Step 1: Choose Your Career Path Wisely
Determining your career goals and interests will keep you from wasting your time and money on a degree that doesn't match your desired career path.
In today’s job market the type of degree can make all the difference, especially if you’re hoping to land one of the current in-demand jobs listed below.
New Career Path or Same Career Path?
You have two main career choices: If you’re just starting out, you can pursue one of your interests; if you’ve already entered the work force, you can choose a new path. If you go the latter route, your past training and experience may qualify you for a wide range of careers you may not have considered before.
Decisions, Decisions...
Career counselors using a career assessment can help you find a career matching your skills and interests, which will help make your search more effective. You can also perform self-assessments using a variety of online tools.
In-Demand Jobs
If job security and good pay are important to you, take a look at the US Department of Labor's forecast of the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs through 2014:
Registered nurse
Network systems administrator/analyst
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Health diagnosis technician
Computer software engineer
Dental hygienist
Law enforcement officer
Teacher (all levels)
Accountant
To learn more and find jobs in these and other career fields visit our Career Advice channel.
The Degree to Take You There
Your next step is selecting the degree that matches your career goals and offers the flexibility you need.
Want to get your degree so you can get into one of these hot career fields? Find a school using the School Finder. After you've done that, use the Scholarship Finder to help pay for your program.

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Step 2: Select the Right Degree
Your degree choice will affect your future career opportunities and ultimate success. This compact guide will help you choose the degree that works for you.
When making this decision, consider your current career path, future job markets, timeline and flexibility. Here are a few questions you need to answer before you select a degree:
Do you want to continue on your current career path?
Does your current career match the future job market?
Do you want the quickest path to a degree?
Do you want a specific degree or a degree that leaves your options open?
What degree level do you want -- associate’s, bachelor's or master's ?
Most degrees fall under one of the following areas of study
Computer science
Engineering
Electronics
Healthcare or medical
Criminal justice
Business administration
Liberal arts, such as math, science and English
Education
Psychology/social and human services
These degree areas can be narrowed to very specific areas of concentration. Having predetermined career goals can help make choosing your degree a simple process.
Tip: Career counselors can help you make the career choice that matches your skills and interests by giving you a career skills and interest assessment. This will help you focus on the career options that match your experience, skills and personal interests.
Your Current Career
If you plan to stick to your current career path, you simply need to determine which degree is most in line with your career. Since your past experience might count toward college credit, this option can also help you get your degree faster.
Information is available through many sources, including school admissions counselors. You can get free, no obligation, degree counseling by visiting our School Finder.
Future Career Opportunities
Although factoring future job growth into your degree choice may mean taking more classes, which in turn will increase your time and expense, it is well-worth the effort. In fact, combining your personal interests with the forecasted job market is a sure way to make the most of your schooling.
According to the US Department of Labor, the future top career fields include:
Computer engineering, network management and support
Healthcare
Education (K-12 and higher education)
Human resources and social work
Environmental/hazardous material management
Fast and Flexible
If the focus of your degree is less important than the timing, consider a degree that allows you to earn credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Associate of science and bachelor of science degrees are often the most liberal when it comes to using CLEPs.
Some degrees are more flexible than others. For instance, business administration degrees are often the fastest and most flexible. In addition, a degree in business administration can be as narrow or as broadly focused as you like, and nearly every college offers business degree programs.
Degree Level
It’s important to select your degree level, but it’s not critical. You don’t need an associate’s degree before going for your bachelor’s. In fact, in most cases, it saves you time and effort to focus on your bachelor’s degree first.
Once you have made your degree choice, you will need to find a school that offers that degree and has programs that fit your needs. Use our School Finder to find schools that offer the program you want.
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Step 3: Find the Right School
Once you have chosen the degree that matches your career goals, your next step is to shop around for the school that offers you the best opportunity.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a school; these include available degree options, accreditation and the cost of tuition. The trick is to find the school that offers exactly what you need, in a way that fits your lifestyle. Our School Finder is a great place to start your search. It enables you to quickly search schools and request more information.
Once you have indicated your interest in a given school, an admissions counselor will contact you directly either by email or phone. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about what the school has to offer. The best way to determine if a school is right for you is to ask smart questions.
Here are some related links to help you find the school that’s right for you:
Our School Finder
Learn to Judge Online Education
The Online Option
Ask Smart Questions
Accreditation -- Make Sure It's the Real Deal
The next step is to learn how to pay for your education.
What Is Our School Finder?
Our School Finder is a database of institutions indexed by program, location and more. Use it to find the school with the program you want and the benefits you're entitled to. Best of all, it's free--courtesy of Monster.com.
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Step 4: Pay for School
Once you have picked your school, the next step is to determine how to pay for it. Here are some options to explore:
Loans
Scholarships
Other types of aid
Calculators
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Step 5: Manage Your Time
by Megan Malugani
Monster Contributing Writer
If you've decided to go back to school for a degree, you may need a little help getting organized. Try these survival tips for juggling work, school and your personal life.
Choose Your Program Carefully
Many schools tailor programs to working professionals by offering evening and weekend classes. Some schools provide distance learning opportunities, which allow students to take courses via the Internet or by teleconferencing.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Set a goal for completing the program, even if it's a long-term goal. Always keep in mind that what you're doing will open doors for you in the long run.
Think Ahead
Many employers encourage employees to attain degrees and will accommodate students' schedules. If that's the case, alert your employer to your class schedule as far in advance as possible.
Stay Organized
Make daily and weekly to-do lists, but don't panic if unexpected problems arise and set you back. Keep work and school separate, even if your employer supports your efforts.
Don't Neglect Yourself or Your Responsibilities
Keep your energy level high by eating well and exercising. Although sleep may seem like a sinful indulgence the week before a test, you can hurt yourself or your patients if you don't get your rest.
Banish Guilt
Enjoy time with your loved ones rather than feeling guilty about the schoolwork you could be doing. Plan time for yourself that's not related to school.
Take a Break If You Need One
Take a semester off if you're overwhelmed, or reduce your courseload.
Study Anywhere, Anytime
Review your notes or course readings while waiting in lines. Tape-record lectures and listen to them when you're driving.
Take Advantage of the Internet
Communicate with professors via email. Research projects online.

