Which college degrees provide better job security?

A new study from the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce implies that your degree choice can have a big impact on keeping a job. According to the findings, risk of unemployment for recent graduates varies considerably depending on their major.

You can check out the full report, Hard Times, College Majors, Unemployment and Earnings: Not All College Degrees Are Created Equal, but here are some of the takeaways we’ve gleaned from it:

- Specializing is great, but develop skills that can be applicable in a number of ways. Case in point: The highest unemployment rate in the study was for architecture graduates (13.9 percent), a direct reflection of the struggling real estate market, and there’s little work outside of that industry. On the other hand, those with financial or computer expertise can transfer those skills to work for most any corporation or organization.

- Now might be a good time to get that advanced degree you’ve been mulling over. The overall unemployment rate for people with graduate degrees is just 3 percent.

- Look for ties to strong industries. Recent graduates in Engineering, the Sciences, Education, or Healthcare are tied to stable or growing sectors, and therefore, offer opportunities with the most staying power (with just a 5.4% unemployment rate).

On the bright side, any degree is still better than not having one at all. Recent bachelor’s degree earners have an 8.9 percent unemployment rate, while job seekers with just a high school diploma are at 22.9 percent, and high school dropouts are at 31.5 percent.

-Dawn Papandrea

When searching for a community college, you want to select a school that cares about students being successful with the coursework and after graduation, in finding well-paying jobs.

The Aspen Institute

Part of your research should include the honors that schools have received, and here’s a new one we wanted to bring to your attention. The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence was launched in 2011, and as more people look to commercial colleges for affordability and convenience, it is great to see these schools receiving the spotlight.

The award recognized community colleges with strong results in student learning, completion, equity, and post-college employment and earnings.

The winner was … Florida’s Valencia College. The Orlando school has some pretty impressive numbers, with more than half of its full-time students either graduating or transferring within three years of entering college. And 30 percent of the students who enter Valencia transfer to a four-year college.

Here’s an incredible story from the writeup about Valencia College that shows how the school (which received a $600,000 award) has been a source for local employers, helping connect students with job openings.

“Jim Lipscomb, a Northrop Grumman manager in Orlando, used to spend half the year on the road, looking for workers qualified to help make laser sights for military hardware. Competition was fierce—a good candidate had five or ten job offers to choose from—and those he hired often left Florida in months, homesick for Texas or Idaho or Iowa.

Now, Lipscomb doesn’t need to leave town. Over the last several years, he has hired nearly every laser technician who has come out of Valencia, which created a program in response to growing industry demand. Valencia is doing its part to fill a national shortage of laser technicians while linking local residents to well-paying jobs for local residents.”

Here are the nine finalists for the Aspen Prize, which also are partnering with businesses and creating innovative programs for their community college students. You can read each of the finalists’ stories, too, to see what those schools are doing to stand out.

• Lake Area Technical Institute (South Dakota)

• Miami Dade College (Florida)

• Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

• Mott Community College (Michigan)

• Northeast Iowa Community College-Calmar

• Santa Barbara City College (California)

• Southwest Texas Junior College

• Valencia College (Florida)

• Walla Walla Community College (Washington)

• West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Former Secretary of Education Richard Riley, who co-chaired the jury that selected the winners, made these comments in connection with the award:”Community colleges for too long have been under-appreciated. By 2018, more than 60 percent of American jobs will require some kind of post-secondary qualification, and community colleges are uniquely poised to answer the needs of both employers and students looking for economic security.”

If you’re attending any of these schools or planning on starting there soon, definitely check out how you can benefit from their initiatives that are worthy of the spotlight!

-Lori Johnston

This is an exciting time to be in school, as there are more opportunities and ways to learn. For 2012, you’ll see a continuation of trends and some new efforts that point the way for how students will be learning from community colleges, two-year and four-year public and private universities, and for-profit online schools in the future.

Education in emerging markets
Businesses are thinking globally, and so are colleges and universities. From the growth in study abroad programs to graduate education, more U.S. universities are expanding with overseas programs. In 2012, for example, Harvard Business School will have four executive education programs in India.

