3. 3 Ways to Get into Your First Choice College (Besides Getting Good Grades)

College Graduation Rates

College Graduation Rates

The college graduation rate simply lets you know how many students stick through to the end. Colleges are required to publish their graduation rates—but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to find!

Dig around on the school’s website or look for it in one of the giant college information books found at your local library. Of course, you can also get the information from college admissions.

High College Graduation Rates

A college with a high percentage of graduation rates can tell you a few things.

The college may have a very strong financial aid program in place to help students pay for continuing their studies. Low income students aren’t forced to drop out when there is ready financial aid available. This can be more readily apparent in a high graduation rate (you can check out our list of low-income friendly colleges and universities, too) but you should never cross a school off your list based on sticker price! You just never know how much add you will get.

Sometimes, a high graduation rate can mean that a college has a lot of resources available to help students achieve their goals. For example, a school with a high graduation rate may have a well-stocked college library, updated equipment, and easy access to tutors and other peer mentors. Students who can find help and support tend to stay put.

Admissions may have sought out students who met and exceeded the factors of college admission. Admissions may have admitted students who have already shown a demonstrated success in high school—and let in those they believe will keep up the good work in college!

Where You Fit In

Don’t think that a college with a lower graduation rate is something to ignore. Make the college campus visit, find out more detail about the programs and majors that your interested in, and see if it feels like the right fit for you! Sometimes, the numbers just don’t tell you everything you need to know—so visit the campus and see for yourself!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, ajagendorf25.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

Related posts:

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If you’re not a dreamer, or an “out-of-the-box” thinker, you might not enjoy engineering.

Why choose Engineering?
Applying math and science, engineers design practically everything from bridges to electrical systems. If you are a creative person who wants to know the fundamentals of how something works and to design your projects, then engineering is for you! Engineering is also a desirable career, with many graduates landing high-paying jobs right out of college.

Forget the Myths about Engineering: What are the Facts?
Engineers make a difference in people’s lives. Look around you. Everywhere you can see the effect engineering has on the world. Engineers have designed buildings, cars, computers and machines used by medical professionals. They take a problem and seek a solution. They study the current methods of doing things and develop new and better ways of doing them. Engineering is exciting and rewarding, and its results are beneficial to the lives of everyone.

Engineering is not just sitting behind a computer. In fact, you can make a huge difference in the lives of millions of people through your work. It’s not all about drafting and crunching formulas. Engineers envision the world that could be, not just the world that is.

"Engineers determine what people need or want and figure out the best way to deliver it."

Engineers determine what people need or want and figure out the best way to deliver it. It can be something as simple as an improved garbage bag that is tear-resistant or as complex as designing a large deluxe cruise ship to accommodate thousands of people.

What about Engineering Majors?
At Tennessee Tech, students can choose a major in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, as well as Industrial Technology or Computer Science. Sub-concentrations are offered within many of these majors. See the chart below.

"Freshmen students who have not decided on a specific engineering discipline may enter Basic Engineering rather than a specific major."

Freshmen often need time to decide what engineering major best fits their interests and talents. Basic Engineering faculty prepare TTU engineering majors with the foundation, knowledge and skills required to succeed. Freshmen students who have not decided on a specific engineering discipline may enter Basic Engineering rather than a specific major. This is a common situation for many entering students, who often have not had sufficient exposure to the various engineering disciplines to make a selection.

The Basic Engineering curriculum in your freshman year typically includes: fundamental subjects, such as calculus, chemistry, and English writing; engineering skills, such as engineering graphics and computer programming; an overview of the engineering profession, including laboratory activities and a team-based design project; and elective courses in the area of humanities and fine arts.

Did we see something about military service members completing an Engineering degree and being guaranteed a job?
At Tennessee Tech, we have many options for future, current and former military service members. One program in particular is the Scientific, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program. STEM is an opportunity for military service members to complete an Engineering degree in Tennessee, with a job waiting for them with one of Tennessee’s leading companies. The program primarily matches the military service, discipline and skills of non-commissioned officers to our region’s future technical needs.

STEM works with each participant’s unique situation and when necessary helps veterans find part-time employment, provides community sponsors, and offers academic mentors and match graduates with engineering jobs.

"All students majoring in Engineering are eligible to participate in the co-op program."

In addition to STEM, Tennessee Tech is home to a chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). SAME is the premier professional military engineering association in the United States. The Society connects public sector and private industry professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and environmental and facility management fields to strengthen the nation’s security. Membership in this organization provides students with valuable professional development opportunities.

What are a few of Tennessee Tech University’s Engineering program highlights?
Tennessee Tech University has the largest undergraduate College of Engineering in the state as a percentage of the entire university. We have a very vibrant Co-Op Program. Co-op stands for cooperative education program. All students majoring in Engineering are eligible to participate in the co-op program. This is when a student has an off-campus work assignment in industry or with a governmental agency. Employers determine the salaries and pay students directly. Students must submit a work report and will receive a grade.

