Writer Annie Dillard is known for saying, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." The average person works about 1/3 of their life, amounting to about 90,000 hours. Our careers form a major part of our identity, and affect how much control we have of our lives. Yet, according to a Deloitte Shift Index Survey, 80% of people hate their jobs. As you plan your education, you have an opportunity to think about what will really make you happy. Don't become a bad statistic. Plan smartly.

​So just how do you make a plan, or change your plans if you're on a path that needs revision? 

This is not a "normal" post for this blog, but this is not a normal week. I've been experimenting with writing on Mondays, but I don't think it's the best day to post blogs because people are just starting their week and are too busy. So this is a mid-week extra, and I'll try blogging on Thursday or Fridays from now on. So here we go... Today is not about 'business as usual', it's about...

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
As semester and holiday breaks approach, in case you are interested in extra curricular reading that can give you a taste for some aspects of American culture, I really enjoyed The Glass Castle. It is a memoir about a woman who was raised by unconventional parents who traveled around America. It gives you a taste for some of America's smaller towns, as well as the culture of the bigger cities. It is important from a sociological perspective. The memoir is also valuable for demonstrating impact resilience and will power can drive success even for people with huge challenges to overcome. Here is my book review, which I published recently on GoodReads. 
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Last blog, we explored the importance of picking a program based on your interests. Now I want to emphasize, do not pick a college based on reputation alone. Your college list should be about what college will fit for you. But first, you must know yourself.

Here's a task. "Zoom out" and look at the big picture. Ask yourself, why do I want to study at all?

Why go to college, or graduate school, or learn English? What do I hope to achieve? In a future blog, we will look at college choice. But before you can choose a good program, you must know yourself. Once you know what you're looking for, you can pick colleges that will help you get there.  

But what if you don't yet know exactly why want to study in the United States? It may be that you just feel you want more options in life, but you don't know what you want to do for your career. It may be that you believe an education in a foreign country will give you more opportunities, but you don't know what those are. If that's you, please read on. 

FOR U.S. STUDIES: EDUCATION OPTIONS ARE FAIRLY FLEXIBLE

Undergraduate Studies (First four years): First, for undergraduate studies in the United States it may comfort you to know this. While financially it is most expedient to know your major (academic focus) before you start, many universities will allow you to change it later. In the USA, most people change careers at least a few times (the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has fuzzy numbers, but says the average person changes jobs 11.7 times in their life). And while US undergraduate programs typically want you to pick a major (academic focus) before you apply, you can usually change it later. Doing so can add some time to your graduation date, but if you start your program with general education coursework, you may be able to 'buy time' and still graduate on time. This is why. Whereas in many countries, you only take coursework applicable to your academic focus, in the United States, it is often different. If you attend a 4-year college, many programs will require you to take elective coursework in topics like History, Political Science, Social Science, and Mathematics, and these courses can often intersect across multiple majors. If you enter university unsure, you can work with your advisor on course selection to keep as many doors option as possible.  

Graduate Studies (Master's Degree or PhD): In support of career changers, at the graduate school level in the U.S., you may choose to study a topic that is different from your undergraduate course of study, as long as you show a demonstrated interest in the new field, and take required prerequisite coursework, which can often be done at community colleges, and even online. For example, I studied Journalism in undergrad, worked in advertising and management, and then took a few required prerequisite courses at a community college, and then switched to School Counseling in graduate school. As another example, if you study English or Engineering in undergrad, you may be able to switch to another topic in graduate school if you can show a demonstrated interest and prerequisite knowledge. 

​Once you do decide on a potential career path then you can look at study paths that match.

FOR THOSE NEEDING MORE GUIDANCE 

For international students: Remember that if you are not a US citizen, most students are required to return to their home country after studying abroad, and so you'll want to consider focusing on an area of study that will be useful for you not only abroad, but at home, too. In an article on career planning, the BLS says that one "approach to identifying potential career interests is to consider local employers and the types of jobs they have." This can be especially true for international students. You will probably want to pick a program that will prepare you to work in your profession  of interest or to launch your own company if and when you return. 

After an inter-session blog with a fun book recommendation, the next college planning blog will be about defining your career interests, so stay tuned! 

As always please let me know if you have any questions! 

December 3, 2018

Get to know  yourself! 
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Planning for college can be fun! It's a unique opportunity to get to get to know yourself, and not just any you, but the best you! The you that dreams of your potential, and being the best person you can be. Surely if you want to study in another country, you want to broaden your horizons. That's inspiring. The first step on your growth path starts right at home, with you. 

There are thousands of colleges you can pick from in the United States alone, and it can be overwhelming, but if you know what you want, then you can make a plan, and step-by-step, it can all become manageable.

Before you begin your list of schools that will fit your needs, you must figure out what it is you hope to gain from studying in another country? And what field of study will help you meet your goals?

And what is your goal?...

If your goal is simply to improve your English, you might look into English Language Study programs. 

If your goal is gain leadership or entrepreneurial skills, you could look into short-term programs sponsored by the United States government. You'll want to match your experience with program requirements. For example, if a program requires a student have a strong academic background and leadership experience, think about whether you have these traits. If you do, move forward. If you do not, keep searching for a program that fits, or try to develop these traits and apply in the future.  Among my services, I can help you identify whether there are programs that fit your profile, or help you make a plan to become a stronger candidate in the future.  

If you are unsure of your education or career goals, you might take some career interest inventories to learn more about your interests, values, and aptitudes. Coming soon I'll post a blog on career interest inventories, so if this topic interests you, please check back then, or subscribe using the link on the side of the screen to get automated blog updates. 

If you are interested in undergraduate or graduate school programs of study, and know what you want to focus on, then you can start looking at programs that will fit your needs. I'll write more about choice later, but you can get started researching colleges now by looking at the College Board's BigFuture college search, and filtering for college major. 

Thanks so much for reading, and please comment if you have any thoughts, questions, or would like clarification. If English isn't your first language, some of this might be extra confusing, and if you have a question, you're probably not alone. Please ask, and I'm happy to try to help!