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COLLEGE BASICS
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COLLEGE BASICS
Before you make any decisions about furthering your education -- whether you think it's not for you or think you know absolutely what you want -- you should check out the information provided through the menu on the left. They will help you decide
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whether college is for you
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what schools are worthy of your time and money
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which type of school to sign up with
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what type of degree you wish to pursue
You should also set up an appointment to talk with your ESO about your long-term education and career goals. Even if you've done your homework and know what school you want to attend, your ESO may have some insights -- for example, about which degrees can help you in military and civilian career fields -- you haven't considered.
College Career Workbook
This is an on-line version of a hard-copy workbook for anyone who wants to pursue college studies and hasn't taken college courses before. It provides a number of exercises which will help to understand what you must do, and assure that you have taken the necessary steps for your college degree.
Choosing the Right Degree and Major
(thanks to Military.com)
Picking a degree and a major is a decision that can directly affect your future career opportunities and your success in whichever field you choose to go into.
When making this choice, there are a number of factors you should consider, including: your current career path, future job markets, timeline, and flexibility.
Degree Level
It's important to select the level of the degree you want to pursue, but it’s not critical. Bear in mind that you don’t have to have an associate’s (lower level) degree before you go after your bachelor’s.
However, it’s probably a good idea to earn an associate’s degree before you start working on a bachelor’s degree. This is because life is uncertain and if, for some reason, you have to leave the Coast Guard earlier than you’d planned, it’ll be helpful if you can mark the “College Graduate” box on civilian job applications. In today’s job market, this is very important.
Also, if you plan carefully, you’ll likely be able to use all credits earned for your associate’s degree toward your bachelor’s degree.
Another option you should consider – especially if you’re not sure which field you want to major in – is an undergraduate certificate program. The benefit of a certificate is that it let’s you get your feet wet by taking courses in a field you think you’re interested in (without having to take all the general education courses). Undergrad certificates usually require you to take about four or five courses.
The downside, of course, is that you can’t say you’re a college graduate after completing a certificate program.
Still, if you decide to get your degree in the field you got the certificate in, you’ll be able to transfer the certificate courses to your associate’s or bachelor’s program and will have less far to go to complete either degree.
Major
Some people want to major in a subject that relates directly to the field they want to work in. Others are more interested in flexibility, how fast they can complete their degree, or both. Some lucky few can find a major that's both related to their future career field and can be attained relatively quickly. You'll need to do some research and soul-searching to find the best fit for you.
You can download a copy of TraCen Cape May's brochure, Selecting the Right Degree and Major or stop by the TraCen Cape May Education & Career Development Center to pick one up.
What Can I Do With a Major In . . .
Have you ever wondered just what academic major would help you earn more money or do better in a specific career field? Or are you interested in a specific career field and wondering what academic major you should pursue? The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (not far from a number of Coast Guard units) has put together a really excellent web site that shows the relationships between academic majors, career fields, and job titles.
CollegePrep-101
Taking the first steps toward any college education requires an understanding of the academic world. Sometimes it can be confusing and a little scary. Oklahoma State University has a great web site to help you understand college terminology, things you need, and steps you can take before you sign up for your first class.
A lot of what’s on the CollegePrep-101 site is aimed at students who’ll be enrolling in a resident program (go to college full-time in physical classrooms with face-to-face instructors). Still, there’s quite a bit there that applies to part-time students in distance-learning courses. And until the Coast Guard Institute’s 15-minute College 101 video is complete, this is a useful site to visit.