Planning for college can be an extremely stressful time. You, as a potential student, are flooded with options on where to go, what to study and, most importantly, the omnipresent, age-old question ? ?what do you want to be when you grow up??

This question, while not always answerable, is asked of us because it is important to establish career goals. It is difficult to answer because the response often changes. I, for instance, have run through the generic answers ? police officer and superhero ? to the more considered answers ? architect or graphic designer ? to my final answer ? copywriter.

Even though deciding on a career is important, so is your education. In fact, you may even learn more about what you enjoy while attending school. It is no secret that many students change their major at least once, if not several times. This same trend afflicts the job market ? most people will change careers four to five times.

With this in mind, you may think that planning for a career is next to impossible ? it isn?t.

Narrow the choices.

Investigate. Research your chosen major or career path to find out what exactly it entails. Then decide if it is a fit for your interests. In addition, find out what the outcomes are upon completion of various majors or career paths. By doing this, you may find a direction you had not previously considered.

Don?t be afraid. It is okay to attend college without declaring a major. As I said earlier, most people will change at least once, so why not get the general classes out of the way first. This will allow you more time to decide on a career path.

Be curious. Enroll in a class or course that sounds interesting to you. My passion for writing became apparent only after taking courses in creative writing and poetry.

Stay informed. Find out what industries ? or more specifically, jobs ? are in demand. This may help shed light on where you feel most secure.

Most importantly, never stop learning. A career is a lifelong process, not a one-time decision, and industries are constantly undergoing change. Read articles, books and information related to your career choice. This way, you can build your knowledge base and better position yourself as an expert in your field.

The reigning assumption among many Americans is that teenagers go directly from high school to college, but that’s not the way life always works. Just 27 percent of Americans over age 25 hold Bachelor’s degrees or higher, according to 2004 census data. This has been in decline because of a new phenomenon in the job market.

?Increasingly, the days of blue-collar jobs that have lower educational and skill requirements but pay an outstanding wage are disappearing,” said Jerry Rubin, vice president of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit research group that works with agencies to create job training programs.

But lack of a college degree doesn’t have to mean slogging for a pittance in a dead-end job, according to a recent report by JFF. The report details 15 jobs, all in growing industries, that pay more than $25,000 per year, are available to workers holding an Associate degree or less and don’t require a significant amount of previous work experience.

For instance, “registered nurse” tops the list of 15 jobs because it has the greatest number of projected annual job openings, but that job poses barriers for some lower-skilled entrants because this field tends to be highly competitive and requires full-time attendance at school. An alternative is to become a licensed practical nurse, another job on the list. Certification is often available through part-time training programs, making that occupation a more manageable entry point into the nursing field for working mothers or those needing to support a family.

? Together, these 15 occupations are projected to create more than 700,000 new jobs nationally each year, according to JFF.
? The jobs in the list are ranked by annual projected job openings.
? The dollar amount represents median earnings for each occupation, according to JFF.

1. Registered nurse,$48,090
2. Customer-service representative, $26,240
3. Sales representative, $42,730
4. Truck driver, heavy and tractor-trailer, $33,210
5. Maintenance worker, general, $29,370
6. Bookkeeping, accounting, $27,380
7. Executive secretary/administrative assistant, $33,410
8. Carpenter, $34,190
9. Automotive-service technician and mechanic, $30,590
10. Police/patrol officer, $42,270
11. Licensed practical nurse, $31,440
12. Electrician, $41,390
13. Sales workers, $35,170
14. Computer-support specialist, $39,100
15. Plumber, pipe fitter and steam fitter, $40,170

Take inventory.
Are you going to college for the first time or re-entering after an absence? Determine how many prior college credits you have, including non-credit courses and any life or work experience skills. Even if the subjects don’t seem applicable to a major, they might count as elective credits toward a degree.

Define your educational goals.
Ask yourself why you want to go back to school.
Do I want to change my career?
Am I enhancing my current career?
Do I need to finish that college degree from years ago?

By focusing on your motivation, you can best define your educational goals. Personality and career counseling tests are available to help pinpoint interests and help you decide on a career path. This is a basic test, but there are many services available that can help you focus on your specific talents.

Hint: Community colleges often offer these tests free or at a low cost but may limit these services to current students.

Another good resource is the Occupational Outlook Handbook. An in-depth overview of a wide range of professions is available, as well as employment outlooks for specific industries, salary averages and even job search tips.

If you are still undecided, don’t worry. You don?t have to know exactly what you?re looking to study when you contact a school. Many schools employ special advisors who will help you select coursework that will fit into various degree programs and schedules.

Once you have defined your educational goals, you can determine your program needs:

Certificate.
A certificate signifies the completion of a specialized number of courses, generally required for vocational or technical training. Many times, certificate courses can be completed very quickly. These usually are designed to enhance your current job skills or prepare you for a licensing test.

Associate Degree.
An Associate degree is generally the completion of a total of 60 semester credit hours. Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are often offered by technical schools and community and junior colleges.

Bachelor’s Degree.
A Bachelor’s degree generally comprises the completion of a total of 120 semester credit hours. A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is generally a degree in one of the arts or humanities, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is a degree in one of the sciences.

