June Said:

What to go to school for?? (read below)?

We Answered:

You could look into speech pathology. It is a great field with a lot of options. You would get to work with children who have communication disorders. This allows you to work in the schools, hospitals, private practices, etc. You are usually a vital component to part of a whole team of professionals and get to assert your advice and opinions. The work is really rewarding as you get to watch a child grow and develop. You may work with kids who have hearing problems, cleft palates, lisps, stuttering, autism, learning disabilities, etc. It's kind of like a puzzle and you have to figure it out and determine the best way to help.

The profession is a growing field and there are many job opportunities. The pay is really good and so are the hours.

If you are interested in the field, many colleges offer this program. You have to take a 4 year bachelors degree in communication sciences and disorders(CSD). Then you take a 2 years master's degree in speech pathology. After graduating, you do a year of supervised-paid work and then can become certified.

Check out www.nsslha.org or www.asha.org for more information.

Joan Said:

Career Choice..Want To Change Careers...?

We Answered:

Three years ago I switched from truck driver (22 years) to auto mechanic. My experience at an auto dealership is it takes a long time to start making the serious money. We have 2 techs making about 70K, but they've been at it over 20 years. I work two jobs (one full time and one part time) and my wife works just so we can make ends meet. Do it because you love it, not for the money. Body work probably does pay better.

My advise at age 56. Follow your passion! If you don't absolutely love the work you're doing you'll just get by earning a living. If you do what you love you'll excel and eventually the money will follow. Good luck.

Victor Said:

What should I do with my life? I have taken a lot of college courses and I have considered the military.?

We Answered:

Consider your career dreams, and your passions. Make lots of lists about what you are looking for in a job (hours, work environment, work with children or not, handle blood or not, level of schooling required, etc.), and decide what you are passionate about.

You seem like you have a lot of options. I'm not sure how good 28 is as an ACT score, as I live in another state, but you seem capable.

Did you actually graduate from the degrees (history teaching, policeman, and real estate), or did you just start the degree? If you have finished them, consider going into one of those fields as you are already skilled, or finishing one if those are still fields that interest you.

Alternatively, you could go to TAFE, get an apprenticeship (although it is hard to get an apprenticeship, especially for someone who is older than 17), or start your own business.

TAFE can take you pretty much anywhere. It's good to be qualified for something, even if you don't want to do it for the rest of your life.

The military might not be best, as it involves a lot of moving around, but you could do a technical apprenticeship with the army then use your skills for a job that doesn't require you to move around.

If you are able and willing to either use your current college courses (if completed), or go and do a bachelor's or master's degree, then you will almost certainly earn more money than just going to TAFE.

I hope you find your passion.:)

Benjamin Said:

I need some career help?

We Answered:

Teaching in K-12 usually requires a teaching certificate and some clearances. This range is generally harder to teach depending on the economic environment the school is located in. One perk, in some States if you are a teacher you can get a discount on purchasing a house identifed in an economically depressed area. The payscale is dependant on the school system.

Teaching in higher education is more relaxed and the payscale can vary depending on the size and type of the school. For-profit trade schools, like those run by EDMC, are horrible to work for as there is no academic freedom. Colleges and Universities are by far the best places, in my opinion, to work because there is a huge amount of academic freedom, flexibility, and most will give tuition remission. In addition you can become tenured which is nice job protection. Some universities and colleges do require full time professors to get their PH.D or Ed.D. You can typically start teaching at a college or university as an adjunct professor and work your way up.

Guy Said:

I'm a mom thinking of joining the USAF Reserve?

We Answered:

There is little difference being active duty AF vs being Reserve AF. Especially in medical fields, it's pretty much like an 8-5 job anywhere else. As far as studying, the test is the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). Since it's an apptitude test, there is not a lot of studying you can do. That said, there are study guides published that you can purchase in most good book stores. AF scores the test in Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronics areas. Medical falls in the General area. If your about to grad with a B.S. you don't need to study!
Depending on your area of study, if it's in a medical area already, you may be able to go into the medical corps. Much less competitive that trying to get in to OTS, but you have the same grade and pay that OTS grads get. Talk to an Air Force recruiter. He/She can fill in the details on current recruiting standards and eligibility.