Posts Tagged ‘choose a college’

Does It Make Sense to Go to an Art College?

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

More than likely, you’ve heard at least one or two people state that going to an art college has many downsides when it comes to entering the job market.  This leaves many students wondering whether or not they should attend an art college at all.  Currently, this question has more weight and importance than in past years, and here is why.  The cost of education is soaring at a pace that is far out of step with virtually every other industry and is greatly outstripping the rate of inflation.  Of course, this means that student debt is higher than ever.  As many people are discovering, the promise of a college education serving as a “ticket” to a good job and at least a middle class income and existence isn’t necessarily a fact anymore.

So what does this mean for you, the high-school student considering pursuing an art degree?  Does it mean that you should forget your ambitions regarding your art and begin studying international finance?  Not exactly, but it only seems logical that based on the shifting reality of economic realities you need to consider how to handle your art school ambitions a little more carefully than past generations.

Can you still go to art school and then transition into a decent paying job in the corporate world relatively easily?  It depends upon factors ranging from what you studied in art school to how talented you really are (and not just how good you think you are!)  Harsh?  Not really, keep in mind that harsh is not being able to find a real and substantial job in a highly competitive job market.

If your passion is to attend art school, and you will be using direct federal student loans or private loans to make it happen, then it is necessary to create a resume that helps ensure your prospects of employment.  Is it smart to “marry” your art school degree with some sort of business degree or other degree that might give you the ability to apply for a wider range of jobs?  It would certainly seem that such a step makes sense from an economic perspective.  The other option could be working jobs that don’t necessarily reflect your education and waiting for the economic outlook for recent graduates to improve.

The key may very well be to think of ways that you can combine another degree with your art degree so that you are more employable.  This may not be what you want out of your college experience or your life, but neither is working a minimum or near minimum wage job with little or no hope for advancement.  If you take this route will you ultimately sell out your art ambitions?  That is, of course, up to you and how hard you work to find a way of creating a blend of skill sets that allow you to at least have your foot in the door of the creative world.

Don’t completely depend on guidance counselors for advice in this regard, but reach out to successful creative people and ask them for their opinions.  You will be surprised how many successful, creative people are willing to help a young artist that is confused about the next step.  Above all else, plan and demonstrate your creativity firsthand by how you build your own resume so that you are employable after art school!

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Looking at Your College Picks from a Different Perspective

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

A great deal of work can go into deciding what kind of college or university you should select.  This is an area where people feel completely comfortable giving you advice… and a lot of it!  If you treat the process of selecting a college or university seriously, the odds are good that you will make the right decision.  With that stated, however, you also want to take in information from many sources and consider a variety of options.  Let’s take a look at two books that might change your perspective on the kind of college or university that is a good pick for you.  If you think that the only way to select a college is to find a college by major or select a college based on college dorm life, these books may just change your mind.

Cool Colleges by Donald Asher

Cool Colleges: For the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming and Just Plain Different by Donald Asher isn’t aiming to please everyone and be for everyone.  The title makes this just about as clear as it could be.  If you are thinking that the “cool” colleges in this book can’t actually be that “cool”- then think again.

Author Donald Asher has hit a real home run.  The colleges that he discusses in this book are indeed quite, quite cool.  What is particularly impressive is the diversity of the colleges covered.  Everything from schools that don’t give grades to totally free schools to same sex schools are covered.

If you are a student that is looking for a different type of college experience, you really do need to pick up this book.  Viewed from this perspective, Cool Colleges is highly recommended.  Parents of students who are uninterested in college and talking about “not bothering” could benefit tremendously from reading this one!

Here is what makes Cool Colleges highly unique; it is an interesting read even for those who have no interest in attending college.  This book has the very rare distinction of being a good read for those without any stake in getting into college.  You might not think its a page turner, but there are just too many quirky and interesting facts in it to not find Cool Colleges at least slightly entertaining.

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope is thought provoking.  After reading this book, you might feel less motivated to attend certain expensive schools and turn more in favor of other options.  If you think that feeling this way is impossible, wait until you’ve finished this book.

