Career guides for college students

To help to determine which career path is best for you, we have assembled a list of the most popular career guides below. The guides are created to help college students understand the intricacies of various career tracks and provide insights to assist college students to make great decisions about their future.

Aligning your future career objectives and aspirations with your priorities will allow you to move more efficiently through the decision-making process and find the perfect college and have career success in the future.

Below you will find a cross-section of valuable career guides providing the best career advice to help your research efforts and allow you to find the college education and career path that fits you best.

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Psychology Career Guide:

Our career guide in the field of psychology contains career guidance for various pathways such as therapy, behavioral, legal, clinical, and legal tracks. The guide goes on to cover typical personality traits, careers, top jobs in psychology, and job descriptions in psychology. Careers in psychology can span from business to healthcare and from social work to public schools.

Dental Hygiene Career Guide:

The dental hygiene career pathway guide provides prospective dentistry students with career advice for an overview of career tracks in the industry. Careers can span from specialties such as restorative care, digital radiography, occlusion, Endodontics, and specialty care to name a few. Hygienists may find themselves working for a small dental practice, as part of a larger corporation, or as an independent contractor. Additional resources for dental hygiene students include our Dental Hygiene: College Search Portal, FAQ, College Programs, and Employment Data.

Nursing Career Guide:

The nursing career guide is an essential resource for anyone considering a career as a nurse. Topics covered include types of nursing degrees, career specialties, job descriptions, career options, nursing school options, financial aid for nurses, frequently asked questions, and national nursing resources. Our supplemental career guide titled Nursing Careers for Men provides students with a growing trend of men in the nursing workforce.

Cosmetology Career Guide:

This popular guide helps cosmetology students better understand the industry, job duties, career pathways, physical demands, employment arrangements, employment statistics, qualifications, licensure, training, and industry outlook. With a combination of soft skills and trade skills, the cosmetology industry is poised to grow at a rate well above the national average growth rate for all jobs. Adjacent careers in barbering, esthetics, and nail tech may be considered for those interested in those vocational pathways.

Welding Career Guide:

Welding is one of the most important professions affecting nearly half of the country's total gross national product. As such, our career guide in welding gives career guidance for various welding vocations, job types, job descriptions, and applications. By taking a deep dive into the various welding processes and educational requirements, you will have a solid understanding of career tracks in the field.

Massage Therapy Career Guide:

Not all career guides are the same. The career guide for massage therapists is a case in point as we tackle key aspects of the vocation. This guide provides students with career advice along with career opportunities to consider during the job search, income data, work settings, steps to becoming a massage therapist, laws, accreditation, board certification, and professional associations.

Teacher Career Guide:

Teaching, as a vocation, accounts for millions of jobs across the country. Prospects for future growth continue to be bright which will require a cadre of passionate, trained teachers going forward. Our career guide in teaching provides students with career advice for different teaching tracks, job descriptions, teaching pedagogy, educational requirements, licensure, and a vocational outlook. Careers in teaching can take you into school administration, science, reading, and elementary education to name a few options.

Radiology Career Guide:

Radiology, as a career, can take a variety of forms. Some graduates focus on radiation therapy while others study nuclear medicine or diagnostic radiology. In either case, we have created a summary to give students career advice to help students understand their options within this healthcare profession. Working environment, job descriptions, and educational requirements are part and parcel of our comprehensive guide.

Medical Insurance Coding Career Guide:

Medical billing is not the same as medical insurance coding. The emphasis and training of both career tracks are quite different. Details around medical insurance coding or medical transcription along with medical billing are covered at length in our guide. Taking the time to understand ICD-10 and CPT will help you determine if this field of study is right for you.

Dental Career Guide:

A career in the dental field can include several pathways that include a dentist, dental assistant, dental hygienist, medical lab technician, dental lab technician, and many more. Dentistry is derived from odontology which focuses on the health, development, and structure of teeth. This guide provides career advice by walking you through job descriptions of each major career path along with common dental treatments, educational requirements, income, and a career outlook.

Pharmacy Career Guide:

Pharmacy science can include an array of career options for students. As such, we have broken down the most common types of careers within the pharmacy industry coupled with work settings and a comprehensive job description. Our career guide in pharmacy gives career advice by explaining the various specialties within the field of study along with a guide to help you determine your next steps as a pharmacist or pharmacy tech.

Doctor Career Guide:

Med school and Premed are not for everyone. There are only around 150 med schools in the country compared to over seven-thousand accredited colleges and universities. Such a specialty takes thoughtful research and self-awareness. Our guide helps students understand the various types of specialties a doctor can pursue along with key insights into the medical industry. Additionally, we cover vital employment trends, career paths, educational requirements, and degree programs in this essential guide.

Veterinary Medicine Career Guide:

Veterinary medicine emphasizes the treatment and care of animals. Our guide contains essential information for anyone considering a future in veterinary medicine, including job descriptions, vocational options, areas of specialization, employment outlook, work environment, and steps needed to become a veterinarian or veterinary assistant.

