formulas for career success: higher learning

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Formulas for Career

Success: Higher Learning

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Formulas for Career Success: Higher Learning

Introduction

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Higher Learning• Is also known as post-secondary

education• Opportunities are available

for individuals with all types of career goals– some institutions and

programs focus on hands-on training, some involve theoretical study and many provide a mix of each

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Higher Learning Institutions• Are a great place for individuals to

grow and learn more about themselves and their career goals– many students move away from their

parents’ home for the first time– life-long friendships and connections

are often formed– opportunities for exploring interests

and career options are abundant

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Higher Learning• Is necessary to qualify for some

careers– an estimated 60 percent of all jobs in

the United States economy require some sort of post- secondary education

Did You Know? More than 21 million Americans are enrolled at institutions of higher learning.

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Higher Learning• Typically increases

earning potential– studies show individuals

with college degrees make about 84 percent more over their lifetimes than those with only a high-school diploma

Earning Potential: amount of money an individual should be able to earn in his or her career

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Median Annual Earningsof Full-Time Workers Ages 25 & Over

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Last Modified Date: March 23, 2012 via Minnesota Office of Higher Education: http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/dPg.cfm?pageID=948

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Higher Learning• Can provide more than just

credentials– people with a post-secondary

education are reportedly more likely to be satisfied with their jobs

– networking is a major benefit of post- secondary education

Networking: process of building and utilizing beneficial, professional relationships

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Higher Learning• Differs from high school in the

following ways:– amount of support and guidance

• developing relationships with professors and counselors is the responsibility of the student and may take more effort

– academic structure• class schedules are more varied and

flexible– academic assignments

• tests and papers are more in-depth and challenging

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Higher Learning• Requires the following:

– independent study– critical thinking– problem solving– time management– organization

– involvement– self-discipline– persistence– passion– hard work

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Higher Learning Institutions• Include:

– trade schools• also known as technical or vocational

schools– community colleges– junior colleges– colleges– universities

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Higher Learning Degrees• Include:

– certificates– licenses– associate degrees– bachelor’s degrees– master’s degrees– doctoral degrees

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Types of Degrees

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Higher Learning Programs• Vary greatly based on degree type,

area of study and institution• Include:

– professional certification and licenses– associate degrees– bachelor’s degrees– master’s degrees– doctoral degrees

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Professional Certification & Licenses

• Are earned to verify an individual’s qualification to perform a job

• Are granted by industry organizations, post-secondary institutions or the government

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Professional Certification • Is awarded by organizations or

institutions and is considered voluntary– however, it may be difficult to gain

employment without certification in some fields

– for example, Microsoft® offers certification programs for those in the information technology field

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Professional Licenses• Are typically regulated by

government agencies and are required by law for some careers– for example, state agencies regulate

licenses in the cosmetology field, and individuals must be licensed to legally provide cosmetology services

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• May require:– training and schooling

at a trade, vocational or technical school• typically two years or less• passing of an exam

– both training and the passing of an exam

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• Are required or recommended in the following career fields:– plumbing – auto repair– pest control– cosmetology– real estate– heating, ventilation and air conditioning– massage therapy

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• May also be required or recommended in some career fields which require one or more academic degrees– nursing– accounting– information technology– fitness training

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Undergraduate Degrees• Are fundamental academic degrees• Include:

– associate degrees – bachelor’s degrees

Did You Know? More than 2 million undergraduate degrees are awarded in the United States each

year.

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Associate Degrees• Are awarded by a variety of

institutions of higher learning• Require 60 to 80 credit hours

depending on program and major– approximately 20 courses

• Typically take two years of full-time study to complete

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Associate Degrees• Are required or recommended in the

following career fields:– dental hygiene– legal assisting– respiratory therapy– culinary arts– nursing– fitness training– hospitality

management

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Associate Degrees• May also allow students to transfer

to a four-year program– depending on the institution and

program, some associate degrees, sometimes known as transfer degrees, provide students credits toward a bachelor’s degree

Did You Know? After transferring, only the four-year school will appear on the bachelor’s degree

received upon graduation.

