Ask the Counselor
If you have a question for Dr. O’Connor, register to join our community and post your comment on this page. He will answer it as soon as he can. You can also view any of the articles and questions in Returning to School or Starting College.
Dear Counselor, Can you tell me the difference between a Liberal Arts college and regular college or university? Is it beneficial for someone to attend a Liberal Arts college if one doesn’t know his or her major yet? Since I am not working a part-time or summer job, will it affect my application?
Answer:
This is a great question. Liberal arts colleges usually focus on broad, traditionally academic-based subjects– English, History, Biology, Philosophy, Economics, etc. They are great colleges to attend if you want to learn about everything; they are also great places to go to if you’re not sure what you want to major in, since you can try lots of things…but there are a couple of things to consider.
First, it’s hard to describe the curricula of all liberal arts colleges– while some may not offer music or engineering, some may, so be sure to look closely at what each college offers. Second, some students choose to go to a university– which is just a collection of colleges– so they can try some courses out in the liberal arts college, but transfer to a different college within the university later (like transferring from Philosophy to the College of Nursing).
Third, remember that trying out all these classes may take some time– it’s not unusual for some liberal arts students to spend 5 years in college because there were so many things they wanted to learn. That’s great for learning– but if you’re tight on money, be careful.
Colleges don’t specifically require work experience– they often see it as part of your extracurricular activities, so if you are involved in other things that take up your time after school (music, sports, duties at home), don’t worry.
As a counselor and college adviser for 25 years, Patrick O’Connor has helped unemployed workers, veterans, returning students, and new high school graduates learn new skills, earn degrees, prepare for graduate school and get better-paying jobs. He’s a past president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and author of the widely acclaimed college guide College is Yours in 600 Words or Less. Most important, he’d like to help you realize your goals for college and career success.
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32 Comments to “Ask the Counselor”
Hi. I’m a high school student, undecided of my career in the future. I’m really interested in art, including illustrations and designing. I do have good grades in school, I got 4.00 GPA last year and the year before, and I would say that I’m pretty strong at math, but not in science. I also like putting messages into certain designs or illustrations, when I feel like, although at certain times I just go for the visual only. Anyhow, I want a stable career that pays decent amount of money, is (like I said) stable, and quite professional and enjoyable.
My parents wanted me to have a profession in some other fields, including medical fields, financial fields and such. However, it is nevertheless my desire to work in the art field, which was why my father suggested Architecture. I’m not really interested in architecture though, and I’m afraid it takes too much effort for so little passion in my case.
It is not smart to be an illustrator or a cartoonist either, since these jobs are likely too be dangerous in terms of personal finance.
So are there any professional careers out there that suits me well? A profession that involves art (and possibly other things as well), pays well, and is stable?
Absolutely! It’s great that you’re already thinking about your career and what you want to do with your life. If you love art and designing and want a career that’s stable, consider becoming a graphic designer. Graphic designers work for private clients, small companies, or large business to design and execute visual communications. These communications can be in a variety of formats, from brochures to postcards to magazines to websites.
No matter what industry you end up working in, being a graphic designer will allow you to use your creative and artistic talents on a daily basis. In addition, this field will provide the stability and growth potential you are seeking: employment opportunities for graphic designers are predicted to increase 22% from 2004 to 2014.
For career details and salary information, visit our graphic design career profile.
Hey I am currently goin to be attending school to earn my ged and associates degree. I want to become a vet tech but since I lack a GED i can not go to a community college which has the program so I plan on taking up medical assisting for now. I want to know if there are any schools out there that offer the 24 credit program where you can earn your GED and vet tech degree at the sametime.
For now, the best thing to do is focus on getting your GED, which will open up the doors to many different programs for you. Because the classes and requirements for the GED are different than the training for a veterinary technician degree, it will depend on the schools and what kind of programs they offer (and if they have the facilities to offer both). To find out more, you can request information directly from the veterinary technician programs listed below.
Featured Campus Schools for a Veterinary Technician Degree:
• Brown Mackie College – Request Information
• Carrington College California – Request Information
• National American University – Request Information
is there a way to start taking college classes online for a correnctional officer if you are 16?
To become a correctional officer, the most common path is to earn your associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Both of these programs are offered at two-year and four-year universities, as well as online, which you can enroll in once you have your high school diploma.
It may be difficult to enroll in an online program since you have not yet graduated. In the meantime, you can take plenty of related high school courses to prepare yourself. Political science, current affairs, psychology, sociology, and public policy are a few related fields you can study while you’re still in high school.
For additional information, check out our criminal justice career profile.