Very informative post as well

let's suppose kay net ki facility available nahi hai or parents or family mai say bhi koi educated nahi hai phir humain kia karna chaheye mera nahi khayal kay pk mai Govt level per aisay koi adaray hain jo new generation ko consle kar sakain to choosing best future option for study apka kiya khayal hai iss baray mai ?
khush rehain

ya gud saying, lkn main ya poori terhan nahin manta ka assey Institute nahin hain, hain zaroor lkn Limited level per or jo thorey se hain be tu un main se kuch tu Charge kerte hain, ager wo be na millain tu i think aap ky kareeeb kisi na kisi jaga assa banda mill jata hy ka jo aap ko easily deal ker sakta hy, bus thori searching ki zaroorat hy, Milne se tu kehte hain KHUDA bi mill jata hy, or wasy be aaj kl her Galli main Tution Centers open hain or Consutant easily mill jate hain for cousl so i think now a days its vry easy to find as compare tu 2 or 3 years b4

dear m not talking abot tution centres r study consultant jo sirf paisay kamanay k liye behthay huye hain
mera kehnay ka matlab yeh tha kay Govt level per aisi adaray honay chahye jo apni young generation ko sahi tarha say guide ker sakrain in respect of their future

this is a very fast age... and no one has time to textually or theoretically read such long stories for choosing a career path... no offense brother...
but be a bit practical...
here i juss want to add up my thinking towards choosing a profession... and a career path...

every student passes through three stages of education and career molding...
1. secondary school/matric/o-levels (school/high school)
2. higher secondary school/intermediate/a-levels ( high school/college)
3. undergraduation/graduation (college/university)

for the time being... ignore all aspects like affordability, availability, and usability of resources... and also the career choosing restrictions that we face from our elders...

lets assume that you have all resources and you have no restriction from your parents as what you have to do and what not to do... in short... assume yourself to be a perfect student...!!!