Master’s Degree.
A Master’s degree is the completion of one to two years of full-time academic study beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Some programs are shorter than two years, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and can be used to enhance your professional skill set or qualify for promotions on the job.

It is no secret that the cost for a college education has increased in recent years. At the same time, the amount of federal aid available to students has decreased. The difference could mean more out-of-pocket expenses for you. But the answer to your financial aid dilemma could be as close as your company’s human resources office.

A survey of 1,428 chief financial officers conducted by Robert Half Finance & Accounting found that 46 percent of their companies provided some form of tuition reimbursement.

Under these company reimbursement programs, companies pay for employees to continue the education needed to maintain professional certifications and credentials. They also cover the cost of an employee’s education when he or she is working toward a certificate, diploma or degree for the first time.

“I enrolled in an accelerated Bachelor’s program at Webster University in Kansas City because my company is picking up the tab,” said Jonice Daniels. “I have always wanted to get a degree, but with two children in private school and one in daycare, finding the money to go to school has been impossible.”

Daniels, like many other workers, took advantage of her company’s reimbursement program. “It was free money for college,” she said. “It didn’t make sense to pass that up.”

If you are considering going back to school to complete your degree or you want to get career training or earn a degree for a new career, your employer might be able to help. Stop by your company’s human resources office to see if your company is among the 46 percent that offer tuition reimbursement.

If you?re taking a look at this article because you just chose a new educational program at a nearby technical college, congratulations. You took the first step in making yourself more marketable and successful. There are a few more things you have to consider now to keep you headed in the right direction.

What should I consider when choosing a program?

? Accreditation, ranking and reputation of the college program
Accreditation can help with more than just the quality of the education you?ll be receiving. If your school is fully accredited, this will help because it also means your school participates in the Title IV student aid program. If you want to find out more about your school?s accreditation, you can find this at the web sites for the Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report or Kiplinger.

? Financing
What kind of financial aid is available? Does your school offer any specific scholarships targeted toward adult students? Even if your school isn?t fully accredited for federal aid programs, your particular school might have other options that will ease the burden as you concentrate on your studies. Schedule an appointment to speak with your school?s financial aid office to find out the details. Are the college’s tuition and expenses affordable? It may sound complicated, but it is very important.

? Transfer Credits
Does your college accept all transfer credits?
How many and what kind?
Does it provide options for receiving college credit by examination or prior learning?

Transfer credits are especially important if you are interested in graduate school or an advanced degree. Speak with your admissions counselor immediately to make sure the program is fully transferable and meets all requirements. This can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

? Scheduling
Make certain that all your courses are presented at acceptable times for your schedule. Working adults, especially adults with family obligations, should seek out available night and weekend courses. The most convenient option for busy adults is the online degree program. These programs can be done in your home (or wherever you have an Internet connection), and many allow you to finish on your schedule. Is an online program for you? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you sign up for one.

? Staff
Does your chosen school require your instructors to be available for questions or extra help for a specific amount of time each week? Your admissions office should be able to tell you when your professors are available after class hours. Use your admissions office as a frequent source of information.

? Childcare
The college offers a community and support for adult students, but do they offer other convenient services such as childcare? Many technical and community colleges these days recognize the needs of the large returning-student population and will cater to their needs to keep them in class.

1. Jobs that are increasing in demand for qualified practitioners:
? Physician assistants - $64,536 (median graduate salary)
? Physical therapists - $60,180
? Nurses - $52,330
? Clinical lab workers - $45,730
? Dental hygienists - $55,240
? Pharmacy technicians - $22,890
? Respiratory technicians - $43,140
? Substance-abuse counselors - $33,920

2. Alternative medicine is seeing demand rise for:
? Acupuncturists
? Massage Therapists
? Chiropractors

3. While many assistant positions require no more than an Associate or Bachelor’s degree, a number of fields are increasing their minimum educational standards.

4. Home health aide jobs are expected to balloon to 974,000 total jobs nationally in 2014 from 624,000 in 2004. Unfortunately, this job has a median annual salary of $18,330 and must rely on demand to expand future earning potential.

5. Credentialing for nursing-home aides, who also are in demand, is more rigorous; they have to be certified through a training program and exam and have to meet certain requirements annually to maintain their certification.

6. Home health workers have a high rate of job turnover ? about one out of five in a year leave the job. This maintains high demand for more workers, but the salary range is moving slowly, and, ironically, there are many positions that don?t provide healthcare for workers.

7. Jobs for medical coders and billers, who are responsible for data entry and claims management with insurance companies, are expected to grow 29 percent. The positions, which don’t include computer programming or setting up electronic systems, have an annual median pay of $25,590.

8. With low average annual tuition for technical schools and public community colleges, many people find them to be a more economical way of completing an Associate degree or the first two years of their education.

9. Employment for physician assistants is expected to jump nearly 50 percent to 93,000 by 2014. It’s relatively lucrative, too, with average annual earnings of $64,410.

10. As with many jobs, the more education and responsibility you have, the more you’re likely to be paid. Licensed vocational or practical nurses earned about $34,000 on average in 2004.