I have just graduated High School. I wasn’t 100 percent sure of what I wanted to do when I got out, but now I know that I want to be a nurse. I have tried to do online programs, but they always reject me because You must have an Associates Degree or diploma in Nursing before you can get into there program.
How do I go about attaining or getting either of those things? What steps do I have to go through? Could you tell me how to go about it step by step please, because I don’t have the slightest clue. Does being a military dependent have any draw backs when trying to attain any of these steps?
Jessica
It’s great that you’ve decided to start a nursing career. Here are some basics that will help you decide which degree will be best for you.
To become a registered nurse, you must either have your Bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), an Associate’s degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma. The Bachelor’s of science in nursing is offered at certain colleges and takes roughly 4 years to complete. An Associate’s degree in nursing takes between 2-3 years to complete. Nursing diploma programs are offered by hospitals and take about 3 years to complete.
Since you just graduated high school, you need to decide what level of degree you want. It may make sense for you to spend four years and earn the Bachelor’s degree now. If you decide you want to start your career faster, you can get your Associate’s degree and earn you Bachelor’s online at a later date through an RN-BSN online program, which is most likely the program you applied to earlier. Either way, you will be required to attend a campus school and complete the required hands on training before you can become a nurse. (Online programs like the ones you originally applied to are open to those who already have the necessary nurse training, and are looking to earn their next degree and advance their training.)
To find a nursing school or program in your area, you can request information from one of the schools below. Or, if you send us your zip code, we can narrow down the list to a school in your area.
Featured Schools for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
* Chamberlain School of Nursing – Request Information
* National American University – Request Information
* West Coast University – Request Information
Featured Schools for an Associate Degree in Nursing:
* Brown Mackie College – Request Information
* Everest College – Request Information
* National American University – Request Information
* Rasmussen College – Request Information
* Virginia College – Request Information
i am thinking to do M.B.A i work now 30+ hours a week and need an online school with regional accredation. An online school that I can advance to the highest level in M.B.A
i do not have bachlor degree can i get Master’s degree
directly
In order to earn your MBA, you do need to have a Bachelor’s degree first, as that is the prerequisite for any Master’s program. The Bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to be in business, although if you are planning into go into that industry, it might be helpful to get your Bachelor’s degree in business administration. The good news is there are many schools that offer Bachelor’s degrees in business online, and they are all regionally accredited.
To find out more, you can request information from one of the schools below:
Featured Online Schools for Business Degree Programs:
* Argosy University Online – Request Information
* Colorado Technical University – Request Information
* Everest College Online – Phoenix – Request Information
* Gonzaga University – Request Information
* ITT Technical Institute – Request Information
* Jones International University – Request Information
* Kaplan University – Request Information
* National American University – Request Information
* Sacred Heart University – Request Information
* South University – Request Information
* Stevens-Henager Online – Request Information
* Virginia College – Request Information
* Westwood College – Request Information
Featured Campus Schools for Business Degree Programs:
* Argosy University – Request Information
* Brown Mackie College – Request Information
* Everest University – Request Information
* ITT Technical Institute – Request Information
* National American University – Request Information
* South University – Request Information
* Westwood College – Request Information
hi adviser, i have some interest in biology. can you suggest some related field for my bacheolars .
If you’re interested in biology, there are many careers you can pursue. You can become a biologist, medical or laboratory technician, pharmacy technician, medical research assistant, a clinical research associate, or a high school biology teacher. For more information, visit our career profiles for job details, salary expectations, and educational requirements.
i would like to receive the information on interior desining
Interior designers create and improve the use and style of residential and commercial interior spaces, both existing and new. They use lighting, color, texture, furniture, and space to meet their clients’ needs, while also considering cost and functionality. Many designers choose to specialize in one area, such as commercial design, or even more specific areas, such as kitchens. Often, designers will collaborate with architects or contractors, but they still must possess some of the same skills, such as being able to read blueprints, and having knowledge of relevant building codes.
For more information, check out our interior design career profile.
currently i am doing my B.I.T and am not much aware about the scope of the programme.could u please enlighten me?
Hello, one of my friends hasn’t finished high school yet. He was going to the local school and stopped at 10th grade, then went to cyber school and got half way through 11th. What can I do to get him back on the right track to actually graduating and getting his diploma and helping him to be motivated and move forward to greater happiness?
Everyone learns differently, and it sounds as though your friend may have a hard time being in a traditional classroom setting. If school and attending classes does not seem to be a good fit for him, an alternative would be to earn his GED. The GED program will provide an opportunity for your friend to earn his high school credential outside of school by taking the official GED test at monitored testing centers. Once he completes his GED, he can consider the next step in his educational or career path, whether it’s attending a university, community college or technical school. For more information, you can go to http://www.my-ged.com/ged_faqs_and_tips.html.
