What major to pursue today in America

[yemmie]

Hello everyone,

 

I have been reading with interest all of the various posts about English acquisition, but my girl and I have another question that really applies to all students today in America. What should they study? Both my girl and her son wish to go to college here, but they are also very practical about it. They want to study and then get the greatest financial return on their investment. I can sympathize with that because although I have two degrees, an expired history teaching certificate, and an outdated audio recording certificate, I don't really use them. When I pursued each of these, I foolishly thought that if you were the best in your class, then you would find a good job, even in a small job pool. Not true, I was the best, but I had enormous difficulty finding a good job in my area (Tidewater, Virginia) I have a fairly good paying job now that I just kind of eventually stumbled into. I don't want my girl and her boy to have to go through that. Of course I could have moved, but for many years familial obligations made that very difficult.

 

So, what can they study that will supply them with a skill which is in very high demand (here in Tidewater and elsewhere) so they can eventually easily find work that will pay them well in the workforce?

 

I have googled the top 50 jobs in America, but my girl asked me to also ask some very smart people in America. Well, it has been my experience that this site is filled with some very smart people.

 

Thanks to all.

[Guest WenDylan]

Hello everyone,

 

I have been reading with interest all of the various posts about English acquisition, but my girl and I have another question that really applies to all students today in America. What should they study? Both my girl and her son wish to go to college here, but they are also very practical about it. They want to study and then get the greatest financial return on their investment. I can sympathize with that because although I have two degrees, an expired history teaching certificate, and an outdated audio recording certificate, I don't really use them. When I pursued each of these, I foolishly thought that if you were the best in your class, then you would find a good job, even in a small job pool. Not true, I was the best, but I had enormous difficulty finding a good job in my area (Tidewater, Virginia) I have a fairly good paying job now that I just kind of eventually stumbled into. I don't want my girl and her boy to have to go through that. Of course I could have moved, but for many years familial obligations made that very difficult.

 

So, what can they study that will supply them with a skill which is in very high demand (here in Tidewater and elsewhere) so they can eventually easily find work that will pay them well in the workforce?

 

I have googled the top 50 jobs in America, but my girl asked me to also ask some very smart people in America. Well, it has been my experience that this site is filled with some very smart people.

 

Thanks to all.

Medical.

 

Here's some examples of an easy, high in-demand, top paying jobs.

 

Dietetic Technology A.A.S.*

Echocardiography Technology A.A.S.

Nurse Science A.A.S.

Pharmacy Technology Certificate

Radiologic Technology A.A.S.

Vascular Technology A.A.S.

 

I highly recommend the Radiologic Technology path... talk about a darn good salary, with great benefits, and total job security.

 

(I definitely picked the wrong degree myself. Haha. However it is a new degree, because of new demands by hospitals and medical facilities, so it wasn't available when I started my degree. That's my defense and I'm sticking to it!)

 

http://www.osuokc.edu/health/degrees.aspx

[Toplaw]

I agree that careers in nursing and medical technical fields are a good choice. Accounting is another insatiable career field.

[yuehan123]

Do an internet search such as top ten jobs or top ten 2 year college jobs. For example:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/02...ries/index.html

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/07...twoyear.degree/

[Smitty]

I'd agree that medical will always be a hot ticket, but it can be a draining profession.

 

As Toplaw mentioned, accounting also seems to be strong.

 

I think they should look at themselves and see what their strengths are, and see where they can go from there.

[Cerberus]

Yemmie,

 

May I also suggest that you determine what they (fiancee & son) are specifically interested in and where their God given talents are? After all, it does little good to enter a field that pays big bucks, but the actual requirements for the career field are boring to them. This IMHO, will cause them to "burn-out" very quickly and will quickly become dissatisfied with the choices that they make, just to maximize the return of their educational investment.

 

The medical field is a very good field and a good starting point for future educational goals they might develop. However, a new wife/son entering the fields of pharmacology, X-ray tech, etc will involve a lot of study not only for school, but continuing into the future. If the English language or concentrated studies isn't their strong suit, you might be setting them up for failure.

