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Preparing Your Child for College

FCIC: Preparing Your Child for College

Preparing Your Child for College
A Resource Book for Parents

U.S. Department of Education

What kinds of jobs are available to college graduates?

Certificates and degrees earned by graduates of twoand four-year colleges or universities lead to different kinds of professional opportunities. Many professions require graduate degrees beyond the traditional four-year degree, such as a medical degree or a law degree. For example:

A course of study in bookkeeping at a community college may prepare a student for a job as a bookkeeper.
A four-year degree in economics may prepare a student for any one of several jobs in a bank or a business.
A four-year degree in English may serve as background for elementary or secondary school teaching or for work as an editor with a magazine.

In Chart 1, below, there is a partial listing of different occupations and the educational background generally required or recommended for each. Some people who go on to acquire jobs in the four-yearcollege column obtain a graduate degree or some graduate education, but many of these jobs can be filled by people who do not have more than a four-year college education. For more information on the educational requirements of specific jobs, contact a guidance counselor or check the latest copy of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, in your library. (See the last section of this handbook for information on other publications that discuss jobs.)

CHART 1

Examples of Jobs in Which a College Education May Be Recommended or Required

Two-Year College
(Associate's Degree)

Administrative Assistant
Automotive Mechanic
Cardiovascular Technician
Commercial Artist
Computer Technician
Dental Hygienist
Drafter
Engineering Technician
Funeral Director
Graphic Designer
Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician
Hotel or Restaurant Manager
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Record Technician
Insurance Agent
Registered Nurse
Surgical Technologist
Surveyor
Visual Artist
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Four-Year College
(Bachelor's Degree)

Accountant
Computer Systems Analyst
Dietitian
Editor
Engineer
FBI Agent
Investment Banker
Journalist
Medical Illustrator
Pharmacist
Public Relations Specialist
Recreational Therapist
Research Assistant
Social Worker
Teacher
Writer

More than Four Years of College
(Various Graduate Degrees Required)

Architect
Biologist
Chiropractor
Dentist
Diplomat
Doctor
Economist
Geologist
Lawyer
Librarian
Management Consultant
Paleontologist
Priest
Psychologist
Public Policy Analyst
Rabbi
Scientist
Sociologist
University Professor
Veterinarian
Zoologist

EXERCISE

Help Your Child Think about a Career

Step 1:

Using the form below, sit down with your child and make a list of jobs that sound interesting. It may help to first think about friends or people you've read about or have seen on television who have interesting jobs. List those jobs in the left-hand column. If your child cannot think of interesting jobs, have him or her list subject areas of interest. Then try to help your child identify jobs in those subject areas. Depending on the job, there may be courses in middle school or high school that will give your child a preview of the type of knowledge that is needed for the particular job. In the right-hand "Education" column, write down the level of education required for the job and any high school or college courses that may help your child prepare for such a career.

Step 2:

Take the form to your local library and, with the help of a reference librarian, locate books and search the Internet for information on some of the careers your child has selected. Libraries usually have directories that list career requirements. It is not a problem if your child does not know what career path he or she wants to follow; his or her focus during these years should be on doing well in school.

Help Your Child Think about a Career
Career of Job	Education
1.	High School:

	College:

2.	High School:

	College:

3.	High School:

	College:

4.	High School:

	College:

5.	High School:

	College:

6.	High School:

	College:



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