Professor's A's Advise
for Students and Parents
Who Is Professor A?
Financial Aid
Choosing a College and Major
What You Study Determines Earnings
 Alternatives to 4-year college
Skill Center
Stuff to Know
 Reaching Potential
The Botton Line
 Please Share  1/16/23

Choosing a College and Major

 Executive Summary

 1) A bachelor's degree does not mean higher lifetime earnings.
     Who earns more?

 2) WHAT YOU STUDY DETERMINES EARNINGS. See Chart

 3) Major in what you like because our "Flat World" means a lot
     of competition meaning more effort is needed to be successful. 

 4) Minor where the job are: health, education and STEM lead in most projected
     high-paying jobs. Studies show all careers can be enhanced by digital knowledge.

 4) Increase your Geekability by adding one useable software or Apps task per month
     to be done with your computer and phone.

 5) Improving SAT testing ability is not a good idea because
     1) data indicates comprehensive standardized test coaching has little effect on scores
     2) anxiety they cause can be a serious problem and
     3) attending a college you are not academically prepared for hinders career success.
         See SAT Coaching Found to Boost Scores--Barely
         Free testing help at Test Prep Internet Library

 6) Going where you are near the top academically usually a good idea for 3 reasons. 
     Grants will be higher, time will be available to enhance non-academic skills and
     professors favor their best students.

 7) Traditional and social networking and good mentoring are still very important to success.
 

 

What You Study Determines Earnings
 Stem Majors  
Science   Technology   Engineering   Math

 

Alternatives to 4-year college

How to Build a Successful Life
 Without a Four-Year Degree
Certificates
Apprenticeships
 Online Classes		 Gap Year
Volunteer
 Military		 Start a Business
Sell Real Estate
 Entry Level Job

Stuff to Know

Scholarships, Grants, Loans and other Financial Aid 
 Parents Read This Before Cosigning Your Kids Student Loans
 Beginners Guide to Repaying Student Loans
 Not All College Majors Are Created Equal
Maximizing the College Experience 
 Two B's or an A and a C, Which is Better 
 Success Charts
 Goal Setting  2.56 video

Useful Sites from Broward Education

 Career Resources  
 Match Careers to Majors  
 Self Assessment 

 

Skill Center   

Soft Skills May Determine  Success
Soft Skills Needed for Success require practice
Organizing Stuff
Success Stuff
Money Stuff
Free Textbooks Plus
Career Stuff
Internship Help
Free Stuff

9 Critical Skills that take a little practice

 

 

 

Reaching Potential

How to help Every Child Reach Fulfill Their Potential 57 video
RSA Cartoon Version

Motivational Video 10:47 RSA video

Mark Cuban has 5 helpful hints

 

The Bottom Line

Having a high school degree provides Higher earnings boost for almost everyone.
For the  “high-ability” group, a bachelor’s degree provides a moderate boost to wages—
certainly lower than what we think of as the benefits of college,
but still a respectable amount that makes getting the degree worthwhile."
Some in this group have the characteristics necessary for an advanced degree
where the earnings may substantially increase..
But for the “low-ability” group, the bachelor’s degree earnings premium is nonexistent." Source