<p>Okay, I have no interest in going for 4 more years and getting my Bachelors, and have chosen to go to Community College. I honestly do NOT mind what I do after I graduate, I just want to have something stable that pays atleast 37+ thousand a year. And I don't want to graduate and end up NOT finding work, and that's really stressing me out. </p>
<p>If I ended up getting my Bachelors, I would've gone for teaching, but even though that's my passion, I don't have much interest in investing a rediculous amount of money to make what I could make just going for 2 years.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I'm extremely petrified and I have NO idea what major to take.. All I want is to make a good salary and have a stable career upon getting my associates.</p>
<p>What should I take?</p>
<p>My choices are: </p>
<p>Accounting
American Sign Language/English Interpreting (INT)*
Applied Science and Engineering Technology | Program Brochure
Applied Studies*
Automotive Management Automotive Management and Marketing Option
| Program Brochure
Automotive Technology Automotive Service Technology Option | Program
Brochure
Behavioral Health/Human Services* | Program Brochure
Chemical Technology | Program Brochure
Clinical Laboratory Technician* | Program Brochure
Computer-Assisted Design Technology | Program Brochure
Computer Forensics | Program Brochure
Computer Information Systems Information Technology | Program
Brochure
Construction Management | Program Brochure
Culinary Arts | Program Brochure
Dental Hygiene* | Program Brochure
Diagnostic Medical Imaging* | Program Brochure
Digital Video Production
Early Childhood Education | Program Brochure
Facility Management Construction Option | Program Brochure
Facility Management Design Option | Program Brochure
Finance
Fire Science
Geographic Information Systems | Program Brochure
Hospitality Management | Program Brochure
Justice*
Management Entrepreneurship Option
Management Human Resources Management Option
Management Management Option
Management Real Estate Marketing Option
Marketing
Medical Assisting*
Nursing* | Program Brochure
Paralegal Studies* | Program Brochure
Patient Service Representative | Program Brochure
Photographic Imaging | Program Brochure
Respiratory Care Technology*
Sound Recording and Music Technology* | Program Brochure</p>
<p>It's really difficult to get into the careers with asterisks so I'd prefer not to do that.</p>
<p>I am NOT asking you guys to plan my life.. I just want some suggestions. I have no idea what to take in order to be able to have a stable decent career upon graduation. I'll look through the suggestions and make the choice myself.</p>
<p>You’re seriously asking what to major in on an internet forum? Out of that entire list, how the hell are we supposed to know what interests you (even in the slightest)? Surely you can’t have equal interest in such a broad list of careers.</p>
<p>One way to think about planning your life is look ahead to what careers are most in demand - engineering - medical - computer etc. Then, ask yourself what do you think would be a “fun” job? One that you might not mind or even enjoy doing. Keep in mind that everything changes but what skills would you want to develop that you think would be still in use in 10, 20 30 years. Life goes by fast and you dont need to choose your be all and end all now - but you should at least narrow it down to 3…just my $.02</p>
<p>Like I mentioned before, I honestly don’t care what I do… as long as I don’t hate it and will be able to make a reasonable salary like I mentioned and certainly be able to find work in 2 years after I graduate from CC. I REALLY would love to take something with management, but I’m scared because I don’t want to waste my time.</p>
<p>Are you good at anything? Do you hate anything? Do you like anything?</p>
<p>The rest of your life is kind of a long time.</p>
<p>Since you obviously aren’t passionate about anything, nix digital video, marketing and culinary arts. You won’t even begin to measure up against the people who actually care.</p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but finding a job isn’t easy unless you can enter a family business. The economy is pretty bad and there are a lot of people out there who genuinely want the jobs you’re ambivalent about. If you would LOVE to do something with management, than for God’s sake, do something in management! That’s probably the most “secure” thing you can do anyway.</p>
<p>Alright. I would love to manage an office or be the manager of a Duane Reade or anything, really. It’s fun and exciting for me, but the thing is, I’m pretty afraid that upon graduation I won’t be able to find work. But if that’s the case all around, then I might as well do something I have a passion for.</p>
<p>Most marketable majors on your list: accounting, then information technology. Any major will be hell if you have no interest and are concerned solely with the money aspect.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m a very smart person and could apply myself anywhere, I just have no patience and have no interest in going for 4 years and would rather do two and get a decent job going. I heard that learning a trade would be the best idea.</p>
<p>If you have no patience for a 4 year university then how the hell do you expect to have patience for a career that you most likely won’t even be passionate about?</p>
<p>Your current attitude and mentality is terrible and I HIGHLY recommend you look into attending a 4 year university of transferring into one from community college.</p>
<p>We cannot tell you what to do with your life. Only you know what you like. Look at your interest and see if you can turn them into careers. If you like tobacco, work for a tobacco company; if you like technology, become a programmer; if you like sex, become an adult performer. As dumb as it may sound, you must think outside of the box because there are careers for everyone. They may not be mainstream like a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, but there’s something out there. Do not let money be your primary factor but make it a reinforcer because you could be the richest person in America an still be unhappy.</p>
<p>Get a bachelor’s degree. You’re interested in teaching and management; both fields require at least a bachelor’s. Consider this. Suppose you go to a state school that costs $20,000 per year. That is $80,000 and two extra years not making money. As opposed to making somewhere around $35,000ish to start, however, you could expect to make $45,000ish to start with a bachelor’s (depending on your industry). In addition, you would be attractive to companies or organizations that would sponsor higher education. With a master’s degree, you are automatically worth another $10,000.</p>
