A college degree is an advantage in today’s workforce. The number and of jobs available for college graduates is much greater and they often have higher salary and benefits.
Availability of Jobs
The number of jobs that require a college degree or where a college education is an advantage is increasing. In previous generations, there were many levels of jobs available for those without a college education or in some cases, even a high school diploma. However now many of these jobs simply do not exist any longer, or now require college education.
Industrial jobs, trades and skilled labor were more prevalent before the rise of computer technology. Now many industries require a smaller workforce because of technological advances. Even though not as many assembly line workers are needed, there are many jobs available in engineering, management and business administration in which a college education is an advantage.
Types of Jobs
The advantages of a college degree in scientific, manufacturing and engineering fields are very strong. College students can now study highly specialized science related degrees that apply directly to business settings. Safety engineering, environmental science and DNA analytics are examples of highly specialized fields that have become in demand in just the past 10 years or so.
One of the advantages of a college education is that students become aware of many subjects and fields that they never would have considered without going to college. Students are required to take a variety of basic education courses such as math, sciences, literature and basic computing. Electives are also required and students may take a course that just sounds interesting or appealing to them. Often students discover during one of these courses that they have a talent and/or passion for a subject and begin to understand its potential in the job marketplace.
While obtaining a specialized degree is necessary in some fields, sometimes just having a college education is an advantage, regardless of the field of study. Employers want to know that their employees have a well rounded basic education. The advantages of a college degree will be proven when your resume is chosen over those who did not make the commitment to complete their education.
Salary & Benefits
The advantage of a college degree equals to higher wages and salaries. In the Winter 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Quarterly, The US Department of Labor reported that “In 2003, workers who had a bachelor’s degree had median weekly earnings of $900, compared with $554 a week for high school graduates—that’s a difference of $346 per week, or a 62 percent jump in median earnings.” These figures are a bold statement that the advantage of a college degree is its increased earning power.
Job seekers will also find that positions that may not actually require a college education will still pay more to those who have a degree. Jobs seekers with a college education will still earn higher salaries, even when the degree is not directly required for the job.
The jobs that do not require a college education often have fewer benefits. These jobs often provide no retirement or health insurance benefits which are imperative to financial security and the stability of the family.
The Advantage of a College Degree: Conclusion
Attending and graduating from college is the best way to prepare for a career that pays well and provides a means to a secure future. If you are determined and hard working, you can complete your education and begin a career that will provide now and pave the way to a secure retirement.
Michael Carter is a contributor at CollegeFinancialAidGuide.com, an online informational resource for educational funding, scholarships and student loans. Find out about more college financial aid information.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Starting College (by Dakota Caudilla)
Starting college is a big milestone in anyone’s life. In some families, starting college is almost like getting married – it’s a big step, a giant move towards independence. Everything that happens during college counts towards the future – that’s why it’s so important for students to start college on the right footing.
First of all, see if you have everything all pinned down before you start college. If your college is going to be quite a distance away from home, you’ll need to find a place to stay. And if you’ve already found a place to stay, you’ll need to find roommates who can share the rent with you. You’re only starting college and finances are going to be tight – with someone sharing the place with you, you can bring the expenses down.
The next thing that you have to decide on before starting college is the mode of transportation. Your options are…college car, a motorcycle or a bicycle. The mode of transportation depends on how far you are going to be housed from the college. If you’re within college campus, you can probably start with a bicycle. If you’re located outside the college campus, you might need a car to get you around.
Next, go shopping for college clothes. A whole new wardrobe is necessary only if you are moving to a place where the weather is very different from where you live, for example, your home is in Maine and your college California. Otherwise, you can probably live with what you already have in your wardrobe. If you don’t know the kind of clothes you will need for college, why not factor the cost of a new wardrobe into your starting college funds. You can go do some shopping when you’ve started college. Living on your own and starting college also means that you’ll have to do some calculations on the use of kitchen utensils (getting some of your own is a good idea), and also some entertainment. Yes, you’re starting college but you still need to have some fun once in a while.
