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Questions
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Carpentry
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Forensic Chemistry | Outdoor careers, such as fisheries management or wildlife management or working in a national park | |||||||||||||||||||
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Q.
What is the best college to go to if I really like computers? A.
There are and probably always will be some people buried in their
computer, writing code and building databases, but more and more,
computers will be tools used to support some other purpose. You
certainly can work for a computer company or a software company or some
other technology company, but you will probably find more career
opportunities outside of those industries and in all the other
industries that use computers to support and sell their product or
service. Combining
art with computers has great value; likewise for combining writing with
computers or biology with computers or a foreign language with
computers. So, think about what else you might enjoy studying in college
that you might combine with computer science. What
is the best college for computers really depends on many other factors.
What may be the best computer college for your best friend may not be
the best computer college for you. Somewhere in the lists below may be
the best computer college for you. But, you will have a hard time
finding a college that doesn't offer more than a few computer courses
– perhaps a music school or two, and maybe a bible college or two. If
you really like computers and want to build computers or write software,
you might look into the following colleges with strong engineering
programs. California Institute of Technology, CA; Harvey Mudd College,
CA; Stanford University, CA; University of California at Berkeley, CA;
University of California at San Diego, CA; Florida Institute of
Technology, FL; Georgia Institute of Technology, GA; University of
Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, IL; Purdue University, IN; Boston
University, MA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA; Worcester
Polytechnic Institute, MA; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY;
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY; Syracuse University, NY; Carnegie
Mellon University, PA; and University of Pittsburgh, PA. There are many
other good options. Be prepared to take plenty of challenging math and
science courses. If
it is computer/video game design you are dreaming of for a lifetime (or
that dream job of being a video game tester!), I would look at Digipen
Institute, WA; Full Sail, FL; University of Delaware, DE; Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, MA; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY;
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY; Duquesne University, PA; Southern
Methodist Univ., TX; Champlain College, VT; and the University of
Washington, WA. I
would look at Think
about majoring in computer science within a broader college curriculum,
so you can offer the working world great computer skills to support your
knowledge of some other area. Just a few colleges you might want to
consider for this are: University of Arizona, AZ; Pepperdine University,
CA; Santa Clara University, CA; Stanford University, CA; University of
California at Berkeley, CA; University of California at Los Angeles, CA;
University of California at San Diego, CA; University of Southern
California, CA; University of the Pacific, CA; University of Colorado,
CO; Colorado State University, CO; University of Hartford, CT; Yale
University, CT; University of Delaware, DE; University of Florida, FL;
DePauw University, IN; Purdue University, IN; Loyola University, LA;
Brandeis University, MA; Merrimack College, MA; University of
Massachusetts at Amherst, MA; Williams College, MA; U.S. Naval Academy,
MD; University of Maryland/College Park, MD; Husson College, ME; Thomas
College, ME; University of Maine, ME; Carleton College, MN; Macalester
College, MN; Washington University, MO; Dartmouth College, NH; Southern
New Hampshire University, NH; Drew University, NJ; Princeton University,
NJ; Clarkson University, NY; Cornell University, NY; Hamilton College,
NY; Marist College, NY; Syracuse University, NY; University of
Rochester, NY; Case Western Reserve Univ., OH; Allegheny College, PA;
Carnegie Mellon University, PA; Duquesne University, PA; Haverford
College, PA; Penn State University, PA; University of Pennsylvania, PA;
Brown University, RI; Clemson University, SC; Furman University, SC;
Baylor University, TX; Southern Methodist Univ., TX; University of
Texas/Austin, TX; University of Utah, UT; Champlain College, VT;
University of Puget Sound, WA; University of Washington, WA; University
of Wisconsin/Madison, WI; and West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV. Q.
Can you recommend some colleges where I could study gymnastics? If
you are serious about gymnastics, I would encourage you to consider a
college major in exercise science or kinesiology or nutrition or sports
psychology or sports medicine or something related. If
you want to attend a college with a very competitive gymnastics program,
you might look into Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA in Q.
What do I need to study to become a forensic chemist and which
college should I go to? A.
