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The number and nature of college degrees are as diverse as the people who get them. They come in different sizes — associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral — and in scores of different subjects. So how do you choose the right degree for you? Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself.

Which degree best suits me? One of the most effective ways to select a degree is to find one that fits your personality and tastes. Make a list of strengths, weaknesses, passions, and any experiences that have motivated you. Get suggestions from family and friends — try to see yourself through another’s eyes. Then, once you’ve created a profile of yourself, browse through a list of college degrees and majors and see which ones suit you. Remember that you will spend a couple of years focused on one particular area, so you want to find a degree that will hold your interest.

What career do I want? Another way to choose a degree is to start with the career you want and work backwards. If you are interested in becoming a city planner, for instance, then you should investigate what degrees are best suited to that career, such as geography. Certain jobs require specific degrees; others are far more flexible. Some jobs require a bachelor’s degree whereas others prefer a master’s degree or higher. The idea is to start planning from the outset for your intended career and make decisions accordingly.

What degrees are in high demand? If you are uncertain about your career or if you have varied interests, you may want to consider which degrees are in most demand. High demand for a particular degree — such as nursing or software engineering — usually means better compensation (higher pay), more opportunity for advancement, and greater job security. Choosing a degree in high demand will make the transition from college into the workforce easy, and more importantly, lucrative.

Which degree can I obtain quickly? At first glance, finding a degree that can be obtained quickly may sound like you’re looking for a short-cut. In fact, it is a perfectly reasonable question. The requirements for degrees vary by program, and some programs, such as microbiology, may take twice as long to complete as other programs, such as communications. Longer programs mean more time in school and more money. The fact is that many careers simply require that you have a degree — any degree — and as such, it would be to your advantage to find a degree you can complete as quickly as possible.

Or perhaps you want to apply to graduate school. For many graduate programs, such as law school and medical school, it doesn’t matter what major you choose as long as you have a bachelor’s degree. Just remember, at the end of the day, whether you majored in microbiology or communications, the degree is the same.

So why take more time than you need? Eventually, every student has to decide on a degree. Some students take years to decide, putting off the decision as long as possible and wasting valuable time and money in the process. The decision shouldn’t be that difficult — if you know the right questions to ask. Save yourself the agony and find the perfect degree right from the start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

How much emphasis do admissions committees put on grades when evaluating applicants? The truth is that grades and GPAs are good long-term indicators of an individual’s performance as a student. Grades do not necessarily reflect intelligence; however, they do show a student’s ability to produce good work — or not-so-good work — over an extended period of time.

Typically, admissions committees focus on grade trends. The best indicator of this is the grade point average, or GPA, which is a numerical way of measuring how a student performed over the course of a year or even throughout high school. As such, a few poor marks here and there won’t affect that overall trend.

However, if students are concerned about any unusual marks in a given semester or with respect to a particular class or subject, they should outline the circumstances in the application (most applications include a section specifically for such explanations). Students should be candid as to why these marks fell outside of the trend and assure the admissions committee that similar problems won’t affect their performance in the future.

On a more positive note, if students used poor grades to show how they overcame a challenge and then show how their grades improved, such grades may actually be used to their advantage.

Finally, while admissions committees do focus on overall grade trends, they tend to put more weight on grades earned in the latter half of high school. Committees know that many students struggle at first to adapt to the rigors of high school. They also know that junior- and senior-level courses are more comparable to college-level courses. So students who struggled during their freshman and sophomore years shouldn’t fret.

Remember the committee is looking for trends, and even more important than the overall trend is where the trend is heading at its conclusion — hopefully up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.

Going back to school can be intimidating, especially if you’ve been away for awhile or, most especially, if you never went. Don’t worry — a little anxiety is perfectly normal. You might be concerned about being in a new environment or about the intellectual challenges school will bring. Maybe you worry about having enough time. Whatever your concerns, there is one thing you should not worry about — namely, the application process. This essay discusses three parts of the application process and explains why applications should not interfere with your academic goals.

SAT and ACT Scores

For many high school students, one of the most intimidating aspects of applying for college admission is taking the SAT or ACT. For millions of these college-hopefuls, these exams determine their fate — where they get in and what, if any, financial aid they will receive. The question is: if high school students get worked-up over these exams after being in an academic environment for most of their lives, then how should you — an adult student — feel about the prospect of taking these tests after being away from school for years? The answer: you should not be concerned in the least.

The fact is that many adult education or continuing education programs do not require tests like the SAT or ACT for admissions. Administrators realize that test results for adult students will likely prove inaccurate and are not necessarily good predictors of academic success. Granted, some programs may still require the SAT or ACT. If so, it may be a good idea to enroll in a prep course that caters to adult students. Just remember that these tests are not as important for adults as they are for high-school-age applicants, and test scores will ultimately be weighed against other factors, such as relevant work experience and other intangibles, which most adult students have in spades.

Essays

Unlike test scores, essays will probably be required with every college application. The good news is that essays provide adult students with an edge. The reason is that adult students have a great deal of real-world experience, which is great fodder for essays. Essays are designed to tell the admissions committee who the applicant is, what they are capable of, and how their unique life experience will contribute to their success as a student. And because adult students have a broader range of experience to draw from, essays are far more advantageous for them than for high-school-age applicants. Just let your work speak for itself.

Transcripts

Although essays will inform the admissions committee that you possess certain intangibles, such as experience or desire, the committee will also want to see numbers. As such, part of the application might include a high school transcript or GED scores. Committees realize that just because an applicant earned a poor grade in a class fifteen years ago, it doesn’t mean they’re doomed to the same fate now. What they are looking for is a broad academic picture. Thus, adult students in reasonably good standing shouldn’t have any problems, even with a few questionable marks here and there. Students whose transcripts are lacking are not doomed either, but they may need to show evidence of academic progress in other areas, such as work or perhaps in a non-credit continuing education course. Remember that if grades and transcripts don’t tell the real story, you simply need to find another way to demonstrate your academic potential.

Back in high school, academics were the focus of your life. So even though applying to college may have been frustrating and time-consuming, it was at least familiar. Applying as an adult, however, forces you to engage in the sort of work you may not have done in a long time. But the truth is, the application process will probably be easier now than it was when you were a teenager. The important thing is to play to your strengths and provide an honest assessment of your academic potential. Let the admissions committee take care of the rest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.