Sciences will stand out even more
The national STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiative is seeking to boost students’ knowledge in public schools. At the college level, schools are working to prepare students with the math and science skills to get hired in high-demand fields such as engineering and technology.

Campuses get more social
Tweeting, sharing content, “likes” on Facebook … it’s all part of how colleges and universities are going to continue interacting with their students, and students interacting with each other and their professors.

Online learning gets more tools
Online learning continues to evolve, and one trend that students will see is how learning management systems like Blackboard and OpenClass will integrate more social media. Cloud computing also will become more of a factor, making it easier for you to access reading material or the paper you’re working on from anywhere. That’s going to make it easier for you to collaborate with other students and share content, which can help you succeed in your classes.

Campuses get greener
Colleges and universities realize that they need to train students to fill the exploding number of high-paying green jobs. Community colleges, for example, are working to update their curriculum so that its students will contribute to the green economy and sustainability movement.

Let us know some of the trends you’re seeing in education in 2012!

Happy New Year!

-Lori Johnston

My 5-year-old son’s letter to Santa this year includes Legos, Green Lantern and Batman action figures, and something to play Angry Birds with (instead of always asking for my iPhone). For him, my wish for Santa is that he continues to learn to spell, read, and develop a strong work ethic in kindergarten through his future school years.

If adult learners made a list for Santa, there’s six things we think would be great wishes for Santa (and we’d give him extra cookies and coffee to keep him caffeinated on Christmas Eve, too!).

1. Faster Internet access
Whether you’re taking online classes or trying to do online research, there’s nothing more frustrating for an adult learner than being bogged down by a slow Internet connection. Or worse, when there’s no Internet at all, due to tech problems in your home, office, or a coffee shop, or storm outages.

2. A tablet
The high-tech movement is evident in education. A tablet can be easier to tote than a laptop if you’re going to class or work, and there’s the option to sync information between computers and tablets, and a ton of apps that can help with taking notes and test prep. iPads and other tablets are pricey, so no being naughty this year – you want to be on Santa’s good side. Tablets and e-readers like the Kindle and Nook also can make it more affordable to buy digital textbooks, newspapers, magazines, and other required reading for school.

3. Peace in the house
Peace on earth is a big wish, but some peace and quiet in your home is necessary as you’re studying for tests or finishing up assignments on deadline. If that seems impossible, maybe Santa can help provide a babysitter for those times when you need to be secluded and studying, away from the kids.

4. Time
Santa’s the ultimate multi-tasker, placing presents under trees around the world in the span of one night. Adult students have the same tough task – trying to fit in studying, working, caring for family, and other activities – in their schedule. The gift of time would be incredible. As you enter 2012, you could take another look at your schedule to see ways you can pare down activities or prioritize so that school doesn’t suffer from the lack of time in your life.

5. Instant knowledge
Being able to master tough concepts in your subject area and quickly grasp the information you need in required classes leading up to your major would be incredible. Until those abilities are possible, adult learners will need to continue to prioritize time to study do required reading, work ahead on projects, and ask plenty of questions to ace the class.

6. A frame
For your diploma, of course!

Happy and merry holidays to all!

-Lori Johnston

I’m sitting in the movie theater, watching “The Muppets” with my 5-year-old son, and I realize that amid the references to past decades, musical numbers, and appearance of favorites like Animal and Beaker, a comeback story like this can apply to going back to college, too.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Before you say “mahna mahna,” check out these four ways “The Muppets” might inspire you to get on the path to a new career.

1. It’s not too late to do it.

Fozzie Bear’s eyebrows are graying, and a robot from the ’80s drives them around the country. It may seem like The Muppets are past their prime (it is, after all, their first new movie in 12 years), but they don’t let changes in technology or pop culture get them down in their quest to save their old theater. If you’re concerned you’re too out of date to go back to school, it doesn’t have to be that way.

2. Don’t let no stop you.

From TV executives to baddie Tex Richman, who plans to buy the theater and tear it down, there’s plenty of reasons for the Kermit and the Muppets to give up. It’s the same for you – people may make comments that could put holes in your college or career dreams, but don’t let them affect your decision.