Starting college means that you’re probably going to need your own computer, printer and scanner too. Most colleges have these facilities in their college campus. The options are:- buy new ones if you can afford it before you start college, buy second-hand ones, loan one from your relatives or parents, use the ones available in college or pay for the services in Internet cafes where these facilities are widely available. Research the area near the college and see if there’s a need to get your own electronics. If you can save the money for something else, you can start college without it and use the ones in the college first.
If you have reasons to want to move tables, beds, furniture and shelves from home, this could save your parents some money. Starting college is already ripping the bank accounts apart, so, if you can save on furniture, why not? If you’re bringing the furniture from home, find a relocating service contractor to help you move the furniture to your new place.
Most importantly, before starting college, you’ll need to get a list from your college so that you can purchase the books before college starts. It is best that you start college on the right footing, so, don’t wait until all the books are gone.
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.your-college-life.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
First of all, see if you have everything all pinned down before you start college. If your college is going to be quite a distance away from home, you’ll need to find a place to stay. And if you’ve already found a place to stay, you’ll need to find roommates who can share the rent with you. You’re only starting college and finances are going to be tight – with someone sharing the place with you, you can bring the expenses down.
The next thing that you have to decide on before starting college is the mode of transportation. Your options are…college car, a motorcycle or a bicycle. The mode of transportation depends on how far you are going to be housed from the college. If you’re within college campus, you can probably start with a bicycle. If you’re located outside the college campus, you might need a car to get you around.
Next, go shopping for college clothes. A whole new wardrobe is necessary only if you are moving to a place where the weather is very different from where you live, for example, your home is in Maine and your college California. Otherwise, you can probably live with what you already have in your wardrobe. If you don’t know the kind of clothes you will need for college, why not factor the cost of a new wardrobe into your starting college funds. You can go do some shopping when you’ve started college. Living on your own and starting college also means that you’ll have to do some calculations on the use of kitchen utensils (getting some of your own is a good idea), and also some entertainment. Yes, you’re starting college but you still need to have some fun once in a while.
Starting college means that you’re probably going to need your own computer, printer and scanner too. Most colleges have these facilities in their college campus. The options are:- buy new ones if you can afford it before you start college, buy second-hand ones, loan one from your relatives or parents, use the ones available in college or pay for the services in Internet cafes where these facilities are widely available. Research the area near the college and see if there’s a need to get your own electronics. If you can save the money for something else, you can start college without it and use the ones in the college first.
If you have reasons to want to move tables, beds, furniture and shelves from home, this could save your parents some money. Starting college is already ripping the bank accounts apart, so, if you can save on furniture, why not? If you’re bringing the furniture from home, find a relocating service contractor to help you move the furniture to your new place.
Most importantly, before starting college, you’ll need to get a list from your college so that you can purchase the books before college starts. It is best that you start college on the right footing, so, don’t wait until all the books are gone.
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.your-college-life.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
The Facts About College Financial Aid (by Reecy Aresty)
Most American families are offsetting the high cost of college by applying for some degree of financial aid by submitting their FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) on or after January 2nd. Unfortunately, this is not a simple process as the college financial aid system is anything but user-friendly. There are an endless number of pitfalls in the application process, and it is far too easy for families to lose some or all of the aid they are eligible for.
Many families fail to even attempt application because they don't know how to, or they incorrectly assume they are not qualified, or simply because they are intimidated by the complicated and confusing process and all its paperwork. With far more qualified applicants than desks in all of America's colleges and universities, it is reasonable to expect a system intentionally designed to eliminate all but the most knowledgeable and persistent applicants.
According to a disturbing statistic from the US Dept. of Education, the majority of all financial aid applications are rejected for errors and inconsistencies! As financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, the loss of time in the resubmission process results in thousands of dollars of lost financial aid to eligible families who braved the college funding process blindly and alone.
This being the case, what's a family to do with one or more college-bound students facing as much as $160 to $300 thousand dollars (and still rising), to send their kids to a 4-year college? Many make the mistake of relying solely on the advice of guidance counselors, college financial aid officers (FAO's), and even their accountants. Sadly, these families are not getting all of the financial information they need and are in for a rude awakening!