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Bachelor’s Degrees• Are also known as baccalaureate

degrees• Are awarded by undergraduate

institutions • Require 120 to 140 credit hours

depending on program and major– approximately 40 courses

• Typically take four years of full-time study to complete

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Bachelor’s Degrees• Are required or

recommended in the following career fields:– accounting– journalism– teaching/education– engineering (some types)– advertising– computer programming

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Graduate Degrees• Are advanced academic degrees

– a graduate degree cannot be earned without earning a bachelor’s degree

• Include:– master’s degrees– doctoral degrees

Did You Know? More than 750,000 graduate degrees are awarded in the United States each

year.

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Master’s Degrees• Are awarded by graduate institutions• Require 30 to 72 credit hours after a

bachelor’s degree is earned• May also require a written thesis or

dissertation• Typically take two to three years of

full-time study to complete

Graduate Institution: higher learning institution which grants graduate degrees

Dissertation: elaborate, comprehensive, independent research project contributing to the field of study

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Master’s Degrees• Are required or recommended in the

following career fields:– therapy– post-secondary education– architecture– library science– counseling– archeology

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Doctoral Degrees• Are also known as doctorates• Are awarded by graduate institutions• Require 48 to 72 credit hours after a

master’s degree is earned• Also require a written thesis or

dissertation• Typically take three to five years of

full-time study to complete

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Doctoral Degrees• Are required or recommended in the

following career fields:– law– medicine– veterinary medicine– research science– animal science– dentistry– biological science

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Professional Degrees• Are graduate degrees which focus

on skills and practical analysis over theory or research

• Are often required to work in certain professions or are intended to prepare the student for an exam required to work in a certain profession

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Professional Degrees• Include:

– Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)• needed to be a

medical doctor– Juris Doctor (J.D.)

• needed to be a lawyer – Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

• needed to be a priest or pastor– Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

• needed to be a veterinarian

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Higher Learning Programs• Provide students with increased

career possibilities– although education requirements vary

from employer to employer, many jobs require a minimum level of education• career fields listed in this segment are

classified by minimum education needed

• education beyond what is listed can make applicants more competitive and appealing

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Types of Institutions

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Higher Learning Institutions • Are classified as public or private

– public institutions are largely supported by government funds

– private institutions do not receive government funding, but are supported solely by tuition, endowment and donations

Endowment: account of donation funds invested in order to continuously generate income; the original endowment amount is left alone, while the income

it generates is available for spending

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Public vs. Private Institutions

Public Private

Generally less expensive

Generally more expensive

Tend to be larger Tend to be smaller

Often offer wider choice of majors

Often offer smaller range of majors

Larger class sizes common

Smaller class sizes common

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Higher Learning Institutions• Include:

– vocational, trade and technical schools– community and junior colleges– colleges and universities

Did You Know? Harvard University was founded in 1636, making it the oldest higher learning institution

in the United States.

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Vocational, Trade & Technical Schools

• Provide job-specific training• Award diplomas or certificates

depending on the area of study• May also prepare students

for a licensing exam• Offer formal classes and

hands-on training directly related to a student’s career of interest

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• Offer a wide range of programs depending on the institution– programs may take anywhere from a

few months to a few years to complete• Do not typically have on-campus

housing or other on-campus amenities available

• Are usually less expensive than traditional college and therefore considered a cost-effective option

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Community & Junior Colleges• Are also known as two-year colleges• Award associate degrees• May grant diplomas or certificates

based on area of study• Provide traditional classes with

flexible scheduling • Are typically less expensive than

four-year schools

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Community & Junior Colleges• Do not typically offer on-campus

housing– however, there are exceptions

• May or may not offer other on-campus amenities such as food services

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Colleges & Universities• Are four-year schools • Award bachelor’s degrees• May or may not offer

graduate degrees

Did You Know? The most commonly earned bachelor’s degrees are those in the field of

business.

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Colleges & Universities• Typically offer on-campus housing • May also offer other on-campus

amenities, including:– food services– fitness centers– game rooms– laundry service

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Colleges & Universities: What is the Difference?