3. Have your support team.

New Muppet Walter and humans Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) are huge fans on the Muppets, convincing them to get together again. The Muppets also enlisted the help of old and new friends, with Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Whoopie Goldberg, and other celebrities supporting the furry cast during the telethon. Find your own support team who can encourage you along the way as you head back to school to learn more about your field or a new career.

4. If a Muppet can do it, so can you…

Miss Piggy as a high-profile fashion editor; Gonzo as the owner of a successful plumbing company … OK, if a Muppet can have a new or second career, what’s stopping you?

-Lori Johnston

If you’re still working on your Thanksgiving Day menu or want to see what the experts are making, sure, you could turn on Food Network and see Bobby Flay, Alton Brown, and those Iron Chefs whip up their own traditional and untraditional menu items.

But there’s expertise shared daily with students at culinary institutes, which may be a career field you’re considering, that you can use when preparing for the holiday. Chef instructors shared their favorite recipes for a memorable Thanksgiving meal.

Turkey Breast Stuffed with Sausage, Fennel, and Golden Raisins

From Robert Brener, associate professor at Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte, N.C., campus)

Ingredients

• 4 green onions
• 3/4 pound Italian sweet sausages, casings removed
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 slices of bread crusts removed and cubed
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 3-pound boneless whole turkey breast butterflied & pounded to a half-inch thickness.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Flour as needed to thicken pan sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Finely chop onions and mix with, sausage, raisins, bread, eggs, and cream, season with salt and pepper.

3. Place turkey on work surface, skin side down.

4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. Spoon sausage mixture in row down center of breast.

6. Starting at 1 long side, roll up turkey breast to enclose filling.

7. Tie with kitchen string at 1-inch intervals to hold shape.

8. Brush oil all over turkey.

9. Season with salt, pepper.

10. Roast until thermometer inserted into filling registers 165°F.

11. Remove turkey and allow to rest under loosely tented foil.

Sweet Potato Hash

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ cups green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups yellow onions, chopped
• 1 ½ cups sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into ½” cubes
• 5 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup cooked corn kernels
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• ½ lime, juiced
• Sea salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Sauté bell pepper, garlic, and onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft.

2. Add sweet potato and stock and simmer until potato is soft.

3. Drain, keeping the stock for future use.

4. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, corn, lime, and cilantro. (Use your gloved hands to avoid breaking up the sweet potato.)

5. Season to taste.

6. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6.

Fresh Cranberry Relish

From the Culinary Institute of America (see this recipe being prepared). The CIA’s main campus is in Hyde Park, N.Y., and it has additional locations in St. Helena, Calif., San Antonio, and Singapore.

Ingredients

• 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Triple Sec
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange marmalade

Directions

1. If using fresh cranberries, wash, pick through, and dry them thoroughly.

2. In a medium saucepan, mix 1/3 cup of sugar with the cranberries and the remaining ingredients.

3. Taste to adjust sweetness and add more sugar if desired.

4. Place over medium-high heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until the berries pop.

Serve hot or cold. Makes 6 servings.

Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

Adapted from the Culinary Institute of America’s The New Book of Soups (2009, Lebhar Friedman). See this recipe being prepared.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups diced onion
• 1/3 cup diced carrot
• 1/2 cup diced celery root
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
• 3 cups cubed butternut squash
• 1 cup sliced tart apple
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup crème fraîche for garnish (optional)
• 8 small pumpkins (about a pound each) or one large pumpkin
• Directions
• 1. Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender and translucent, 5 to 6 minutes.
• 2. Add the broth, squash, and apple. Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook until the squash is tender enough to mash easily with a fork, about 20 minutes.
• 3. While the soup is cooking, wash the pumpkins with mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. Carve a lid off the tops and remove the seeds from inside.
• 4. Purée the soup using a handheld blender directly in the pot, with a sieve or a food mill, or in a countertop blender food processor. Return it to the soup pot if necessary. Return the soup to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 5. Season the soup as needed with salt, pepper, and orange zest.
• 6. You can serve the soup in heated bowls topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired.
• 7. Or, to serve the soup in pumpkins, place each pumpkin onto a plate and fill them with soup topped with a dollop of crème fraîche if desired. If serving the soup in one large pumpkin, place the lid back on top to keep the soup warm. You can also offer the crème fraîche in a separate bowl on the buffet.
• Makes 8 servings.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

