College Degrees

Bryan asked:


I have been a police officer for several years. I am often asked to speak to young people at schools, etc. about law enforcement careers. If you are considering a career as a law enforcement officer, you should also be considering earining a college degree if you haven’t done so already. Visit Peaceofficerjobs.com for more information about becoming a law enforcement officer.

The more education you have, the better chance you have of getting a law enforcement officer job and of being more selective about what jobs you try to obtain. Some law enforcement agencies require applicants to have only a high school diploma or GED. However, many agencies require some college, and some require a bachelor degree. I tell anyone I talk to, and if you are reading this, I am telling you! Get as much education as you can- PERIOD! The jobs will be there after you graduate, and they will be easier to get with more education. Also, when you do get a job, it will be easier for you to advance to a supervisor position or an investigator position.

When it comes to education, more is merrier. However, grades matter too. The better your grades, the easier it will be for you to get a good job. There are many ways to pay for college these days such as scholarships, grants, and loans. Find a school that you are interested in, and contact their admissions office. They will usually bend over backwards to assist you. There are also many reputable, accredited schools that allow you to take classes and earn a degree online. Check out their websites, and then call them if you have any questions.

Getting a degree in criminal justice or something similar will certainly be helpful. However, a degree in something else that interests you is probably just as good for a law enforcement career. For example, an accounting or business degree would give you a great background for investigating white collar crime. Psychology degrees are excellent since most law enforcement officers interact with people every day, and a good knowledge base of human behavior can prove invaluable. Degrees in communications, science, management, international studies, etc. etc. are all good degrees to have. Law enforcement agencies want educated, well-rounded people to join their ranks. It is not until you begin a law enforcement academy that you have to worry about learning how to be a law enforcement officer.



Dana

smooth_talker asked:


or can someone who hasn’t completed their college degree take the LSAT and if they score high enough enroll into a law school?

Pedro

James C asked:


I’ve heard this comment from other people. A college doesn’t necessarily guarantee you anything these days. I went back to school at older age and I already had relevant job experience. I graduated from a really good school with a degree in Business Administration. However, I’m still having trouble finding a decent job. So is it true what they about having a college degree doesn’t really guarantee anything these days?

Milton

onlinecollegedegree asked:




Learn More Regarding Online College Degrees

In competitive world these days, degree is surest way to go up your career steps. It will help you and get nearer to your preferred goals and is representation of your skills. It is very hard to imagine successful career without college degree. Thus it is must to lunch in great job where your talents are properly usd.

But sometimes, many of us lag behind because of the absence of college degree. Reasons is many for not acquiring college degree but reciprocations are same.

To make sure that you by no means face these circumstances because you do not have any college degree, the many universities in US and Europe have arise with the online degrees that will help you get suitable degree when you work.

At times such online college degrees will help you to do your complete college program when you earn for that. This is extremely essential with growing cost of the quality education. Thus in today’s scenario online degrees give more flexibility as well as time to complete specific program when you are running your job.

While online college degree plans offer wide range of courses with the complete flexibility, and you have to be totally sure about a few facts as well as information about them. Here we will share some significant tips with you, which will help you make a decision on online college degree in better way. Instead deciding which type of online degree is correct for you, it is better to choose what your vocation goals are or else what your present job calls for. For instance, in case you wish to start your small business, then degree in the marketing you can count up on.



George

Kelli Smith asked:


If you’re looking to change careers or start a new career, you’ve probably considered heading back to school. But with college tuitions expanding and job markets shrinking, you wonder: is it really worth it? The latest research sheds some light on the tough questions that you should ask before heading back to school.

Many high school guidance counselors may tell you that a college education is worth about $1 million over the course of a working life. While that may have once been the case, a recent study by Skidmore economist Sandy Baum and the College Board estimates the real value of a college degree at about $300,000. While the drop in value is significant, there are good reasons.

According to Baum’s research, college graduates on average earn $20,000 more annually than workers with only high school diplomas. Over a forty-year career, that adds up to about $800,000. Since that figure represents lifetime earnings, an adjustment for inflation brings the figure down to about $450,000. Finally, the cost of tuition and books at a public university ($30,000 if you don’t qualify for any financial aid or scholarships) drops the figure to $300,000.

If the numbers look grim, don’t throw up your hands just yet. Despite the gap between the older and newer appraisals, a college degree may still be one of the wisest investments you can make.

Fringe Benefits

Although you may not end up earning the $50,000 annual salary (according to Baum’s research, the average for graduates of bachelor’s degree programs), you may find additional benefits that offset your costs. Bachelor’s degree holders are more likely to land a job with health insurance–a valuable commodity with rising healthcare costs.

Also, because the job market places such importance on college education, you may have an easier time finding and holding a job with a degree than without. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among students with a bachelor’s degree stood at 2.2 percent in 2007–compared to 3 percent for associate’s degree-holders and 4.4 percent for those who only have a high school diploma.

If your career aspirations include advanced degrees (in business, law, or medicine, for example), holding a bachelor’s degree is usually the first step to more advanced education, which can mean significantly higher earnings.