at stage 1... you aint mature enough, and your mind doesnt tell you what you are and what you want... so we pass this stage mostly following the croud...

at stage 2... which is the base and the most important... you face independence and you know what you are worth for and what you can do... in short... you know about your personality... so what you have to do is... sit in a quite nice place... relax yourself fully... free your mind from all thoughts... take a pen... and write down just three career lines which you think you LOVE the most... then write down a few major attributes of your personality and what you can do and what you cant... match them with those three career paths... the one fitting up the best is indeed the best for you... so at that very moment... take a deep breath... smile a bit... and feel happy about your decision... and make your mind that this is what you will have to do... and there will be no deviation in your mind even if you end up unsuccessful... YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT ALL COSTS AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING YOUR BEST FOR IT...

at stage 3... you have travelled a lot far in persuing what you selected for yourself and now are finding yourself perfectionizing it... you have the knowledge and you have the specialization... you know the market value and you know the scope... you know its horizon and you know its effectiveness BINGO... thats it...!!!

no regrets and no thinking back... you feel satisfied that what you chose was right and now you are successful in it... and this method always guarantees minimum 90 percent success... coz that decision and that path is what YOU have chosen for yourself... so you happily keep walking on your chosen road...

the rest is your luck and is in Allah's Will... so keep praying and give your best input...!!!

thats it...

Very nice
Agareed but dear dez step can v do only if v r mature and having sense to make any decision i really do appreciate ur thinking but u can make decision only dis way wat u have describe only when u r matured and in a teen age i dont think so galz/boyz hav much sence to make decision abot their future in dis case wat v have to do ??? if u don't mind plz explain it

i totaly Agreed with u SHARABI_EYES, ur saying is rit and we understand ur Msg tht wht u want to convey, But Pooor cant Afford the Graduate level study Bcs now a days the Govt doesnot sport the Students Either they r just playing a Stpd politics, Evry Govt Individual trying to becom a famous one,they r not in a politics for Peoples Aim they r just in to Accomplished of his/her own Desires, i m not agree tht we dont have any Govt Institute in our Country But we hv vry limited and it is jst in the Big Cities or wo be kaam kertey hain tu apni marzi se and they need the handsome amount to do any work, But wht i want to say tht if the Student is not b able to sport the study to become Graduate even some of them r not b able to support ther Childrens in FA and Even then in Matric thn tu koe Bacha study nahin ker skta na yes He/She must b thinking abt thr study or dekhta be hoga bachonko School jatte hoa os ky pas bi dil hy os ka dil bi kerta hoga kion sirf un bachon ko achey Institute miltey hain jo moon main Soney ka Chamack ly ker peda hote hain,tab ya sari batain Nakaam ho jatti hain en ka koe meaning nahin hota, Sorry baat kahan thi kahan challi gae,

now in New Era abi mera nahin khyal ka kisi teen ager ky pass Sence na hoo aap abi kuch din pahly News sun raha tha or main kuch Pakistani Students nain poorey World main A Level or O Level main Top kiya hy, wo bi tu teen ager hain, so now a days i refuse this thing ka kisi teen ager ky pass Mind nahin hy

dear aik news say teen age guys zaheen nahi ho jatay
or news ki taraf na jaye news mai to teen age kay aisay aisay karnamay bhi atay hai kay Allah ki panah
n e wayz mai aik general bat ker reha tha ab meri bat ka yeh matlab nahi hai kay saray kay saray teen age guys bewaqoof hotay hain

Mera bi assa koe matlb nahin tha, i m jst asnwering ur question ka ager wessa hy tu assa bi tu hy just nothing else

ok

poverty has remained no more an issue for the persuasion of your education lil bro...
universities are offering scholarships and complete financial assistance to the deserving students and there are many possibilities for almost everyone to study at bachelor levels...

i dont really know your level of education... but i just want to say something...

i agree that maturity is not a slave to age... ive seen myself boys and girls that are only 16 but they have so much deep insight about life that they are better than many youths in their 20's. but they are exceptional cases...
but in general... the simple explaination to all things is that...
app kabhi bhi kitaboun se mature nahi hotey... Phd ker leney se ya top ker leney se app mein maturity nahi ati...maturity comes through experiences, maturity comes through interaction, societal movements, through happenings, through inter personal communication, through confidence and through dare...