There is no doubt that author Pope is very serious regarding her mission to change the way that people see higher education.  Now, if you are obsessed with going to a big name school so that you have all the prestige that comes with the “name,” well, you should probably avoid reading this book, as it might depress you a little.  However, for everyone else, this is an interesting read.  In fact, everyone who wants to get the most out of their educational experience will like reading this book.

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Are Only High Paying Majors Worth The Time?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

You’ve probably heard a good deal about the wildly increasing price tag of a university or college degree.  This is not to state that there are still not great deals in education to be found, but there is no doubt that these deals are far harder to find and require much more research than in days past.

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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Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a Major, College Classes, College Search, Preparing for College | No Comments »

8 Reasons to Consider Out-of-State Colleges and Universities

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

While parents may prefer that their High School graduate consider in-state colleges and universities, it is not unusual for students to push for an out-of-state experience. High-schoolers considering colleges often find out-of-state options alluring, to be able to spread their wings, especially if their college of choice holds the lure of prestige. Before restricting your sights on in-state schools, consider these possible benefits of an out-of-state college experience.

Specialized Programs
An out-of-state school may be a good thing to consider if the school specializes in a degree program not offered at a college near home. Some degrees – for example Zoology, Nuclear Physics, Veterinary Medicine, Contemporary Music, Nutritional Science, or Women’s Studies – are less commonly offered across the board.

Lower Tuition Costs
The cost for attending some out-of-state colleges may actually be less than an in-state college. For example, a California resident attending the University of California at Santa Barbara costs around $30,000. That same student may attend the University of Arkansas for around $26,000, Purdue University in Indiana for around $28,000, or the University of Kansas for around $23,000.

Greater Independence
Attending a school that is too far away to visit home regularly will require you to develop greater independence, life skills, and self-reliance. If you’re solely responsible for remembering schedules, making and keeping appointments, shopping, healthy eating, laundry, budgeting and bill paying, this gives you an excellent crash course toward confident adulthood.

Out-of-State Scholarships
In these very tight financial times some colleges are having difficulty keeping enrollment up and they may be offering more scholarship opportunities to out-of-state students. Some examples of this are Portland State in Portland, Oregon which offers scholarships to students from several of the western states entering degree programs that are not available to them in their home state. Michigan State offers scholarships to out-of-state pre-med students. Some colleges have scholarships for which all out-of-state incoming freshmen are considered. If money is an issue for you, this is definitely worth considering.

Finding The Right Campus Vibe
In some cases, the college environment may be a good reason for considering an out-of-state college. If a student has grown up in a town of 20,000 persons, enrolling them in a college with a student body of 30,000 may be too overwhelming (or it might be just what you want for a total change of lifestyle!). See what options suit your preferences in your home state and compare them with colleges in other states that offer the environment and opportunities that you want.

New Cultural Experiences
An out-of-state college may offer the student a new cultural experience. There are marked differences in the lifestyles of people from Southern California and Fayetteville, Arkansas, or people from New York City and Phoenix Arizona. A different area of the country will afford you the opportunity to experience new foods, different geography, and perhaps a climate change. Seeing snow for the first time is just as exciting for a Hawaiian student in Massachusetts as going to the beach in February for a New Englander studying in Florida.

Career Prospects
Your career choice may play a role in the decision to consider an out-of-state college, if you already know what path you want to take. With some occupations, the college where the degree was earned can be extremely important. Institutions like Harvard Law, John Hopkins Medical, or MIT for math and sciences may significantly impact job opportunity, but it’s also important to remember it’s what you do with your experience, regardless of where you study.

Employment While In College
If you will need to hold a part-time job, and that is increasingly an issue, consider the employment opportunities in the area near the college. Some states have been more heavily impacted by the down-turn in the economy, so part-time job opportunities may be more plentiful in another state.

College is a big step for the High School graduate and for mom and dad. Choosing the right college is a significant undertaking, with many things to be considered, but ultimately you want to find a place where you’ll feel happy, be able to pursue the academic and extracurricular activities that you’re interested in, and feel comfortable. When doing your college search, don’t ignore out-of-state options. Even if you pick one as your wildcard choice to apply, you never know, it might end up being your favorite!

Author Bio: Tal Baron writes for Smart Meetings, a corporate events guide for planning Boston conferences.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Search, Guest post | No Comments »