Benefits of Not Earning a College Degree

While research suggests college education is important, it would be unwise to bill a college degree as the golden ticket to success–Bill Gates is a shining example of what one college dropout can achieve. The most obvious benefit of bypassing college degree is avoiding the expense. By starting a career right away, you could be $30,000 richer in the immediate term. Many potentially lucrative careers offer paid on-the-job training and apprenticeships, resulting in pay comparable to the average for bachelor’s degree holders. A radiological technician, for example, can land a job with a two-year associate’s degree. According to the BLS, in May 2007, median annual earnings for radiologists and radiologic technicians were $50,260, right in line with the average for bachelor’s degree holders.  

Does the Student Make the Degree?

The old argument continues: nature versus nurture. Although some argue that the degree-holder and not the degree, makes the success, recent research suggests that education still plays a significant roll in lifetime earnings. If you maintain that the person who makes the difference between a wise educational investment and a poor one, there are certain trends that can help you make a better return on your investment. For example, students in math, science, and career-related courses tend to make more than art and humanities students.

Even more important than your choice of major, your choice of school can also affect your post-graduation earnings potential. On average, graduates of higher-ranked colleges and colleges with tougher selection standards for potential students earn more than graduates of lower-ranked schools. If you’re curious about where your school ranks, check their federal accreditation (available through the U.S. Department of Education), or check it’s score on the National Survey of Student Engagement or the Collegiate Learning Assessment.

Of course, when you’re deciding whether school is right, it’s tougher to decide which school is right. Setting aside concerns about the economy and the rate of inflation, what you get out of your degree may likely depend on what you put into it. After all, if you take into account the value of experience, broadened horizons, and the opportunity to explore what interests you, the value of a college education may ultimately prove beyond estimation.



Beverly

Ed Bagley asked:


Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley

As someone who has 5,000+ high end clients who are interested in jobs and careers, I paid attention Tuesday when I came across a story about six-figure incomes by Laura Morsch of CareerBuilder.com.

According to Laura Morsch and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, “physician jobs dominate the list of the nation’s highest-paying positions, holding 9 of the top 10 most lucrative jobs.”

Morsch reminds us that there are other high-paying jobs in our economy.

“Although statistically more education means better pay,” says Morsch, “you can land a very high-paying job with just a bachelor’s degree and considerable work experience.”

She then goes on to list these 9 examples: Chief Executive at $140,000, Airline Pilot at $135,000, Dentist at $134,000, Lawyer at $111,000, Air Traffic Controller at $106,000, Engineering Manager at $105,000, Computer and Information Systems Manager at $102,000, Marketing Manager at $102,000 and Astronomer at $101,000.

I have clients making six-figure incomes in all of Morsch’s examples, however, you need more than a bachelor’s degree to realistically become a Dentist, Lawyer or an Astronomer; therefore, they are not good examples.

I have a client making $350,000 a year with a high school diploma. I have another client making $144,000 who is a high school graduate with two additional years of technical training. A third client is making $250,000 with a high school diploma only. All three of these examples are men.

Men can make excellent money with a high school diploma in a number of occupations.

Women can also make $100,000+ with a high school diploma, but they tend to do it generally in three ways:

1) They own their own business, usually a small business that is very profitable. Some research organizations report that there are more small business owners making six-figures-plus than in any other job or occupation.

2) They work in commissioned sales rather than salaried sales. A sharp woman can many times outsell a man because of the dynamics between the sexes. A sharp woman calling on a male client many times gets more time and attention than a male calling on the same client.

3) They work in a financially-related position, such as a stockbroker, mortgage banker, mortgage broker, loan officer or chief financial officer.

Here is some information you can use if you are a high school graduate and have zero interest in getting a bachelor’s degree at this point in your work career: go into sales if you have any people skills or personality.

Sales is the second highest paid profession in the world, and it does not usually require a college degree. There are some corporate sales jobs that do require a degree, but there are many more opportunities available if you can generate sales production.

There is not a single business in America that cannot benefit from more sales, and almost every one will pay for sales production.

Here is some even better news: If you are selling and producing big time and the owner or company is too cheap to compensate you at the level you should be compensated at ($100,000+++), dump the owner or company and sell for someone else.

A far better idea would be to start your own business, go into competition directly against the cheap owner or company that would not pay you, and wipe them off the map.

There really is no reason you should be working for someone else anyway. Working in your own business can be an outstanding deal. You call your own shots. You will not fire yourself, lay yourself off, or deny yourself promotions, fat bonuses for production, outstanding benefit packages, and a lot of time off to enjoy your money and family.

The nine examples listed above have 7 positions that amount to no more than hired help, that includes the Chief Executive position. Only the Dentist and Lawyer positions might be either self-employed or hired help.

All nine examples cited by Morsch and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have more stress than anyone needs and are labor intensive. Even the Dentist and Lawyer positions, which might be self-employed, require them to report to work or not get paid. If a Mac truck runs over either them, their income stops in a heartbeat.

Has anyone ever heard of income-producing investments when these job opportunities come up? Income producing assets allow you to take possession of your own time while your investment throws off the income to fund your lifestyle without working a job.

It might be fancy to have any of those nine jobs with status and making $100,000 a year. Some people would rather make $250,000 a year and not have a job, have a boss, and deal with the stress.

Here is a rare career path: Own the business, company or organization and hire the six-figure people in the examples above to work for you. There are people who would gladly pay the above examples their listed wages when they could make $250,000 free and clear and not work.

Who needs status and aggravation when you have money?



Derrick