“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.” Henry Ford

I am sure that is a question a lot of young people are asking as they weigh their options beyond high school. I am also sure that for years they have probably been told, via many sources, that to prepare for a “great” career entails going on to college after high school. Concerned parents, wanting the best in every way for their child(ren), view college attendance as a must. That has been demonstrated recently through news headlines where some parents place such an emphasis on college attendance for their children that they have engaged in unconventional and sometimes illegal activities to make sure their child gets admitted to the “ultimate” college or university.

My intent of this article is not to say that a college degree is not necessary because for some professions it most definitely is. My intent is to get young people thinking and maybe asking questions as to what is the most important thing they may need to do before embarking on their journey following high school graduation. My suggestion and thought is that their first priority should possibly be trying to understand what it is they want to accomplish in life and what their professional goals might be. Once they understand that, then let that be the guiding force in making the decision about what path of higher education they should pursue. A college degree may or may not be the best avenue needed to reach the goal they’ve set for themselves..

Sometimes, I think we, as a society, have placed a huge emphasis on going to college and ignored all the other good and respectable career options out there that also provide a great standard of living. Maybe we need to get back to letting young people know the benefit of preparing for a career they are interested in and suited for even if it does not require attending a college or university.

Obtaining a 4-year college degree can be costly. As shown in my December 2018 post, that cost can range from $5,000/year up to $50,000+/year. Whether at the lower or higher end of this cost spectrum, it can prove to be a huge financial burden for the average family trying to send their child to college.

Keep in mind that even after obtaining that 4-year college degree, a growing number of students are beginning to question whether the time and expenditure was worth it as many are faced with excessive tuition debt that takes years to repay; or, they have a degree that is not as useful as they once thought because the demands of the job market does not match what they spent 4-years studying for; or, they’ve entered a profession that is not conducive to their interests.

Parents, your children are looking to you for guidance and advise. In that circle of advice please make sure that you listen to your child to understand and give support for what their interests are. They are going to be more productive in things (career choices) they are interested in. I say this from experience , as when my daughter, Stephanie, was making plans for her future she was adamant about things related to literature and communication. She had a goal to become a film director, producer and screenwriter like Francis Ford Coppola. She also loved writing poetry and reading books. I, as her mother, thought her goal to be far-flung and unrealistic, but did not discourage it. What I did, instead, was convince her to go first into the teaching profession so that she would have an income to fall back on as she was working toward her ultimate goal. Stephanie got her bachelor’s degree and then her master’s in education and she totally hated teaching once entering the profession. I regret to this day that I encouraged her to pursue something that she was not interested in at all as oppose to doing everything within my power to make sure she pursued her ultimate goal to the end.

As parents we have ideas about what we want for our children’s future, but please let their goals (as long as they are not harmful to them) be the ones that stick. We have to remember that every child will not grow up to be a doctor, lawyer, business executive, etc. Some of them will want to enter a profession that does not require going on for a 4-year degree as well. Just because a career does not require a college degree does not mean that it is not an honorable career that can pay a good salary and be something that a person can exceed in and find happiness.

Now that I have said that, please let me also state that most careers will require additional education and/or training beyond high school. Some will require advanced and/or professional degrees, other will require a 4-year college degree while others may require an associate degree or certificate. What one has to be cognizant of is that as a general rule, the more education and training required will usually result in a higher salary. That is the general rule and what most people have been taught through the years, but please know that now there are some professions where a person may have a bachelor degree, masters degree or even PhD and is still out-salaried by someone who has a lower level of education than they do. It depends on the profession and what the future job outlook and demand is for that particular profession. That is why it is a good idea for young people to do a little research to determine what jobs will be in demand as they prepare and train for their future. A good resource that can be referenced for listing of employment outlook for various profession is the federal government website of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Doctorate or Professional Degree

When a profession requires this type of degree, students will need to continue their educational pursuit beyond a 4-year college degree. Examples of some of the professions that fall in this category and their 2018 median income are as follows:

1. Physician (Family & General Practitioner $208,560)
2. Physician (Anesthesiologist $265,990)
3. Attorney ($141,890)
4. Post Secondary Teacher (College Professor $78,470)
5. Dentist ($156,240)
6. Psychologist ($79,010)
7. Pharmacist ($126,120)
8. Physical Therapist ($87,930)

Masters Degree

For a masters degree, students will typically have to go to school 2 years past a typical 4 year bachelor degree program. Some colleges and universities have combine bachelor and masters program which will allow one to complete the educational requirements in 5 years for the combine degree. Examples of some of the professions that typically require a masters degree and their 2018 median income are as follows:

1. Physician Assistant ($104,860)
2. Nurse Practitioner ($103,880)
3. Nurse Anesthetist ($165,120)
4. Economist ($102,490)
5. Computer Information Research Scientist ($114,520)
6. Mathematician/Statistician ($88,190)
7. Occupational Therapist ($84,270)
8. Clinical Social Worker ($49,470)

Bachelor Degree

Most bachelor degrees will take 4 years of educational investment at a college or university. Examples of some of the professions that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree and their 2018 median income are as follows:

1. Computer & Information System Manager ($139,220)
2. Airline Pilot, Co-Pilot ($137,280)
3. Petroleum Engineer ($132,280)
4. Actuary ($102,880)
5. Financial Advisor ($88,890)
6. Computer System Analyst ($88,740)
7. Computer Software Developer ($105,590)
8. Teacher (Kindegarten to High School $58,600 to $60,320)

Associate Degree

This is a degree that can be obtain at a community college, taking only 2 years to complete with a cost that can be as low as $45 per credit hour. Following are examples of some of the professions one can enter with an associate degree and their 2018 median income:

1. Register Nurse ($71,730)
2. Dental Hygienist ($74,820)
3. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer ($67,080)
4. Web Developer ($69,430)
5. Funeral Service Manager ($79,180)
6. Paralegal ($50,940)
7. Respiratory Therapist ($60,280)
8. Air Traffic Controller ($124,540)

Non-Degree Certificate, Apprenticeship or High School Diploma

Following are samples of careers one can enter with a high school diploma or after completing a certificate program and/or apprenticeship . Normally a certificate can be earned at a community college to indicate that an individual has received training to enter a particular profession. A certificate can be earned in as little as 1 or 2 semesters of study. An apprenticeship is on the job training one can receive from an experience worker that is currently employed in a particular profession. Listed below is also the 2018 median income for the the various professions:

1. Aircraft and Avionic Mechanic ($63,060)
2. Plumber ($53,910)
3. HVAC Technician ($47,610)
4. Surgical Technician ($47,300)
5. Welder ($41,380)
6. Electrician ($55,190)
7. Dental Assistant ($38,660)
8. Cosmetologist ($24,830)

Above is just a short listing showing various career options within each educational requirement category. There are many more out there. I would advise young people do a bit a research to find out what is the best fit for them. Talk to individuals already working in careers you may be interested in. If possible, shadow them for a day or two to get a first hand look at what the job entails. Just keep in mind that you should make your career choice taking in consideration those things that are suited to your own interest and personality type as well as future job outlook then let that determine your educational pursuit.

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