Hi, I’m currently in high school and want to be a family practitioner, anesthesiologist, or surgeon. Which ROP course should I take? Medical Assisting, Sports Therapy, or Nursing Assistant. Those are the only medical related ROP courses offered. I want to take one of them because they offer lots of interning. Since they are not too close to my career choice though, should I just stick with just taking AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, etc?
Regional occupation programs (ROP) are designed to help students receive the training they need for a specific job, learn new skills, or train in a new field. Therefore, the ROP courses you mentioned are going to be geared specifically towards careers in medical assisting or sports therapy. While these are medical careers, the duties and responsibilities they entail are far different from those of an anesthesiologist or a surgeon. I would recommend taking one of these courses only if you think you might possibly work in one of these careers during your undergraduate education to support yourself.
The other courses you mentioned—AP chemistry, AP Psychology—may be more beneficial for you as you prepare for your undergraduate and medical studies. Medical school is known for a strong focus on the so-called “hard sciences”—biology, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, etc.—so taking these AP courses now will help prepare you for your future studies.
I was wondering if I would need to take my basic college courses before I went to a veterinarian technician school?
In order to become a veterinary technician, you need to earn an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. There are specific veterinary technology programs offered by colleges, community colleges and vocational schools, and these programs will include all the courses you need to fulfill your degree requirements. So no, you do not need to take additional courses before you enroll in a veterinary technician program. If you’re still in high school, it might be helpful to take as many math and science courses as possible, as the majority of your coursework will be in these subjects
One additional thing to note: make sure you choose a program that’s accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). For more information on veterinary technician schools and programs, visit our veterinary technology degree programs page. For additional information on becoming a veterinary technician, visit our veterinary technician career profile.
which carrer is more relayable? being a banker or a hotel manager? please help. thank you.
It’s tough to say which of these two careers will be the most stable, because both tend to be directly impacted by financial booms and busts. The current economic crisis, for example, took its toll on both the banking industry and the hotel industry, while other industries (such as education or health care) did not experience the same level of impact.
One indicator that might be helpful for you as you make your decision, however, is the projected job growth for each field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the growth for different industries, and this will help you know where the jobs will be. In regards to banking, the opportunities vary some depending on what career you want to pursue exactly: teller, bank manager, personal financial advisor, etc. If we start with personal financial advisor, the BLS estimates higher than average job growth in this sector, as much as 30 percent through 2018. Opportunities for financial managers are also expected to grow faster than average. The employment of tellers, however, is expected to grown more slowly than average.
For more information about banking careers and degrees, visit our banker career profile.
In regards to hotel careers, the BLS estimates that growth and opportunity will depend on what kind of hotel you work in. They project that the majority of job openings will be in full-service resorts, such as convention hotels or casinos. But the growth of these kinds of hotels will actually slow the growth of hotel manager jobs.
For more information about hotel management careers and hospitality degrees, visit out hotel manager career profile.
What i was wondering is: what are the requirements to study NURSING since i’m studying ESL right now? thank you.
This will partially depend on where you are in your education, how far along you are in your ESL studies, and if you’re currently studying and taking courses in the United States. If you are living in the U.S. or are a U.S. citizen, first and foremost you’ll need to have a high school diploma. You’ll need the basics—four years of English, three to four years of math, two to four years of science, three to four years of social studies.
Once you have your high school diploma, you’ll need to decide what kind of nurse you want to become, which will determine the kind of nursing program you’ll enroll in. The quickest route would be to become a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse, who work directly with patients under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or physician. To become a licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse, you need to complete a state-approved nursing program. These types of programs are offered by technical and vocational schools or community and junior colleges and should take approximately one year.
If you decide you want to become a registered nurse (RN), you must complete one of three nursing programs: a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN), an Associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma. The Bachelor’s of Science in nursing is offered at certain colleges and takes roughly 4 years to complete. An Associate’s degree in nursing takes between 2-3 years to complete. Nursing diploma programs are offered by hospitals and take about 3 years to complete.
Many colleges also offer ESL classes specifically designed for those who want to go into nursing or health care. My advice to you would be to decide what kind of nurse you want to become and what school you want to attend. From there, I would recommend you contact an admissions advisor to see what specific nursing programs they offer for ESL learners. The most important piece for you is that you feel prepared through both your ESL course and your nursing courses to take the NCLEX exam, which is required for both licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
For more information about nursing careers and degree programs, visit our nursing degree programs page.