Our Engineering alumni are currently working all over the world. Some of the companies that have hired our recent graduates include IBM, TVA, Motorola, Nissan and NASA. They may also work for banks, hospitals, mining companies, consulting firms, national laboratories and many other places. Average starting salaries across the nation for bachelor’s degree graduates in Engineering range from $50,000 to $60,000, depending on the particular major (see list below). TTU has a high placement rate for engineering graduates in their chosen field at or immediately following graduation.

National Averages for Engineering Graduates

Chemical Engineering:  $64,641

Civil Engineering:  $48,885

Computer Engineering:  $59,298

Electrical Engineering:  $61,690

Mechanical Engineering:  $60,598

What’s on the agenda for 2011?
At Tennessee Tech, our programs undergo continual self-assessment and program renewal. We offer strong programs that provide engineers a broad education in the fundamental principles of their selected discipline that can carry them forward for successful and lasting careers. We provide an education as contrasted with training.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Twitter List of Online Colleges

As an adult learner, your time is precious! Even though Twitter can turn into a potential time suck, why not put your Twitter account to good use! Start connecting to the schools you are interested in. Whether or not you are ready to go back to college right now and work toward your online bachelor’s degree or if it is in the not-too distant future, you will be able to quickly find out about exciting online classes and new majors just for adult learners using our handy list of online colleges.

The Big List of Online Colleges on Twitter

Get connected. Just remember that if you are going to engage with any of these schools from our list of online colleges, that you are always on your best behavior. On-campus or online college, schools still care about what students they admit—so if you don’t censor yourself, you may want to refrain from using your real name!

Your Turn

Have you seen any schools that My College Guide needs to add to our list of online colleges? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add them to Part 2. Four year colleges with online degrees or online only colleges that cater to adult learners – well, we’ll take them all!

…And Then

Need some advice regarding social media and online colleges? We’ve got the truthful information that you need. Stay tuned to My College Guide for more great Twitter lists of online colleges, iPad apps, and more to help adults just like you make the transition to college.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on programs, browse through our list of online colleges, and find the right career for you!

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Best Online Degree for Fashion

Are you the type of person who always has to put her own stamp on her clothes? Do you find yourself dissecting outfits—and putting together better ones in your head? Then a career in fine arts like fashion design might be a good fit for you.

You’ll be immersed in courses about sewing and tailoring, pattern making, fabrics and more! By the time you graduate, you’ll have the skills you need to break into the fashion industry—and the degree to prove it!

Fashion Merchandising

If your goal is to open a boutique or buy clothing for a department store, you might want to look into a career in fashion marketing. You’ll take a variety of business and marketing courses, as well as coursework designed to give you the technical skills you’ll need to excel in the fashion industry.

Fashion Photography

If you prefer to look at the world from behind a camera lens, and find yourself mentally art directing everyday situations to display clothes at their best angle, you might be well suited to fashion photography.

When you choose a fashion photography degree program, you’ll take photography and art design courses, as well as classes in history and fashion design! Breaking into the fashion photography business can be tough—but this type of degree will give you the edge you need!

Interior Design

If you’re more interested in the beautiful furniture used in photo shoots than the people who sit on them, you may be interested in an interior design career. An interior design program will teach you about artistic techniques and interior design principles, as well as drafting, CAD and even construction theory. An interior designer has to know a little bit about everything!

There’s no shortage of career options for fashionistas. So let your fingers do the walking over the virtual catwalk and find the best online degree for you!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Thomas Hawk.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the best online degree programs to get you on the road to the right career for you!

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Get your medical degree online

To actually get the letters M.D. after your name, you’ll still have to attend a traditional, campus-based medical school—but many other healthcare careers can begin with a medical degree online!

Nursing—A Great Choice for a Medical Degree Online

Whether you’re looking to take the first steps into nursing with an associate’s degree, or you want to advance your career by getting your bachelor’s of science in nursing, there are plenty of online nursing programs to choose from.

After graduation, you’ll have to take the licensing exam, but after you pass, a whole new world of job opportunities awaits!

Medical Coding—An In-Demand Specialty

Medical coders are the people who translate medical visits and procedures into the codes needed to bill insurances companies and keep the payment cycle moving. That makes them very important people! Best of all, you don’t need a lot of schooling to become a medical coder. Instead, you’ll attend a vocational program that prepares you for the certification exam. It generally takes less than a year!

Work in Healthcare Administration With A Medical Degree Online

Doctors and nurses are the public face of hospitals and other medical facilities. But working behind the scenes are dozens of healthcare administrators. These professionals make sure the medical staff has everything they need to care for their patients—and work to keep the hospital running! Their responsibilities range from human resources to long term service line planning—and everything in between.

To become a healthcare administrator, you’ll need to get at least a bachelor’s degree. But if your goal is to move into upper management, you should consider getting a master’s degree. The good news? You can complete all your schooling online!

So Many Online Medical Degree Options, So Little Time

Whatever your interest, there’s sure to be a medical degree online for you. Become a massage therapist! Explore the world of acupuncture! Get certified as a surgical technologist! It’s all there waiting for you. No matter which avenue you decide to pursue, a medical degree online can be a great way to start a new, rewarding career!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, RambergMediaImages.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on the best medical degree online programs to get you on the road to the right career for you!

Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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