From Chef Jim Gallivan, department chair, culinary arts, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta

Ingredients

• Crust
• 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¼ cup water
• Cheesecake
• 18 oz. low-fat cream cheese
• 1 ¼ cup fructose
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 4 tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons nutmeg
• 2 ½ teaspoon cloves
• 6 sheets* gelatin
• 4 cups pumpkin, canned

* Can use equivalent plain packaged gelatin

Directions

1. Combine water and graham cracker crumbs

2. Press into a 10 in. cake pan and set aside.

3. Cream together the cream cheese and fructose.

4. Combine pumpkin and spices and mix well.

5. Fold the pumpkin mixture into the cream cheese mixture.

6. Soften gelatin in warm milk.

7. Quickly fold into the cheese mixture.

8. Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate overnight.

Serves 8-16 (depending on serving size).

Students give back as part of their Thanksgiving tradition.

Although the Thanksgiving holiday arrives at a time of the year when students are finishing up projects and major papers, or needing to study for finals, it’s amazing to see adult students take time of their hectic schedules to help those in need.

For example, graduate students at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business in Winter Park, Fla., hope to collect more than 600 toys in November and December during their second annual holiday toy drive. The toys collected will go to three organizations – Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, Florida Hospital, and Give Kids the World.

Jesse Merrell, an MBA student and working professional, shares why it’s important that students focus on the needy during the holidays: “The holidays are usually full of celebration and family gatherings; yet, several students in the MBA class have personal connections to this cause, either having spent a holiday in the hospital or having a family member absent (in the hospital) for an extended period of time. The uncertainty and stress disrupts the entire family’s spirits.”

The students want to help alleviate the pain and provide hope by bringing joy to children, especially since adult students often have little ones, too. She adds: “We are grateful for the opportunity to give a little of ourselves to make a difference.”

That’s just one example of college students, from traditional freshman to adult students pursuing associates to doctorate degrees, giving back. Other schools, such as Arcadia University, a private school offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in metropolitan Philadelphia, are holding fundraising dinners to fight hunger and homelessness. Some schools are participating in Thanksgiving food drives, such as Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisc.

If you’re looking at attending a college next semester or year, take a look at the activities students participate in around the holidays, and you’ll get a good idea of how students support their own or help others in need in the community.

And if you are a current student, tell us what your school community is doing to give back this holiday season.

-Lori Johnston

Take a look at the college degree held by Ginni Rometty, who will take over as IBM’s first-ever female CEO and president on Jan. 2, 2012, and you’ll see someone who committed in college to a career in technology. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree with high honors in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.

Technology is a job sector where more women are needed, and Rometty’s promotion reflects that companies are seeking female leaders with technical experience.

If you’re interested in working in the technology industry, don’t be intimidated by pursuing fields such as computer science while browsing college websites and course catalogs. While the technology field needs people in all types of roles, from human resources to public relations, leaders like Rometty reveal that focusing on science and technology from the onset can be rewarding.

But females are discouraged from technical education pursuits, Caroline Simard, vice president of research at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, recently told the New York Times. She said:

“Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers. Women like Ginni Rometty are a powerful antidote against the stereotype.”

While IBM is a top global company, there are small- and mid-sized technology firms in your own town that need leaders, and by focusing on a technical education in computer science, software engineering, or other tech fields, you could position yourself to take on a leadership role and further help break the glass ceiling.

-Lori Johnston

If you’re a dad or mom back in school – or considering going to college – beware that little eyes may be watching you.

You may be hearing your kids ask when you’re going to get off the computer or home from class because they’re missing time with you. But those sacrifices you are making by investing in your education also can provide valuable lessons for them, too.