 

I have heard that dental hygienists are becoming a large demand in So. Calif. However, due to economic conditions I have seen a pattern, in which the hygienists wears two hats. One of hygienists duties and second hat fulfills duties as a X-Ray tech. This leads right back to square one that I mentioned previously.

 

My wife was checking and seen a lot of people moving into the administrative side of the house, with bookkeepers/ accountants and the ilk. Another trend she noticed was the call for computer specialists in applications within the office environment. I'm sure China has some certification courses that they could do today if that is what they enjoy. I haven't seen one 19-year old, that is computer illiterate yet! LOL

 

BTW, here is a link that might reduce their studies somewhat. The site will explain what they need and how to present transcripts. They are pricey, but does cut off a lot of tuition fees later. http://www.ierf.org/

 

Wish your family and yourself the best of luck, in whatever path you decide upon.

 

Dave

[shushuweiwei]

I'd agree that medical will always be a hot ticket, but it can be a draining profession.

 

As Toplaw mentioned, accounting also seems to be strong.

 

I think they should look at themselves and see what their strengths are, and see where they can go from there.

 

Yes, the medical field can be draining and volatile. Multiple rounds of cost-cutting are common and techs are often the ones to go, while other techs are asked to do more for the same money.

 

Also, "good salary" can be a relative term. One man's great salary might not seem like a great investment to another. When you consider a job you might want to go to salary.com and look at the spread of salaries reported in your area.

 

For example, a radiology tech in my area makes a median salary of just under 45K in a place with a relatively high cost of living. Starting salary could be less and starting jobs might be the night shift, which in some cases could mean doing studies for the ER all night (some pretty interesting characters can be encountered in ERs at night) That salary is probably a decent wage for an associates degree but may not be the level that some people are looking for.

 

You can go on for other training, if you do interventional radiology (assisting the radiologist with ultrasound or CT guided injections, placement of indwelling central catheters, etc) the median increases to about 55K, but you need to be comfortable with blood and big, long needles! If you go on to be an ultrasound tech it can jump to 60K, but you'll need to be comfortable doing intra-vaginal and rectal ultrasounds. Again, not everybody's cup of tea.

 

It strikes me that the process is not unlike the one that brings us here. Trying to take enough time and effort to know the reality of a person or a job from a distance.

 

At salary.com you can put in the job you are considering and your zip code and see a bell curve of salaries for your area. But you have got to be cut out for the job too. Having the occasional drunk vomit on you while you try to get him in position for his abdominal xray is not everyone's cup of tea.

 

I think it's a great idea to look at what you're interested in then see what the range of jobs and salaries are on salary.com, then look at the length and cost of the education you'll need, and determine what the best investments might be. Take your final choices and talk to people in the field so you know the reality of the job. What are the negatives. Are you likely to be stuck on the night shift for many years (it's not only taxing on a relationship, it carries significant health risks to work nights). I think that can help you make the most informed decision.

Edited July 27, 2008 by shushuweiwei (see edit history)

[Maxal]

It really depends on their interest. I have a BSEE and never used it as an engineer. I have sold tons of electrical products to large companies and even helped with designing them in. But once I was a Sr. in college I know I would go crazy as an engineer.

 

It also depends on if they really care where they live. Location has never been a requirement for me, so it was the job that mattered.

 

I have als0 found that the hot jobs of today are the over stocked ones of tomorrow. In America the one thing that is always in demand is a good engineer. We are always importing engineers from India, Japan, China, Germany, everywhere but here. Can you make good money? Yes. Will you even be rich? Maybe but not working for someone else.

[yemmie]

Thanks everyone. What you are saying about their figuring out what theirs interests and strengths are is exactly what I have been telling my girl, but I think she wants to see what the lucrative things are first. At any rate, the information you have given me will help me to provide her with the information she needs. Then, it will be up to her and her son, with a little more guidance from me, to decide what they want to do.

