A college education is certainly intended to expand students’ knowledge in many areas of life. But it’s also meant to prepare students for careers that will likely be the focus of their lives for decades after they graduate. So, in choosing a college, students should carefully consider which institution would best prepare them for the particular career of their dreams.
Students who are fascinated with self-driving cars, and want to pursue an education in this field, would do well to consider Carnegie Mellon University’s computer science school. Some computer vision graduates at this Pittsburgh-based university are being offered starting salaries as high as $200,000.
Students who want to enter the field of cyber security should consider Fordham University in New York City. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Fordham as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, and the F.B.I. earlier this year hosted its International Conference on Cyber Security on Fordham’s campus.
Students talented in math who dream of a career in the high paying field of Actuarial Science might also want to head to New York City. The Actuarial Science program at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University has been designated as a Center of Actuarial Excellence for the past nine years. Only 15 other universities in the U.S., including Penn State, Temple, Towson, and the University of Connecticut, hold this prestigious honor.
Students who want to major in the specific field of food marketing would do well to head to Philadelphia for the Haub School of Business at St. Joseph’s University. Most of its faculty members have had careers in the field, and the University maintains strong ties with the food industry, greatly helping students launch their careers. While learning the field, students are given opportunities to travel to major food conferences throughout the country.
Other specific fields that students might find of interest, and the colleges and universities that offer them, include Medical and Biological Illustration at Johns Hopkins University, Biomedical Photography and Medical Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.), Entertainment Engineering and Design at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Toy Design at both the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York City and the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, and Animal Behavior at Bucknell University.
If students first identify their dream career, finding the ideal college becomes a lot easier!
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart in Hillsborough that has been offering PSAT, SAT, and ACT preparation courses, as well as private tutoring by Ivy League educated instructors, for more than 25 years. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.
