If you are planning to go to college, the statistics say that you will probably switch jobs about 9 times between graduation and the time you are 34 years old. With that in mind, you should be as prepared as possible for the job market. The time to start is now.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with more education make more money sooner and will be promoted more often than people who quit school before college. Although college does not guarantee success, it will give you a head start.

Whether you decide to go to college, a community college, a technical program or directly into the workforce, we have some resources to help you make smart decisions.

Personality Quiz

This quick personality quiz will help you know yourself better. Use it to think about the rest of your life. Or, use our Learning Quiz page to help you discover yourself.

Salaries

We have put together a sampling of salary levels for different careers. For a complete breakdown of careers, education required, and career outlooks, go to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics web site at http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm or http://www.wageweb.com.

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor Statistics and www.wageweb.com

College Choices

Researching potential colleges is important. Once you determine what is important to you, spend some time comparing colleges. A good resource is the U.S. News and World Report College Ranking guide(http://www.usnews.com.usnews/edu/college/corank.htm). This guide includes rankings, admission information, tuition costs, a link to each college's web site, a general description of the school, and much more.

Advanced Placement

Each school has a different policy with regard to Advanced Placement credit. Most colleges and universities list their policies on their web site. A complete listing of college web sites can be found at the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings report(http://www.usnews.com.usnews/edu/college/corank.htm).

Testing

The two major entrance exams recognized by colleges and universities are the ACT exam and the SAT exam. Find out about the ACT exam at http://www.act.org/aap/index.html. Find out about the SAT exam at http://www.sat.org/.

Trade and Vocational Schools:

Trade and vocational schools provide students with opportunities for skills training without the need of attending a four-year college. Most parents and students believe that the basic tenets of vocational education, such as the hands-on approach to learning and providing apprenticeships to students, are what schools should focus on. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education breaks through many common mis-conceptions of technical school in a document titled Myths and Realities: Benefits of Vocational Education.

Information on the level of education required for specific fields can be found at the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor.

For more information on Trade Schools and Vocational Education, go to the ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education.

From School to Work:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who attain higher levels of training and education earn more money initially and throughout their careers.

One key to making a career work without education is getting the training you need. Many schools will help you find out where to start. We also suggest Jobcorps. This national initiative is designed to give students training before they enter the workforce. Further, Jobcorps will help find you a job after your training.

If you have any questions, we may be able to help. Drop us an e-mail at 2educate@compuserve.com with your question.