After College Graduation: The American Dream
It wasn’t long ago when graduating from college earned you a slice of the American dream. You could plan to jump from graduation to a full-time job, save your pension, retire, and reflect on a prosperous legacy.
Then the reality of life in the 2000’s met you at the door, with a maze of challenging decisions to be made for a fulfilling future. The use of technology created massive changes in the workforce, which changed the way we all do business.
Post-Secondary Degrees Are Becoming Essential
There is a growing trend with today’s college students to assume they will attend graduate school at some point in their professional journey. In order for American students to remain competitive in the Global marketplace, Harry Holzer, a professor of public policy said “post-secondary education should not mean only a bachelor’s or associate’s degree” (mindingthecampus.org).
Today’s leaders understand that creating a strategic plan for their professional future means investing in increasing their academic assets.
High Growth Projections of Occupational Employment-Expected to grow from now through 2024:
According to current information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ web site (bls.gov), the following careers are projected to show significant growth now through 2024. They are careers that typically require a master’s, doctoral, or some other advanced, professional degree to enter the occupation:
- Physical therapists
- Physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Lawyers
- Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Healthcare social workers
- Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Physician assistants
- Mental health counselors
- Dentists
- Educational, guidance, school, and vocational counselors
- Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Education administrators, postsecondary
- Family and general practitioners
- Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Optometrists
More Money: Higher Median Annual Wage
Earning your full salary potential in the workforce, suggests that you make strategic moves as you plan to engage in today’s global economy. Many jobs will require employees to have earned more than a college degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics web site noted that, “All of the occupations that typically require a graduate degree to enter, and are projected to add the most jobs have median annual wages that are higher than the median annual wage for all workers” (bls.gov).
The Cost-Benefit of Getting an Advanced Degree
According to Higher Education writer, Joshua Kim, today’s college students have an even chance of living to 100. Most of those years will be spent in good health. Are we preparing today’s students for a 100-year future?
Kim continues to drive home the advice that we should be preparing proactively for a long, productive life ahead. “This is one area where the interests and incentives of schools and students align. Students will need to continually invest in their human capital. Colleges and universities can draw on lifetime learning to diversify their revenues. Admission to any school should come with a lifetime pass (maybe not a free pass) for continuous education and credentialing.”
Start your journey today.
At West Virginia University, our trained admissions guides are waiting to guide you through the graduate school admissions process. Take charge of your future and engage with an exceptional learning environment, as a West Virginia graduate student, in an institution of higher education with a proven track record of equipping future leaders in America’s fastest growing industries and institutions.
Check out West Virginia University’s graduate school decision guide for information on:
- Understand the career outlook for your field
- Choosing a graduate school that's right for you
- Find out which jobs are dying out and which jobs are emerging
- Understand how startup culture has affected your future profession
- Find out which careers will require advanced degrees
- Learn how technology has shaped your present and future industry
- Provide insight on the pros and cons of full-time/part-time programs
If you’d like more information on how to navigate the process of
applying to grad school, check out our free graduate school decision guide.