<p>Education is an investment, and if you care about money, you’ll bite the bullet and go to school the extra two years. In the long run, you could expect to easily make an additional $500,000, which can certainly justify an $80,000 investment in a four-year program.</p>
<p>If you think you can, as someone with an associate’s degree, go into fields dominated by those with bachelor’s degrees and legitimately compete with them, you’re nuts. If you go into the trades, then that’s a totally different story. But you don’t seem to want to.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, an AA doesn’t get you far anymore; it is somewhat akin to what a high school graduation meant 25 years ago. Also, without knowing where you live, it is difficult to say if 37K is a realistic goal without a bachelors. In many parts of the country, it is highly unlikely. You don’t seem to have really thought out what you want from life. To say you really don’t care what you do is so apathetic. I am guessing that if you take that route, you will look back in 10 years and really regret that you didn’t put more thought into what you wanted. You say you don’t want to put the money into more than community college, but all of the statistics point to a worthwhile payback if you were to make that investment. Especially if you go to a CC first, and then transfer to a state school, you should be able to keep your costs relatively low and your earnings would more than pay back your investment. There is just not much available anymore with a 2-year degree, even though you seem to think you can make the same as you would with a 4-yr. degree. My suggestion would be to go ahead an go to a CC, but don’t make the final determination on a 4-year degree quite yet. While you are at the CC do the absolute best that you can so that you leave your options open. You might be surprised to find that with excellent grades, there are scholarship opportunities available to help you with a bachelors. If your passion is teaching or business, go for it. In our area, teachers make more than 37K to start, with a much higher salary cap than that, and just think, you still get summers and breaks off. At least consider it! Don’t decide your whole life plan at 18 and then regret it for the rest of your life! Also consider that 37K is a very low salary in many areas of the country- you will most likely be scraping by the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Get a bachelors degree. If all you care about is money than you definitely need a BA in something. Anything really. If you like to teach you can earn a teaching certificate or go on to teach for america and earn it later. You can work parttime as a full time student, I did. Plus college is an amazing experience where you form both personal and professional connections. You will be much happier for it. and You would not be able to get a job paying 37k out of cc… associates degrees don’t really count anymore if you have financial ambition. its almost to the point where you need more than a BA.</p>
<p>You’re out of your mind. If you want to do Junior College to transfer to a good school, then knock yourself out. But if you think getting an associates degree is going to keep you safe you are completely ■■■■■■■■. I’m sorry, but I want you to think this through rather than play nice because that decision will hurt you and your family, maybe not now but definitely in 20 years.</p>
<p>Look, in the 70’s getting a college degree was the gold standard, not many had them and if you had one it meant you were intelligent. Nowadays, everyone has a college degree, and jobs that used to only require a high school diploma now expect several years of college and/or a degree. If you get your associates now, in 20-30 years everyone, and I do mean everyone, will have a college degree and probably a masters on top of it too. So where do you stand in the job market in 20 years? You have an associates, you’re older, and you probably cost more to do the job due to your seniority than some fresh faced college graduate who will work a lower wage. Just look around you, so many job openings for young college graduates are to replace 50+'ers who cost too much, and are sometimes even less educated, on paper at least.</p>
<p>Work is competitive and getting more competitive. If you do the least amount necessary now while the tide is low, you will drown when the high tides come.</p>
<p>So my advice. Stop being lazy. Stop being impatient. If you do go to a JC, talk with a counselor, focus on transferring. If you do 2 years at a CC and 2 at a university it won’t be too hard for you, and you’ll be looking at 40-50k easy as opposed to 35k+ if you get lucky, not to mention it will help you a lot later in life.</p>
<p>Remember: you can’t go to college when you’re 35 and have a wife or kids. If you don’t make the right decision now, it will matter little if you learn from your mistake in 10 years.</p>
<p>There’s a nursing glut, so cross that off your list for now.</p>
<p>I have to agree that if you want job security and 37k +, you need a bachelor’s. It’s hard enough to get job security with a practical four-year degree!</p>
<p>I also agree that you need to steer clear of majors that require a passion, which include pretty much all of the options you’ve listed.</p>
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<p>If you want to manage a store, start working in a place that sells stuff you like, and get a Bachelor of Science in Management so you can work your way up when you’re ready.</p>
<p>If he wants to be a duane reade store manager then let him. Not everyone wants to be doctors and lawyers.</p>
<p>I would recommend you get a job at a place where you one day will see yourself managing. learn the culture, learn how your manager does it and work your way up. It looks like a lot of jobs you are interested do not require an advanced degree. You are better off getting work experience and going to school at night or on the weekends.</p>
<p>Going two more years after CC to get your bachelors degree REALLY isn’t that much longer, especially considering that your only passion seems to be making money. Go ahead and get a Bachelors. I hope I don’t sound callous in saying this but you’re obviously not “extremely scared” because if you were, then you wouldn’t act so unambitious and lazy. You truly won’t get anywhere in life worth getting to (for you) that way. Think this through.</p>