Nationally, guidance departments are facing their worst crunch ever, and are overloaded with as many as 800 or more students for each counselor! Budget cuts have added to the problem causing schools to increase the responsibilities of guidance counselors in areas other than guidance, leaving them with even less time for their students - and there is no relief in sight!
Despite these obstacles and to their credit, guidance counselors still manage to effectively advise students in career planning and college selection. However, when it comes to college funding, they come up short in providing the necessary financial information that could save families thousands of dollars!
Counselors have little time and lack the expertise to show parents how to reduce their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the minimum the federal government determines that each family will pay for any college, based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. Additionally, knowledge of specific legal financial aid strategies and their correct application would help families avoid or reduce an array of assessments that could cost them thousands of dollars for each year their students are in college!
For example, parents are unaware that students have no asset protection allowance. Consequently, students with assets in their own name are assessed by the federal government at 20% for each year they are in college! Thus, a student with $1,000 will be assessed $200 for each year the $1,000 remains in their name. After 4 years, they will have lost $800 in financial aid for having only $1,000 worth of assets! This is tragic as it can be legally avoided - if you know how.
Periodically, guidance departments present "in-house" Financial Aid Nights which focus on filling out financial aid forms and understanding the basics of the process. Nevertheless, year after year, the majority of families applying for financial aid continue to be rejected for filling out their forms incorrectly. Clearly, parents are not getting enough guidance on the college funding process.
Well-meaning guidance counselors invite FAO's to speak at their high schools, trusting them to put the best interests of the students above the financial interests of their college. By evening's end, parents are often left with a false sense of security that the college of their choice will award their student its best possible financial aid package. This is hardly ever the case!
Much like frugal employers whose goal is to hire the most talented applicants for the least amount of pay, FAO's seek the most promising students for the least amount of financial aid. Relying on an FAO to cut your college costs is like expecting an IRS agent to help reduce income taxes! FAO's can be helpful, but their loyalties are with their schools - not their applicants!
Accountants may offer some assistance, but far too few have experience with college funding. Although they are experts with income tax forms and tax strategies, college financial aid forms and college funding strategies are a horse of a different color. The good-intentioned application of accounting principles to college funding can actually hinder a family's chances of getting all the financial aid they are entitled to!
There is an endless amount of misinformation on the subject of college funding, and a good deal of it is from so-called reliable sources. Oddly, while many families seek professional counseling for their income taxes, few seek the expert advice of college funding professionals despite the fact that the average cost of one year in college far exceeds the average tax bill!
College funding professionals, a small group of admissions and financial aid experts, offer parents assistance through the college funding process and help families provide their students with the best possible education for the least possible cost. One would naturally assume they are in great demand and buried with invitations to lecture at America's high schools. Sadly, this is often not the case!
It would surprise and outrage parents to learn that, on a national scale, many guidance departments still refuse the services offered by college funding experts and authors, often stating that bringing in "outsiders" is against school policy, even when such services are offered absolutely free! Thus, every year parents enter the college funding arena without the necessary ammunition to do battle with the system - and severely overpay for college!
Reecy Aresty has been a financial advisor since 1977, and is founder and president of College Assistance, Inc., located in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the author of "How To Pay For College Without Going Broke," an invaluable, critically acclaimed, parent/student manual, (updated from its previous edition, "Getting Into College And Paying for It!"). Arguably the most revealing book ever written on college admissions and financial aid, it is also the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 28 years, Reecy has helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. For more information on admissions & financial aid, and to checkout the best college book on the market today, please visit Paylessforcollege.com
Many families fail to even attempt application because they don't know how to, or they incorrectly assume they are not qualified, or simply because they are intimidated by the complicated and confusing process and all its paperwork. With far more qualified applicants than desks in all of America's colleges and universities, it is reasonable to expect a system intentionally designed to eliminate all but the most knowledgeable and persistent applicants.
