Laura Monks Motlow State Community College

 Director of Fayetteville Center, 19 years at Motlow College ◦ Three College Degrees – MSCC (AS) and MTSU (BAD & M ED)  First Career Choice  Second Career Choice  Still searching for what I want to be “when I grow up”  My Belief – I believe in the power of education, I am still learning something new everyday!

 Stay home and let my parents support me?  Get a job?  Join the military?  Go to technical school?  Go to college?

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” -Confucius-

 According to the 2010 Census (  2363 Four Year Colleges/Universities  1721 Two Year Colleges  3660 Vocational/Technical Schools  No wonder it is so hard to make up your mind!

 Lifetime earnings  Employment Potential  Satisfaction with your career/job  Where you will live  Who your friends will be & maybe even who you will marry  Your future health and happiness  Yes, even how long you might live

Nature of the Work ◦What do they do? ◦Where do they do it? Education or Training Required Job Outlook Earnings – how much does it pay?

 Biomedical engineers  Network systems and data communications analysts  Home health aides  Personal and home care aides  Financial examiners  Medical scientists, except epidemiologists  Physician assistants  Skin care specialists  Biochemists and biophysicists

 Registered nurses Home health aides  Customer service representatives  Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food  Personal and home care aides  Retail salespersons  Office clerks, general  Accountants and auditors

 Textile workers  Shoe machine operators and tenders  Sewing machine operators  Order clerks  File clerks

 - Learn about occupations that match your interests  - Kuder Interest Inventory - take assessments that help you match interests to careers (Get access through your school counselor)

Studies demonstrate that increased levels of postsecondary education lead to higher salaries, longer working lives, more career mobility and an increased quality of life. (see, for example, Bowen, 1977; Leslie & Brinkman, 1988; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991).

 Public or Private  In-state or Out-of-state  Community College or University  Big or Small  Sports & Extracurricular Activities?  Scholarships & Financial Aid

Article by Martha O’Connell, February 21, 2007,

 You can’t afford: ◦ to “find yourself” in college ◦ to spend 5 or 6 years getting a degree ◦ to be in a major that will not get you a job ◦ wait to apply for scholarships and financial aid

 Dual Enrollment & Dual Credit  Community College ◦ Lower Tuition ◦ Live at Home  State Universities  Scholarships (academic, athletic, & special) ◦ Hope (In Tennessee)  Grants  Part-time Work  Shop for Books

 Career: Bank Teller  Annual Salary: $23,000  Education: High School Graduate  Educational Cost/Investment: $0  Number of years of work (to 65 years of age): 46  # of years for return on educational investment? 0  Lifetime Earnings? $1,058,000

 Career: Elementary School Teacher  Annual Salary: $45,000  Education: MTSU (4 years)  Educational Cost/Investment: $17,500/Year  Number of years of work (to 65 years of age): 42  # of years for return on Investment? 1.5  Lifetime Earnings? $1,890,000

 Career: Registered Nurse  Annual Salary: $62,500  Education: Motlow College (3 years)  Educational Cost/Investment: $4,000/Year  Number of years of work (to 65 years of age): 43  # of years for return on Investment? Approximately 3 months  Lifetime Earnings? $2,647,000

 Career: Social Worker  Annual Salary: $39,600  Education: Belmont University (4 years)  Educational Cost/Investment: $40,000/Year  Number of years of work (to 65 years of age): 42  # of years for return on Investment? 4 Years  Lifetime Earnings? $1,680,000