Getting to the bottom of whether or not you need a college degree to pursue your career of interest can be overwhelming. You not only need to determine if a degree is required, but the type of degree and how many years of schooling you may need to obtain a job in your area of choice. Likewise, if you’re studying abroad or are returning to school after a break, these requirements can feel even more complicated to make sense of. Luckily, we’ve narrowed down some simple suggestions to make navigating the process easier. In a nutshell, here is how to know if you need a college degree to pursue your career!
Do Your Research
Knowing whether or not you need a college degree takes some research into the fields you’re interested in studying as a college student. Not every career path requires a degree, but many do. Doing preliminary research on the areas you’re interested in studying is the first step to making sense of the madness! If you return to school after a break, see if any of these requirements have changed before picking up where you left off. You might even discover new opportunities that have different requirements altogether.
Pursue Possible Internships
Take an internship for international students to learn more about the career path you’re considering. You can gain valuable information about what degree requirements are needed for your future career. So, by immersing yourself in the sectors you’re considering working in professionally, you can learn all you need to know about how to pursue obtaining a job within these fields and whether a degree is required or not.
Consider Your Qualifications
It is essential to consider the qualifications you already have so you can know which way to approach additional educational credits and milestones you want for yourself. In some cases, you do not need a degree if you already have one in a related field. For example, if you have a degree in psychology, you can become a certified life coach or mental health coach without additional degrees or prerequisites, depending on your program.
Consider Your Personal And Educational Experience
Other career paths require personal experience rather than a college degree. If you are a great writer, you can become a professional writer on your own by writing books or working as a team member of a writing company. If you enjoy helping people, you can become a peer counselor with a high school diploma and personal experience.
Beyond your research, you want to consider the qualities or strengths of the organizations or careers you’re looking into. See what they value most, as these are the things they will stress when considering different candidates.
Get A College Mentor
By working with a college mentor, such as an advisor or college counselor, you can learn more about the prerequisites and qualifications you need to pursue a degree in the field of your choice.
Ask others already working in your field whether they went to college and pursued a specific degree. You’ll be able to ask any questions about these career paths, including whether a degree is necessary or not to achieve an occupation in these kinds of professions.
The Future Is Bright If You Allow It To Be!
The future is bright if you let it be! Get a mentor and pursue any internships to gain experience and insight into what you need to advance in your future career. If you’re curious as to whether you will need a college degree, do some preliminary research and then get involved with the industry you’re interested in pursuing.