According to a disturbing statistic from the US Dept. of Education, the majority of all financial aid applications are rejected for errors and inconsistencies! As financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, the loss of time in the resubmission process results in thousands of dollars of lost financial aid to eligible families who braved the college funding process blindly and alone.
This being the case, what's a family to do with one or more college-bound students facing as much as $160 to $300 thousand dollars (and still rising), to send their kids to a 4-year college? Many make the mistake of relying solely on the advice of guidance counselors, college financial aid officers (FAO's), and even their accountants. Sadly, these families are not getting all of the financial information they need and are in for a rude awakening!
Nationally, guidance departments are facing their worst crunch ever, and are overloaded with as many as 800 or more students for each counselor! Budget cuts have added to the problem causing schools to increase the responsibilities of guidance counselors in areas other than guidance, leaving them with even less time for their students - and there is no relief in sight!
Despite these obstacles and to their credit, guidance counselors still manage to effectively advise students in career planning and college selection. However, when it comes to college funding, they come up short in providing the necessary financial information that could save families thousands of dollars!
Counselors have little time and lack the expertise to show parents how to reduce their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the minimum the federal government determines that each family will pay for any college, based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. Additionally, knowledge of specific legal financial aid strategies and their correct application would help families avoid or reduce an array of assessments that could cost them thousands of dollars for each year their students are in college!
For example, parents are unaware that students have no asset protection allowance. Consequently, students with assets in their own name are assessed by the federal government at 20% for each year they are in college! Thus, a student with $1,000 will be assessed $200 for each year the $1,000 remains in their name. After 4 years, they will have lost $800 in financial aid for having only $1,000 worth of assets! This is tragic as it can be legally avoided - if you know how.
Periodically, guidance departments present "in-house" Financial Aid Nights which focus on filling out financial aid forms and understanding the basics of the process. Nevertheless, year after year, the majority of families applying for financial aid continue to be rejected for filling out their forms incorrectly. Clearly, parents are not getting enough guidance on the college funding process.
Well-meaning guidance counselors invite FAO's to speak at their high schools, trusting them to put the best interests of the students above the financial interests of their college. By evening's end, parents are often left with a false sense of security that the college of their choice will award their student its best possible financial aid package. This is hardly ever the case!
Much like frugal employers whose goal is to hire the most talented applicants for the least amount of pay, FAO's seek the most promising students for the least amount of financial aid. Relying on an FAO to cut your college costs is like expecting an IRS agent to help reduce income taxes! FAO's can be helpful, but their loyalties are with their schools - not their applicants!
Accountants may offer some assistance, but far too few have experience with college funding. Although they are experts with income tax forms and tax strategies, college financial aid forms and college funding strategies are a horse of a different color. The good-intentioned application of accounting principles to college funding can actually hinder a family's chances of getting all the financial aid they are entitled to!
There is an endless amount of misinformation on the subject of college funding, and a good deal of it is from so-called reliable sources. Oddly, while many families seek professional counseling for their income taxes, few seek the expert advice of college funding professionals despite the fact that the average cost of one year in college far exceeds the average tax bill!
College funding professionals, a small group of admissions and financial aid experts, offer parents assistance through the college funding process and help families provide their students with the best possible education for the least possible cost. One would naturally assume they are in great demand and buried with invitations to lecture at America's high schools. Sadly, this is often not the case!
It would surprise and outrage parents to learn that, on a national scale, many guidance departments still refuse the services offered by college funding experts and authors, often stating that bringing in "outsiders" is against school policy, even when such services are offered absolutely free! Thus, every year parents enter the college funding arena without the necessary ammunition to do battle with the system - and severely overpay for college!
Reecy Aresty has been a financial advisor since 1977, and is founder and president of College Assistance, Inc., located in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the author of "How To Pay For College Without Going Broke," an invaluable, critically acclaimed, parent/student manual, (updated from its previous edition, "Getting Into College And Paying for It!"). Arguably the most revealing book ever written on college admissions and financial aid, it is also the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 28 years, Reecy has helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. For more information on admissions & financial aid, and to checkout the best college book on the market today, please visit Paylessforcollege.com
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