Barbara H Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 This article from Forbes may be of interest to homeschool high schoolers who are considering a two year degree. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/12/18/the-10-best-paying-jobs-for-community-college-grads/ This may help get a conversation started about career options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb in NZ Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Good article that again makes us question the purpose of higher education. Is the main purpose of tertiary education to train us for future jobs? Is the pursuit of education for education's sake, helping us to become a more educated person, the main reason for attending university? For my family, we've had to to aim for the first as economically the second is pure luxury, well beyond our means financially. By homeschooling our dc for a decade, we've aimed to develop lifelong learners who see the world as their classroom. Many see university as an experience that extends well beyond the classroom. I agree that a lot of learning does happen outside the walls of the schoolroom, but have come to wonder if the unique "university" experience helps young adults to mature or allows them to extend their "teenage" years. YMMV, but these past 6 weeks have been enlightening in my household. Dd just graduated from university. She has her degree now & has secured a position for the next 18 months, but dh & I really worry about her as she seems to have no real idea about "real life." She is clueless in regards to typical adult responsibilities, expectations, etc. She continues to live in the artificial world of lots of freedom & little responsibilities that makes up the universitiy years for many. Ds#1 has been working full-time since this past April, when he began his apprenticeship. He is 2 years younger than dd, but is years more mature. This has not always been the case with these two dc. Ds#1 has become an adult as he has been expected to be an adult & do a day's work as an adult. We have watched dd have meltdowns when real life & her idealized expectations don't match up. This really surprised us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 The one thing to be careful about some of these jobs is the growth rate. While some pay very well, is there a job waiting when you graduate? The top one they list, air traffic controllers, it doesn't sound like that is the case. At the bottom of the list they include a link to a story going over cc jobs with top growth, hence jobs available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Many of these jobs are health-care and engineering support positions, driven by the aging baby boomer population and the increasing automation of technology and manufacturing machinery. No real surprises here... and I agree with a pp on Air Traffic Controllers... but it is still a good list to consider for those pondering their future. Many students who start off thinking pre-med or nursing end up going into one of the other health care fields. There are many good options for them. But for those who aren't into medical or stem types, trying to get into a job they don't like and/or don't have the aptitude for isn't a great idea IMO. I still think life turns out the best when the student is "matched" with something they are happy doing and good at - whether it makes a Top 10 list or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara H Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 I still think life turns out the best when the student is "matched" with something they are happy doing and good at - whether it makes a Top 10 list or not. Yes, I definitely agree. Nobody should choose their life off a top ten list and nobody should assume job prospects are good because they read it in an article. The value I see in these lists is they are a good conversation starter with teenagers. Don't take it as the end point, take it as the beginning point. Many teens think really narrowly about careers and only consider a few very well known careers - doctor, lawyer, teacher, firefighter, and maybe singer or sports star! Yet, the adults I meet so often have unusual jobs I'd never heard of before - industrial psychologist, book indexer, web security, respiratory therapist, equine nutrition specialist, etc. Also, I'm glad to see community colleges get some press. 43% of college students go to community and technical colleges and these are options that deserve more consideration and discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 So many of them are health and science related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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