The difference between a college and a university is unclear and often debated. Some say colleges offer fewer programs and are made up of departments,

whereas universities are larger and made up of schools and colleges. Others say colleges do not

include a graduate school, while universities do. In reality, the words have become nearly interchangeable

because neither of these rules is without exception. Typically, universities are larger and may include a

focus on scholarly or scientific research. Additionally, many universities also have professional schools such

as law school or medical school.

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Higher Learning Institutions• Come in a wide range of types and

sizes, providing programs for any career interest– regardless of the desired atmosphere

and career goals, there is a post-secondary school right for everyone

– extensive information is available from counselors, teachers and the Internet to help you discover where you will fit

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Factors to Consider

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Choosing a School• Is a difficult decision

– there are more than 6,700 post-secondary institutions in the United States

• Requires extensive research and careful consideration– the better informed

individuals become, the better the decision they are able to make

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Choosing a School• Requires individuals to ask

themselves the following questions:– What type of career should the

education prepare the individual for?– What major is preferred?– Is location important? How far from

home is acceptable? Is an urban or rural setting preferred?

– How important is size? Is a large, small or mid-size school favored?

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Choosing a School• Requires individuals to ask

themselves the following questions:– Is cost an issue? What is

affordable? Will financial aid be necessary?

– How important are amenities? What types are needed?

– Are there any activities which are considered vital? What types of college organizations might be interesting?

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Career Type• Should influence students’ choice of

school– majors vary from school to school, so

look for programs which are of interest– research required classes and available

electives– pay attention to schools’ reputations for

the field of study which is of interest

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Location• Is an important factor to consider

– think about how far away from home each school is and how often traveling back home will be possible

– consider if staying in-state is worth the savings on tuition

– investigate the size and atmosphere of the town or city where the school is located

– even weather may be an important factor

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Size• Of an institution and campus are

other important factors to weigh– research the student-to-faculty ratio

and typical class sizes– figure out how much personal attention

from advisors, counselors and professors will be needed

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Cost• May be a critical factor to

understand and contemplate– research the tuition costs at various

institutions– find out about available financial aid

opportunities such as scholarships and work-study programs• do not count out a school simply because

of cost, but be aware of its implications

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Amenities• May influence the choice

– some institutions offer many amenities such as food, fitness centers, on-campus apartments and transportation services

– decide what is vital, preferred or unnecessary • sacrifices may have to be made, but

knowing what is available can help narrow down possibilities and prevent disappointment or inconvenience after enrolling

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Activities & Organizations• Offered by an institution

could play a role in the decision– find out about clubs, teams

and organizations available at various institutions• look for activities which are

entertaining and fun• also consider organizations which

would help build valuable relationships and enhance a résumé

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Considering Factors• May be made easier

with the creation of a college preparatory notebook or binder– document all research

so it is available for review later – try ranking factors considered most

important, then rank schools in terms of each factor to help weigh the pros and cons

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Considering Factors• Should be a rigorous process taking

place over weeks or months– do not rush to judgment – set aside time to research– talk to former and current post-

secondary students to learn more about possible wants and needs

– visit institutions under consideration

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Admission Requirements

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Post-Secondary Institutions• Generally follow certain guidelines

when determining who will be accepted and who will be refused– although every institution is different,

those of the same type often have similar requirements

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• Typically require:– a high school diploma or GED– completion of an application and

interview– completion of one or more standardized

tests• some programs require a minimum score

on tests, while others use test scores to place students in appropriate classes

GED: general equivalency diploma; certificate considered equivalent to a high school diploma,

earned by taking a test

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Community & Junior Colleges• Often have open admissions,

meaning anyone with a high school diploma or GED is admitted– some will even accept non-high school

graduates who meet an age requirement

• May require standardized tests to be taken so students are placed in appropriate classes

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Colleges & Universities• Require:

– completion of an application– review of various aspects of students’

records, including:• grade point average• courses taken• standardized test scores• extracurricular activities• letters of recommendation• application essay

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Grade Point Average• Is also known as GPA and is the

average grade earned by a student, converted to a four-point scale– GPA ranges from 0.0 (an F)

to 4.0 (an A)• Establishes how well a

student has performed academically

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Courses Taken• May demonstrate a student’s

interests and ambition– are they challenging?– are they advanced

placement or honors classes?