This country's newfound interest in forensics and forensic chemistry has
its roots in three simple letters: CSI, as in Forensics
is the study of science, criminal justice, law, and the crime scene. It
involves a lot of science, particularly chemistry, biology, genetics,
anatomy, and toxicology; plus a lot of math, particularly statistics,
quantitative analysis, and computers; plus law, criminal justice,
psychology, and criminology. In
high school, you should focus on taking the best science and math
courses available to you. If you don't like math and science you should
be wondering whether forensic chemistry is the right career for you.
Take a statistics course, if one is offered. Take anatomy and law and
psychology, if those are offered. Maybe, if you find just the right
course, you may find yourself watching CSI: You
might attend a two-year college to study some of the technology used in
forensics. But, you may want to consider a four-year program to learn
much more about the field, which will give you greater flexibility in
your career. At
a four-year college, you will take many of the same courses a pre-med
major would take; that includes chemistry, biology, microbiology,
biochemistry, anatomy, toxicology, epidemiology, biotechnology, and
psychology. You might also study statistics, sociology, abnormal
psychology, anthropology, computers, criminology, criminal justice, law
enforcement, police science, fire protection, and medical laboratory
technology. All of which are likely to be more challenging than solving
the next case on CSI: So,
where can you go to college to study forensics and forensic chemistry? In
If
none of this sounds as good as the real thing (CSI: Q.
What college should I go to if I want to be a teacher? How much money
can I make as a teacher? A.
To
be a substitute teacher, you will often only need an associate degree,
but to be a full-time teacher, you will need at least a bachelor’s
degree. That’s generally four years beyond high school. The good news
is that you can attend almost any four-year college to become a teacher.
If you want to be a public school teacher, you will need to take certain
education courses so that you can receive a teaching certification. More
and more public schools are expecting their teacher to have or earn a
master’s degree. If you want to be a teacher in college, you will
usually need at least a master’s degree and often a doctorate degree. Public
primary, middle, and secondary schools do expect teaching candidates to
have taken certain courses that teach the fundamentals of education and
how to teach. But, primary through secondary schools are very interested
in teachers who bring other skills and knowledge with them. You might be
a geology major with a minor in education, or a Spanish major, or a
music major, or an English major. It is not essential that you major in
education. How
much you make as a teacher depends on what grade level you teach, in
what part of the country you teach, how many degrees you have earned,
and how many years you have taught. I know elementary school teachers
who are making around $20,000 a year, and I know others who are making
just over $70,000 per year. Nationwide,
college law teachers earn an average income of $88,000 per year; college
engineering teachers average $73,000 per year. On the other end of the
scale, pre-school teachers average about $21,000 per year and teaching
assistants average about $19,000 per year. So,
if you are looking for the best college to help you prepare to be a
teacher, I would look for a college that just seems to offer courses
that would be very exciting for you. A short list of colleges Maine students might want to take a good look at includes: University of Redlands, CA; University of the Pacific, CA; Sacred Heart University, CT; University of Connecticut, CT; University of Hartford, CT; Florida Southern College, FL; Lynn University, FL; Stetson University, FL; University of Miami, FL; Albertson College, ID; Lake Forest College, IL; American International College, MA; Boston College, MA; Boston University, MA; Emmanuel College, MA; Gordon College, MA; Mount Holyoke College, MA; Simmons College, MA; Springfield College, MA; Stonehill College, MA; Western New England College, MA; Wheelock College, MA; Goucher College, MD; Hood College, MD; McDaniel College, MD; Mount St. University of Maine at Orono, ME; Olaf College, MN; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; University of Montana, MT; St. Thomas University, NB; University of New Brunswick, NB; Catawba College, NC; Elon University, NC; Guilford College, NC; Keene State College, NH; Plymouth State College, NH; Sierra Nevada College, NV; Adelphi University, NY; Alfred University, NY; Hobart & William Smith Colleges, NY; Manhattan College, NY; Manhattanville College, NY; Marist College, NY; Hiram College, OH; Miami University, OH; Ohio State University, OH; University of Dayton, OH; Wittenberg University, OH; Linfield College, OR; University of Oregon, OR; Grove City College, PA; Messiah College, PA; Moravian College, PA; Shippensburg University, PA; Salve Regina University, RI; Clemson University, SC; College of Charleston, SC; Vanderbilt University, TN; Brigham Young University, UT; James Madison University, VA; Castleton State College, VT; Champlain College, VT; College of St. Joseph, VT; Green Mountain College, VT; Johnson State College, VT; Lyndon State College, VT; Saint Michael's College, VT; Evergreen State College, WA; Pacific Lutheran University, WA; University of Wisconsin/Madison, WI; and West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV. Q.