If you do not live in the United States and will be taking your nursing and ESL classes in another country, the path is slightly different. If you are looking to practice medicine in the U.S., I would recommend becoming certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). ECFMG certification will allow you to enter a U.S. residency or fellowship program and is required to obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine. For more information, visit http://www.ecfmg.org/index.html.
what courses do you need to becomme a substance abuse counselor
To become a substance abuse counselor, you’ll need to earn a Master’s degree in counseling. These programs usually have an outline of specific classes that graduates need to take to complete before they receive their diploma. These classes cover a range of subjects, including counseling techniques, human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, assessment and diagnosis, and professional ethics. For more information, visit our substance abuse counselor career profile.
I want to get into west point. What do I need to do?
It partially depends on where you’re at in you high school career—are you a freshman or are you close to graduating? No matter how old you are, West Point requires their cadets to be physically and academically fit, meaning that you’ll need strong grades, strong ACT or SAT test scores, and to be physically prepared to take part in their training program. But, depending on your age, there are different steps you should be taking to prepare yourself. An outline of those steps is below.
If you’re just starting your high school, West Point recommends you take the following classes to prepare yourself academically:
• Four years of English, with a strong emphasis on composition, grammar, literature, and speech.
• Four years of math: algebra, plane geometry, intermediate algebra, and trigonometry.
• Two years of a foreign language.
• Two years of a laboratory science such as chemistry, biology or physics.
• One year of U.S. history.
• Courses in geography, government, and economics. If your school includes a course in precalculus and calculus in its curriculum, along with a basic computing course, those classes are also recommended.
To prepare yourself physically for the West Point training program, they also recommend the following:
• Participate in vigorous competitive team sports.
• Participate in individual sports that require sustained physical effort.
• Perform distance running regularly; two miles are recommended.
• Perform strenuous conditioning exercises – push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups.
• The best way to prepare is by starting off slowly and building on your physical accomplishments. Start with a two-mile run, alternating between running, walking, and gradually increase the amount of running. If you start early, you will be prepared to deal with the physical aspects of the West Point challenge.
Their admissions counselors will also be looking for evidence of your leadership abilities. West Point recommends excelling in one of the following areas:
• Class, club, or student government position.
• Awards in academic societies, such as the National Honor Society.
• Participation and achievement in athletics.
• Participation and success in public speaking and other nonathletic activities.
• Participation and achievement in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, or Reserve Officer Training Corps.
• Membership in community or church organizations.
If you’re a junior or a senior in high school, you are either close to or at the age when you should think about applying. To apply, you’ll first need to take the ACT or SAT. Once you’ve taken either of those tests, you’ll be ready to fill out an application. You can actually do so online at http://admissions.usma.edu/apply.cfm. One thing to note: each candidate must also obtain a nomination from a member of Congress or from the Department of the Army in one of the service connected categories described on West Points website. (For more information on nominations, visit http://admissions.usma.edu/prospectus/step_02.cfm)
What are the main reasons for continuing your life long dream of going to college later in your life.
I was wondering what is the difference between LPN to BSN and LPN to RN. I’m an LPN now and I’m looking for the fastest way to advance my career. I work now 40+ hours a week and need an online school with regional accredation. An online school that I can advance to the highest level in Nursing. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out. Have a blessed day!
Misty D. Fox
There are actually three ways to become a registered nurse (RN): you can get your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (the BSN), your Associate’s in Nursing (the ASN), or a diploma from an accredited nursing program (usually offered by hospitals). Once you graduated from one of these programs, you will also have to pass a national licensing exam called the NCLEX-RN.
Here is a breakdown of the differences. It probably took you about a year to get your LPN certification. The three programs described above all take additional time in order to prepare you for the duties of being an RN, which will include the hands-on tasks you perform now, but will also prepare you to treat patients, take their histories, perform tests, analyze results, establish a care plan and administer treatment.
To cover this material, A Bachelors’ in Nursing will take roughly four years, the diploma course would take roughly 3 years, and the Associate’s of Nursing would take roughly 2-3 years. So the quickest route for you would be to earn your Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Unfortunately, because there is so much clinical work involved in Bachelor’s, Associate’s, and nursing diploma classes, many of these programs tend to be held on campuses rather than online. Our college experts have information on a wide variety of schools that offer the Associate’s in Nursing degree, and will be able to help you find a school that fits your needs. You can contact them at 1-866-305-8525 to get your search started.
Once you earn your Associate’s in Nursing, there are many online programs that make it easy to earn your Bachelor’s in Nursing (which will allow you to continue to advance your career.) These are known as RN-BSN programs. For more information on online RN-BSN programs, visit http://www.myfootpath.com/career-profiles/registered-nurse/” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.myfootpath.com/career-profiles/registered-nurse/.
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