[Joshua + Wang Zhuo]

As much as I hate to say it.....is college always the right choice?

 

I think it is best for someone to look at what jobs interest him or her FIRST. Figure out what you would like to do and then call a few companies that you would like to work for. Find out what they want. Sometimes it is college, sometimes it is certifications, sometimes it is experience, and sometimes it is the ability to sell yourself. College is a very big investment now that often times goes to waste. Sure, that bachelors in__________ (fill in the blank with whatever you want) is better than nothing, but it is not always the best option.

 

I only write this to play the devils advocate..... Some of the other posters had some great ideas, and if you take in what you read in all of them there is some great advice.

 

Joshua

[Smitty]

I must also agree with that. Some people are not cut out for structured education that provided in higher education. But I will also add that a degree can sometimes be the deciding factor, and is once again starting to appear as a requirement for many jobs that have traditionally not needed it.

[jim_julian]

Our experience:

 

1. Oldest daughter. BA in English, MA in Library Science from UCLA. Has worked as a archivist in a Presidential Library and is now working for a think tank associated with a major university. Makes peanuts; not happy.

 

2. Son. Computer Engineering degree from UCI and finishing a Masters in System Engineering at USC. Works for a major aerospace company, loves his job, making a ton of money.

 

3. Chinese daughter. In a two year college heading for a UC. Wants to work in the entertainment industry, my bet is she'll wind up changing her mind a few times.

 

4. Youngest daughter. Will start a 5 year nursing program at Sonoma State University in the fall. My bet is that she'll stick with it and be pretty successful.

 

As others have said you've got to find your niche. Students can take general courses for the first year and avail themselves of all the counseling and testing offered by any good school. The first summer they should try to find a summer job in their now chosen field; if they don't like it they have time to change.

 

Ain't easy ...

[Don]

Electrical Engineers that can speak good English and Chinese will do very well.

Accounting does very well also, especially with a CPA license.

 

 

 

Medical will be good, but not as high of salary as before. Plus, more work.

 

 

 

High school teachers might do well, but varies from state to state.

 

 

 

Most of the numbers i have seen on college or no college indicate that college degrees really help. Over a lifetime you can make much more with degree.

 

 

 

Plus, everyones work and degree changes over time. Often you will not work exactly in the same area as your degree was in.

Edited July 30, 2008 by Don (see edit history)

[The Jeff]

Our experience:

 

1. Oldest daughter. BA in English, MA in Library Science from UCLA. Has worked as a archivist in a Presidential Library and is now working for a think tank associated with a major university. Makes peanuts; not happy.

 

2. Son. Computer Engineering degree from UCI and finishing a Masters in System Engineering at USC. Works for a major aerospace company, loves his job, making a ton of money.

 

3. Chinese daughter. In a two year college heading for a UC. Wants to work in the entertainment industry, my bet is she'll wind up changing her mind a few times.

 

4. Youngest daughter. Will start a 5 year nursing program at Sonoma State University in the fall. My bet is that she'll stick with it and be pretty successful.

 

As others have said you've got to find your niche. Students can take general courses for the first year and avail themselves of all the counseling and testing offered by any good school. The first summer they should try to find a summer job in their now chosen field; if they don't like it they have time to change.

 

Ain't easy ...

 

 

I agree. Do your first two years at a community college. It's not only cheaper, but it gives you time to find out what the best major for you would be. Community colleges offer the same classes in general education that universities offer. They also tend to be easier (at least in California), with no +- grade qualifications. This basically means that an A- is the same as an A+. In the long run, it can improve your GPA by quite a margin, which increases your chances for getting into a good University.

 

During those first two years, take some business classes that fulfill general education requirements (Economics, Statistics, etc). A business major is a good general degree if you don't know exactly what you want to get into.

 

And when you eventually transfer to a university, you still have a year to declare a major.

[tonado]

Be a cop or fire fighter. Great money but can be dangerous.