Continuing education BACHELORS DEGREE VS. AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE

Continuing education BACHELOR’S DEGREE VS. AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE Continuing education: BACHELOR’S DEGREE VS. AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE Career Continuing education: BACHELOR’S DEGREE VS. AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE Courtesy: huffingtonpost.co.uk When high school graduates choose to attend college, a large component of their decision is the type of degree they want to obtain. Before students choose their major, minor, or a course of study, they need to determine whether they want to pursue an Associates degree or a Bachelors degree. This choice can be especially difficult, because choosing an Associates degree comes with a range of positive and negative results. While these students save time and money, they receive less instruction time and experience higher unemployment rates. To help you make this decision, weve compiled a list of the major differences between the degree options. You should take these into account and, only after conducting further research, make your choice based on the best path for your future. 1. Time Investment Going to college with the intention of getting an Associates degree can be rewarding, in that students only need to attend school for two years. For many high school students, this option is appealing. It signals an easier route, and allows them to remain within their comfort zone. Rather than agreeing to another four-year experience, they are simply going for two. In some industries, this makes sense. For example, highly technical jobs such as computer programming only require two years of formal instruction. Work experience in the field speaks more to these employers than four years of education that could have been used more wisely. However, this isnt true for all trades. Public relations specialists, journalists, politicians, and businessmen are all expected to go through four years of professional training in college. Youll rarely find Associate programs in these fields. Look at the degree descriptions for your university or college. If you find that your school offers an Associates degree for your major, you can probably consider it a viable option. If not, its likely that you are pursuing a degree in something that requires a higher standard of education to be hired. 2. Depth of Instruction Even if you dont necessarily need to obtain a Bachelors degree to get a job, it might still be beneficial to receive an in-depth tutorial on your future position. Computer programmers, for instance, often decide to pursue a four-year degree on the grounds that they want to be more experienced before they enter the field. This is completely acceptable, but it could also be a waste of time for students in high-skill industries. Again, youll want to ask around. Your academic advisor is the best person to address when it comes to this question, or you can use career coaching services. 3. Career Opportunities Its no secret that students who obtain Bachelors degrees have a higher employment rate. Theres no getting around that fact. Youll find that many positions require a four-year degree, even if that degree doesnt need to be in a specific field. Because so many teenagers are pushing for higher education, the job market is becoming overwhelmed with the overload of talent and competition. For this reason, companies are becoming stricter about their employees. Even if you dont need a Bachelors degree to prove your worth in the field of Java programming, you may find that you need it anyway. Thats the risk you have to be willing to take when it comes to getting an Associates degree. 4. Unemployment Ratings and Earnings The same rules apply when it comes to unemployment and earnings. Students who push for a four-year degree will, generally speaking, earn more than students who obtained a two-year degree. This information, however, is skewed by the number of students who are simply earning an Associates degree because they dont want to attend college for four years. These graduates will take smaller paying jobs, and are more likely to settle for unemployment. You should keep in mind that, as long as it makes sense for you to get an Associates degree, you will most likely be able to find a well-paying job in your industry. It just might be a little harder, and require more tenacity. 5. Cost of Education This is probably the biggest reason why students choose to pursue an Associates degree rather than a Bachelors degree. College isnt cheap, and the experience is only becoming more expensive. For this reason, many teenagers decide to obtain an Associates degree with the intention of returning for their Bachelors degree once theyve earned more money. Though this doesnt always work out for the student in question, its still a smart decision that leads to saving money in the long run. Whether you choose to pursue an Associates degree or a Bachelors degree in your field, youll need to be prepared to market yourself after you graduate. A strong candidate with a two-year degree has the potential to perform better in an interview than a weak candidate with a four-year degree. Pay close attention to your professional resume, and highlight the difference between you and the competition. Youll learn more about this process as you work your way through college. Good luck!