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College Prep

The Answer Sheet: College Degrees

By Cindy Sanford

Is a college degree important?

Any education will help to improve your knowledge in your chosen career. That is why it is important to think about your interests and talent, and then decide what educational track will help you achieve that goal. This may be college, certificate or technical programs, apprenticeships or on-the-job training.

Are college degrees essential to getting good jobs?

Not all good jobs require a college degree! There are plenty of opportunities without one. However, there are several jobs in which a degree is essential, such as aspiring doctors, lawyers, nurses and teachers.

Can my college degree be revoked or taken away?

The short answer is no. There may be rare cases in which there is an exception if the student committed academic fraud to “earn” the degree.

In what order can you achieve college degrees?

Your career goals will determine what level of education or degree you’ll need to earn. Some degrees may be used as steppingstones to work toward the next level. For example, a student may need to achieve a bachelor’s degree before they can begin a master’s degree program.

  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
  • Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS)
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS)
  • Master’s Degree
  • Specialist Degree
  • Doctorate Degree
What can I do if I have a college degree but can’t find a job?

Here’s a list of items you can do to help you in your job search.

  • Network with friends, relatives and people in the field in which you are interested
  • Review your resume and include the keywords for the qualifications of the job
  • Work with your local Job Service
  • Practice your resume skills
    • Job Service has how-to videos
    • YouTube has several good videos on how to interview
  • Do research on jobs available in your career field and look for related career fields
  • Volunteer
  • Get in front of employers
  • Review your social media profiles
  • Start a professional LinkedIn account

Remember there are several great careers that require a degree with no particular field of study.

What is the difference between college and a trade school?

A trade school focuses on skill-based training for careers such as a plumber, HVAC, electrician and boilermaker. Colleges offer general education with various programs. Some examples of careers that require a college degree include a teacher, health care professional, engineer and human resources.

What is the difference between college and an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is college combined with work experience and a wage. Apprenticeship programs focus on teaching specific skills needed to work independently in a trade or position.

What is the difference between a college degree and a university degree?

The term university usually means a large institution that offers graduate and doctorate programs, while college means undergraduate degrees or associate degrees.

Cindy Sanford

Cindy Sanford has years of experience working in education as an advisor and mentor as well as hands on experience working with employers both in the private sector and government. Cindy enjoys reading, hiking, trying new foods, travel and spending time with her family especially her grandbaby.

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