Posts Tagged parents

Choosing a Degree Program

When you are making an important decision of selecting the right degree program, it is primarily important to consider the goal of that degree. In the past, students opted for subjects and fields that interested them. There were and still are, certain careers that demand only a specific level of competency and knowledge by virtue of a degree, thus, allowing students to investigate degree programs that they find academically interesting and challenging and not necessarily with a specific career in mind. But, with the increasingly saturated job markets and the current economic crisis, a high premium is placed on expertise through the right degree program and training. The job market is getting more and more competitive and specialized fields typically require an equally specialized degree in order to be successful.

Once you have decided on a career, the next question to tackle is then which degree to opt for. There a number of key factors to consider while doing so. Firstly, you will have to decide whether it is necessary and more practical to pursue a Certificate, Associate, or Bachelor education, or if a Master and Doctorate degree is what will make the difference to your future job prospects. Keep in mind your time commitments, monetary constraints as well as your practical academic goals when making your final choice and ask yourself the following questions:

What are you interested in? – You have to be interested in the subject/major of your degree program. Remember this is a commitment of a number of years (depending on which degree you choose) and it will cost you a lot of time and money. If you still are unsure about what major to choose, look at the college’s websites, college prospectuses or research on the internet about the courses you might be interested in taking. Many of the sites provide supplementary reading lists so you can research the subject in-detail and see if it actually interests you.

What job are you planning for? – Always think a few steps ahead when planning your education. Look at what requirements are demanded from your career path. To do this, you could turn to websites from schools, universities, and job portals that outline detailed requirements about what employers are looking for. Find out what other students have accomplished with their degrees after they have graduated. With respect to degrees in the arts, humanities and social sciences, the employment opportunities are a lot more flexible than degrees in science.

What colleges have you shortlisted? – If you have a clear idea of where you want to study, investigate the school more carefully. Check league tables and quality assurance and understand that both the institution as well as the quality of an individual department is important. Attend open days and speak to students and parents, if possible. Programs in the same subject may also vary between colleges, so always ask around.

What program would suit your personality? – You must be aware of your strengths, weaknesses, interests and capabilities to correctly decide on a degree and career for you. Are you practical and meticulous enough for a hard core science-based program or do you lean more towards the arts and creativity? Ask your friends and family for their opinions as well and once a clear profile emerges, match this with your short list of education options to ensure future success.

What degrees are in demand? – If you are still uncertain about your choice or have varied interests, you need to find out which degrees are in demand. The higher the demands for a specific degree, the greater are the pay scales and opportunity for advancement. Choosing such a degree will make your job search easier and more lucrative in the long run.

Which degree has accelerated options? – Accelerated degree programs might seem an unusual idea at first but there are some degrees which may take twice as long to complete compared to other programs. For example, biology versus communications. The longer the program is means more time and money and in such cases, an accelerated option might make sense.

Remember, it’s extremely important to take some time before deciding which college degree program to choose. So, go ahead – plan, research and finally, trust your instincts.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Benefits Of Home-Schooling

More and more parents are exploring the benefits of home-schooling their children. The largest factor that contributes to my favorable consideration is home-schooling allows parents to take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents have the flexibility to incorporate their beliefs and ideologies into the child’s curriculum. And there is no confusion in the child’s mind because there is no variation between what is being taught and what is being practiced. As a example, our older son had a project to research and work with our monthly budget. We worked through it with him and when his teacher reviewed it, she couldn’t believe that it was real. She thought our income and expenses were elevated and unrealistic! It came right off my spreadsheet that I use every month for budgeting. He didn’t know what to say.

The schooling of the child at home becomes an extended family activity. Parents get involved in every step of the learning procedure. Field trips and experiments become family activities. Thus, the child receives more quality time with his parents. The entire family shares games, chores and projects. Family closeness becomes the focus here. The child is also free of
any negative peer pressure while making choices and decisions.

Individual attention is another prominent benefit of home-schooling. For instance, if your child needs more time to learn math, then he can reduce the time for his English lessons. There are no fixed hours of learning per subject. This means that a child has the advantage of focusing additional time on the subject that seems tough, without any additional pressure. If your child is mastering his given curriculum, he can excel into higher levels or else learn a valuable lesson of entrepreneurship, “I get succeed (am paid) based on my results, not for the time that I put it.”

Home-schooling gives the parent more control over the influences that affect your child. The growth and development of your child is established by you and you determine what your child needs to do or learn. Tailoring the curriculum to suit the needs and interests of the child is one of the wonderful benefits of home-schooling

Competition is limited when it comes to home-schooling. The child does not need to prove his ability with regards to other children or compete for attention. His confidence remains intact. Since parents have a deep understanding of their child, they can plan the learning program to pique the child’s interest. It is also possible to mix difficult tasks with fun activities. A tough hour of Algebra can be followed by a trip to the nearest museum or a vacation that you can make part of your child’s education. Exposure to new things and places is everything. Learning becomes fun. Parents can also tailor the curriculum to suit the learning style of the child. Some children learn through reading, while others need to write, and still others need to see objects in action.

More and more parents are disappointed with the public school system. They believe that their children are being pushed too hard or too little. Other issues pertaining to discipline and ethics also make the school system less desirable. Some parents themselves have unhappy memories
of their own public school experience and that motivates them to opt for home-schooling when it comes to their own children.

Home-schooling is the best way to teach a child if you have the time, the ability and the interest to follow through with his education. After all, nobody can understand or appreciate your child more than you.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts