Choosing the right degree
Bellevue University's Enrollment Counselors can help
Choices — a nice problem to have, right? But there can be some pressure to make the right choice when selecting a degree program and career path. Having the right team with the right tools on your side can help.
"About one out of every three students who inquire know that they want a degree, but aren't sure what in," said Amy Cox, a Relationship Manager for Bellevue University. "I start out by asking a lot of questions. Tell me about your educational background; tell me what your goals are? Where do you see yourself in five years?"
U.S. News and World Report, which recently ranked Bellevue University's online degrees at No. 1 in terms of student engagement, compiled a few points for students to consider in order to narrow down what degree will work best for them. Among those points:
- Self-assessment — What do you like to do? What do you do best?
- Explore your options — Which career and degree will best utilize your strengths?
- Flexibility — Examine all the different fields for which a degree program can qualify you. Consider a degree that will make you attractive to a wide variety of fields.
- Consider the requirements — Do you have the time to commit to pursuing a degree? Will you attend classes or study online.
- Growth — Is the career field you are interested in expanding? How much education will you need to get started in the field?
With the economy slowly recovering from recession, students are quick to inquire about what career paths are most available through a particular degree program.
"The career focus is very important right now," said Valarie Wells, Undergraduate Enrollment Counselor. "They want to get into wherever they can make the most money."
Wells is able to point students to the What Can I Do With A Major In…? feature available on many of Bellevue University's degree pages. These pages let students know what career fields the degree is targeted toward and even how a combination of degree and experience might move you further up the ladder.
"I like that to be able to say that this degree is applicable to a broad spectrum of careers" Wells said.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released data that shows how continuing your education can impact your bottom line. In 2011, workers whose highest level of education was a high school diploma brought in median weekly earnings of $638 a week, while those with a bachelor's degree collected $1,053 a week. Those with a master's degree brought in $1,263. Additionally, the unemployment rate for those holding only a high school diploma was 9.4 percent. That falls to 4.9 percent for those holding a bachelor's degree and 3.6 percent for those with a master's degree.
With over 40 bachelor's degree programs and 20 master's degree programs, Bellevue University has a lot from which to choose — everything from Business and Communications Arts to Sports Management and Web Technologies. A call to an enrollment counselor is an excellent first step. With a staff of 23 Undergraduate Counselors and another seven Graduate Counselors, Bellevue University is ready to assist.
Ready to get started? Give an Enrollment Counselor a call today at 1-800-756-7920 or 402-293-2000!