One of my mom friends, who is seeking her bachelor’s degree online, recently shared over coffee that her sons were connecting her college experience to their own lives. So with insight from adult learners, here are three things your education can do for your kids.

1. Demonstrate commitment.

My mom friend, Shari King, was talking to one of her sons recently about signing up for football and trying to emphasize that he needed to be committed to the practices and games throughout the season. He told her: It’s like you are committed to school, right? In that one conversation, Shari recognized that the long hours she’s putting in can be beneficial in helping modeling commitment to her kids.

2. Provide for their future.

Investing in a college degree – even when there are babies in the house – can pay off by putting you in the position to head back to work when they are in school. With an extra paycheck coming in, that will help pay for everything from back to school clothes to saving for college for them.

3. Create an environment that embraces homework.

As your kids see you doing your college course work, they may be more likely to focus on their homework too. Also, with you being in a school frame of mind and in homework mode yourself, it may make it easier for you to help them with their schoolwork after they get off the bus or home from daycare.

See, there are many benefits to going back to school as a non-traditional student, especially as your family sees the time and energy you’re putting into getting that degree!

Being an adult student can be stressful.

We’ve all felt it – those nervous butterflies before a big test, that sense of panic when deadlines creep up, the feeling of dread when you look at your calendar and empty spaces are nowhere to be found. Anxiety is a common part of the human experience, and most of us have to deal with it at some point in life.

But sometimes, especially when you’re embarking on something new – like going back to school – the anxiety becomes more than you can handle. Before you throw in the towel, try these tips and techniques to overcome academic anxiety and get back to functioning at full capacity.

>> Practice deep breathing.
It sounds simple enough, but when you’re feeling panicky, breathing is often the furthest thing from your mind. You need to make a conscious effort to slow down. Breathe deeply through your nose to the count of three, then exhale through your mouth to the count of three. Focus on the image of inflating and deflating a balloon as you breathe. This kind of deep breathing can help you stop your racing thoughts so that you can get calm enough to take action.

>> Break down big projects.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you look at everything you have to do as one big chunk. Instead, step away from the big picture and break down giant projects into more manageable tasks. If you have a major research paper due next month, for example, try not to let yourself get intimidated by the magnitude of the assignment. Make a list of smaller pieces of the project, such as brainstorming, finding references, creating an outline, writing a first draft, etc. Set deadlines for each task so you can check each one off when it’s done, giving you more accountability and an increased sense of accomplishment along the way.

>> Just do one thing.
Even if you’ve outlined a series of manageable tasks, however, you might still feel like there are too many to handle. Again, this is the trap of looking at everything you have going on and getting overwhelmed instead of taking action. This is where the “just do one thing” principle comes into play. Look at your to-do list and choose one thing to get started on – whatever intimidates you the least. Once you start working, you might find yourself actually getting into a groove and accomplishing more than you thought you would.

>> Celebrate every success.
It’s also possible that you’ll do that one thing and then feel completely spent. That’s OK, too. The key is not to beat yourself up about what you didn’t get done, but to acknowledge and celebrate what you were able to accomplish – no matter how small. Any studying or outlining or writing you get done now is one less thing you have to do later, so give yourself a pat on the back for your hard work. And remember that success begets success, which means that all your small successes add up and can help lift the anxiety that’s weighing you down.

>> Take a break.
Sometimes you’ll find yourself staring at your textbook or computer screen, eyes glazed over, totally unable to focus on the task at hand. If the words have been swimming in front of you for more than five or 10 minutes, it’s time to switch gears and employ the “come back to it” principle. Maybe you’re writing a paper and you just can’t seem to get the wording right, or you’re studying for an exam and the concepts aren’t sinking in. Take a brisk walk if you’re able to, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes. A change of scenery – not to mention a chance to get your blood flowing and clear your head – can do a world of good.

Anxiety happens to the best of us. And when you’re juggling work and school and family responsibilities, it can feel overwhelming. The next time you get stuck, try these tips to reduce academic anxiety so that you can enjoy your life – and start living it to the fullest.

-\-Robyn Tellefsen