– do any directly relate to the program to which the student is applying?

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Standardized Test Scores• Can indicate a student’s intelligence

and ability to systematically demonstrate knowledge

• Help to measure students against each other– tests include:

• SAT• ACT• ACCUPLACER

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Extracurricular Activities• Provide evidence of a student’s

interests and level of involvement– how many?– what types?– what skills do they emphasize?– do they relate to the program to which

the student is applying?• Examples include sports, fine arts,

student governance, community activities, etc.

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Letters of Recommendation• Should be written by teachers, coaches

or other adults who know the student well– people who are too close, such as

parents, family and friends, should not write letters because they are not considered credible

• Provide insight into who the student is and how others view him or her– who wrote them?– what do they emphasize about the

student?

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Application Essay• Is an indication of a student’s writing

and critical-thinking ability, as well as personality– is it well written?– is it descriptive and honest?– is it creative and original?– is it intriguing?

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The Admission Process• Varies greatly from institution to

institution– knowing an institution’s acceptance

rate often helps when determining how stringent the process is• some schools are very selective• some schools welcome most, if not all,

applicants

Did You Know? Harvard and Stanford Universities admit less than seven percent of applicants, the

lowest acceptance rates in the country.

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The Admission Process• Can be overwhelming and scary, but

staying organized can prevent missed deadlines– start researching requirements early– keep track of all requirements and

deadlines in a college preparatory notebook or binder

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Earning College Credit in

High School

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College Credits• May be earned while still in high

school– programs vary by state and by school– opportunities include:

• advanced placement (AP) classes• International Baccalaureate

Diploma Programme• dual enrollment• summer courses

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Advanced Placement Courses• Are also known as AP courses• Are introductory college-level

courses taught in high schools– include 34 subject areas– created and controlled by

The College Board

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Advanced Placement Courses• Include college-level curriculum

– critical thinking is encouraged– class discussion is common

• Conclude with an exam– students are rated on a five-point scale– students who score 4 or 5 on the exam

are able to qualify out of corresponding introductory college courses and may even receive college credits

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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

• Is also known as the IB program• Offers college-level courses through

a two-year integrated diploma program– consists of six subject groups– designed for the last two years of high

school

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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

• Includes college-level curriculum– in-depth research and writing are required– critical-thinking skills are developed– hands-on learning is encouraged

• Includes assessments throughout the program and a concluding exam– students with satisfactory performance

are awarded the International Baccalaureate diploma, which is recognized by universities around the world and generally worth college credit

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AP & IB• Are both more challenging than

normal high-school curriculum– faster pace– more research, reading and writing– in-depth lab experiences– comprehensive projects

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AP & IB• Are often compared because they

both offer college-level curriculum to high school students– the advantage of AP is the ability to

sign up for individual classes based on strengths and interests

– the advantage of IB is the integrated curriculum and international recognition of the program

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Dual Enrollment• Is a program allowing students to enroll

in college courses for credit while still in high school– courses are often taken at the college

campus, but may also be offered at the high school campus or even online

• Allows the transition from high school to college to be less daunting for a student– provides exposure to college curriculum

and often the college atmosphere

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Dual Enrollment• Course credits are often applied

toward high school and college graduation or may be transferred to other colleges and universities– depending on the institution and course

• Requirements may include a minimum age or grade point average

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Summer Courses• Are offered by many higher learning

institutions– these institutions often allow high

school students to enroll• Allow for full immersion in the

college atmosphere and experience without long-term commitment

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Summer Courses• Are a good option for

students who feel they might be overwhelmed by or too busy for AP, IB or dual enrollment– taking college courses during the

summer prevents conflicts with normal high school commitments, such as extracurricular activities

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Earning College Credit• During high school is

challenging and requires hard work and dedication– before signing up:

• research options to find what would best fit needs

• think about if the extra work would be manageable

• talk to school counselors, parents and even friends for advice and guidance

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Earning College Credit• During high school can be beneficial in

many ways– provide opportunity to get basic college

courses out of the way early, allowing for focus on areas of interest once in college

– enhance transcript and résumé– act as preparation for full college

immersion– allow for early career exploration and self-

discovery

formulas for career success: higher learning

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