Accounting Career Guide:

To become an accountant, you will need to follow a series of specific steps. As such, we have put together a comprehensive guide to help you effectively navigate this process. Accountants will need to meet specific academic criteria and will have the option to specialize in a variety of fields of study including auditing, financial accounting, and forensic accounting.

EMT & Paramedic Career Guide:

Paramedics and EMTs are classified as first responders in the medical world. Their skills and knowledge are critical to the lives of others which is why effective training is a must. This resource includes what it means to be a first responder, training requirements, career paths, career outlook, and skills needed to succeed in this field.

Physician Assistant Career Guide:

PAs are also known as Physician Assistants, state-licensed and nationally certified professionals. Our career guide includes educational requirements, career outlook, duties, physical demands, work settings, and certifications. With a projected income nearly three times the national average and an employment forecast of nearly 30% over the coming decade, the demand for quality physician assistants is evident.

Physical Therapy Career Guide:

Physical Therapy is often abbreviated as PT and is the discipline of study to help promote, restore, and maintain proper physical functioning of the body. We have created a comprehensive guide you need to consume for those seeking a future in the PT specialization. Job responsibilities, job types, vocational tracks, various work settings, and conditions treated by a physical therapist are included in this guide. The career outlook is bright given the fact the BLS estimates a robust 25% growth in this field over the next decade.

Biology Career Guide:

A definitive career primer in biology is requisite to make a great decision about your future. From academia to private research and from biotechnology to pharmaceuticals, biologists have a substantive impact on many different sectors of the economy. Career paths, specializations, career outlooks, educational requirements, and employment forecasts are available in our resource guide. Adjacent fields of study include cancer biology, bacteriology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, biostatistics, and biophysics to name a few.

HVAC Career Guide:

HVAC or HVACR is the area of study to properly cool and heat commercial and residential structures. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Learn more about the trade, what services technicians perform, daily activities, training requirements, work settings, job growth, employment opportunities, and income with our essential guide.

Sports Medicine Career Guide:

Exercise science and sports medicine are areas of study we cover in this career guide. Defining each discipline will help students understand the difference between exercise science and sports medicine. Additionally, we tackle job specialties and their respective duties to help provide key insights into this area of study. With dozens of career pathways available, career goals in sports medicine or exercise science will come into focus.

Speech Pathology Career Guide:

Speech pathology, speech-language pathology, and speech therapy aid individuals with various speech disorders. This career guide helps college students understand receptive and expressive language along with career facts, educational requirements, duties, and licensure requirements in this field of study.

Auto Mechanic Career Guide:

Mechanics or automotive mechanics play a vital role in our lives. It is these professionals that help diagnose, repair, and replace various parts and assemblies in our trucks and cars to get them back on the road. You will need extensive training to become an auto mechanic along with a road map we have included in this guide. This popular career resource includes employment outlook, income, duties, and specializations.

Economist Career Guide:

Students studying economics will need to know essential information as part of a career pathway in this field.Economics blends quantitative reasoning with deep analysis to make sense of the world around us. As such, we have provided a deep dive into what an economist does for a living coupled with areas of specialization, career outlook, and qualifications to become an economist.

Financial Planner Career Guide:

Financial planning is synonymous with titles such as financial analyst, financial consultant, and financial advisor. In most cases, the job title and function are aligned to describe the duties of a financial planner. Our comprehensive guide in the financial planning realm will help students understand the scope of the job, requirements, fiduciary responsibilities, career outlook, income forecasts, degree paths, licensure requirements, and industry employers.

Medical Assistant Career Guide:

Medical assistants provide a vital role in the healthcare arena. A MA or medical assistant works closely with physicians in outpatient facilities or ambulatory care settings clinics. This career guide will help you better understand the job duties of an MA along with areas of specialty, responsibilities, work setting, job outlook, certifications, and how to become a medical assistant.

Sociology Career Guide:

Earning a college degree in sociology encompasses far more than most people imagine. Sociology touches on foundational elements of business, economics, psychology, criminal justice, public policy, law, social work, government, and teaching. To that end, we have created a useful career guide that includes job duties, work settings, job overview, career outlook, and educational requirements of a sociologist.

Mechanical Engineering Career Guide:

As a broad-based engineering discipline, mechanical engineering leverages knowledge from materials science, physics, manufacturing, and engineering to solve thorny issues or create new products. This guide helps students understand the basic tenets of mechanical engineering, duties, specialties, qualifications, qualities, emerging opportunities, job market, and licensure in the field of study.

Forensic Science Career Guide:

Forensic science is the study area that emphasizes examining crime scene evidence. This career overview helps students intimately understand the career options and responsibilities, educational requirements, career paths, employment opportunities, job market, income expectations, and adjacent career opportunities.

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