Some people believe that college students should consider only their own talents and interests when choosing a field of study. Others believe that college students should base their choice of a field of study on the availability of jobs in that field.
Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.
Many people view college students as young adults at a prime age to explore their interests and develop talents. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that college students should look beyond their knowledge and experience when deciding on a field of study. However, although college students may be young, they are still adults. Therefore, they must also consider the tough job market that awaits them once they graduate. If they fail to do so, they may end up wasting time and money on an educational path that will never lead to a well-paying job.
Consequently, I believe that college students should base their decision on a field of study on the available job opportunities. An undergraduate education does not just prepare students for graduate school, but it also helps prepare them for the world of work. For college students who intend to enter the workforce after graduation, selecting a field of study can be the difference between financial security and poverty. For example, in 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual salary for computer software engineers was $107,140. In contrast, in 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that the average annual wage for elementary school teachers was $54,990. Therefore, if a student chooses a field of study in high demand, they stand a good chance of finding employment after graduation. However, if a student selects a field of study that is not tall, it will be challenging for them to find work. Therefore, it is in the student’s best interest to choose a field of study that will lead to stable employment.
Another reason that students should base their college career decisions on the job market is because the job market is likely to change. As technology advances, jobs become obsolete. For example, the fields of journalism and cartography were once popular. However, as the Internet became more accessible, it became possible for journalists to publish their stories online and for software to create maps. As a result, the demand for these jobs decreased. As a result, people who chose these majors did not stand a great chance of finding employment after graduation. Therefore, students must select a field that will remain popular for the foreseeable future. If students are unaware of which areas are in high demand and are on a steady decline, they can look up the number of job openings in these fields. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes jobs report annually that contain information on the number of job openings and unfilled positions. This report lists several fields, including nursing, information technology, and business administration, that are likely to remain popular for the foreseeable future. However, the report also contains information on jobs such as computer support specialist, travel agent, and janitor, which are likely to become less popular. Thus, before students choose a field, they should research which areas are likely to remain popular and likely to become obsolete.