trust me lil bro... COMPLAINS KERNEY WALEY BUHAT HOTEY HEIN... SYSTEM KO BURA KEHNEY WALEY BUHAT HOTE HEIN... LEKIN THERE ARE A VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT FIGHT THE SYSTEM AND SURVIVE IN IT... AND GO TO HIGHER LEVELS...

ye sab app ke apney uper depend kerta hai... ya to rotey raho aur complain kertey raho and keep waiting for getting lucky and that someone comes to help you...
ya phir... be brave and strong in your cause and fight the odds and survive the hardships and go through anything...

destiny is always in your own hands... so be a MAN and juss move forward without complaining!!!

as i said... maturity is not something that comes with age... and unfortunately is someone is not mature... theres a simple solution to him/her...

insaan apney atmosphere aur bakioun ke liye shayad borrha ho ker bhi mature nahi ho pata coz you can never be perfect... lekin... apni zaat ke lye insan hamesha se buhat mature raha hai coz a human being is the most selfish creature on this planet... doosroun ki baatoun mein a ker aur pair pressure mein ho sakta hai ke app bhatak jao... lekin jab bhi confuse feel kero... drr lag raha ho...

just go and stand in front of the mirror... look deeply in your eyes... and talk to the person in the mirror... ask yourself who u are... you will see that your confidence and your decision making will boost up... tumhein apney andar se khud awaz a jaye gi ke COME ON... I TRUST YOU... YOU CAN DO IT... SO JUST DO IT...

and trust me its not ajoke... kabhi try ker ke dekhna

Vry vry nice words, thank u so much, assy he Marey Bhae ky ak Ostaad they wo apna waqya suna rehy they ka University main per raha tha or wohin per study bi ker raha tha lkn main poori terhan se time nahin de paa raha tha yani keh loo KAAAM CHOOR HO GAYA THA, tu main nain kia kiya ka Apne Room main bohot see jaghon main Chart laga diye ka "TUM KISI NAWAB KY BACHY NAHIN HOO" or ya tarqeeeb kaam ker gaye, Mean to say ka just Realize kerney ki zaroorat hy

thumbs up to you juss be dedicated and committed to your work... and be yourself...
jo bhi kero gey uss mein buhat agey jao gey... InshAllah...
my best wishes and best of luck for your future lil bro...

A few more thoughts....

Selection of career is one of the most difficult question in our life.

Unfortunately in our country most of the parents want their children to be either Doctor, Engineer or if possible, to get commission in Armed forces like GD Pilot etc.

One of the reason being these professions are still highly respected and may be a bit better salaried than the others (in govt sector), though computer sciences is the other popular option.

I think we have to give our children the better understanding of different specialities and
should encourage them to find their preferred way....

I idea might be to go and join as observer in different companies or fields after the metriculation, as thats the most important decision whether to pick pre-medical or pre-engineering. eg one can go n join the hospital for a week or so, can be an observer with staff nurses or doctors or even technicians to assess himself.
one can go to an engineering college/ institute and join them for a few days..

n at the end can decide himself , where he feels comfortable.

Nice Words again, its really Informatic and helpful thnk u so much

Sahi keh rahy ho aap, now in New era its vry difficult to chooose, aaj kl Courses bi tu etney hain ka bandey ko sochney main time lagta hy ka kahan se start karon or kahan khtam,As u Mention tht:

"Unfortunately in our country most of the parents want their children to be either Doctor, Engineer or if possible, to get commission in Armed forces like GD Pilot etc.

One of the reason being these professions are still highly respected and may be a bit better salaried than the others (in govt sector), though computer sciences is the other popular option."

tht is also true and thts y hum loog marzi ki study nahin ker paty and finally Kismat ho tu paar nahin tu Fail, But kia ker sktey hain Parents are the Parents, wo bi tu apney bachon ko Ooper dekhan chahtey hain,

any how, ur words r absolutely rit and no doubt abt it