Can you recommend any colleges if I want to study meteorology? A.
A few to good options to consider
are: University of California at Los Angeles, CA; Colorado State
University, CO; University of Colorado, CO; University of Miami, FL;
Purdue University, IN; University of Kansas, KS; Harvard University, MA;
Johns Hopkins University, MD; Plymouth State College, NH; Rutgers
University, NJ; Cornell University, NY; SUNY at Albany, NY; University
of Utah, UT; Lyndon State College, VT; University of Washington, WA;
University of Wisconsin/Madison, WI; and University of Wyoming, WY. A
longer list can be found at www.nwas.org Q.
I like drawing.
What are some good colleges for me to go to to study commercial art and
design? A.
You have plenty of good options. You may first want to think about
whether you just want to study drawing or whether you would also like to
study marketing or communications or business or writing in addition to
drawing. You can choose to go to an art school, which will emphasize the
art, or you may choose a broader curriculum, which will help you develop
a broader range of skills. There is no right answer here. It depends
upon what you enjoy studying and upon your career goals. A
few good options that are popular with Maine students are: Otis College
of Art and Design, CA; Flagler College, FL; Massachusetts College of
Art, MA; Mount Ida College, MA; University of Maryland, MD; Maine
College of Art, ME; Rockport College, ME; University of Maine at
Augusta, ME; Franklin Pierce College, NH; Alfred University, NY; Parsons
School of Design, NY; Pratt Institute, NY; Rochester Institute of
Technology, NY; SUNY- Purchase, NY; Moravian College, PA; Rhode Island
School of Design, RI; Salve Regina University, RI; Brigham Young
University, UT; and Champlain College, VT. Q.
Can you recommend any colleges with especially strong architecture
majors? A.
There are quite a few very good architecture programs throughout the Some
of these are primarily art colleges, some are engineering schools, most
offer a broad curriculum. Many students interested in architecture will
pursue an advanced degree, a master’s or a doctorate in architecture. Q.
Are there colleges where I can major in carpentry? A.
About 200 of them . . . and plenty more that have majors closely related
to carpentry. In A.
Let's face it,
few people set their sights on
sitting behind a desk all their life, but many end up there. If you plan
ahead, you can design a great career for yourself outdoors. There are
plenty of other careers that can take you outside, but fisheries
management, wildlife management, park and recreation management,
adventure education, and forestry are all good places to start. A few
schools that Prescott
College, AZ; Colorado State University, CO; Fort Lewis College, CO;
Purdue University, IN; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA; Unity
College, ME; University of Maine at Fort Kent, ME; University of Maine
at Presque Isle, ME; University of Maine, ME; University of Michigan --
Ann Arbor, MI; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; Montana State
University, MT; University of Montana, MT; University of New Brunswick,
NB; University of New Hampshire, NH; Cornell University, NY; Paul Smith’s
College, NY; Ohio State University, OH; Oregon State University, OR;
Penn State University, PA; University of Rhode Island, RI; Clemson
University, SC; Green Mountain College, VT; University of Vermont, VT;
and University of Washington, WA. You
might also consider studying environmental science, geology, landscape
architecture, or maybe turf management. Q.
Can you recommend some colleges that have good hotel and restaurant
management programs? A.
It is a good career with plenty of opportunity to see the world and
plenty of opportunity for career advancement. A few colleges with strong
programs that Colorado
Mountain College, CO; Colorado State University, CO; University of
Denver, CO; University of Delaware, DE; Lynn University, FL; University
of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, IL; Purdue University, IN; Endicott
College, MA; Mount Ida College, MA; University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, MA; University of Maryland/College Park, MD; Beal College, ME;
Southern Maine Community College, ME; Thomas College, ME; York County
Community College, ME; Michigan State University, MI; Southern New
Hampshire University, NH; University of New Hampshire, NH; Sierra Nevada
College, NV; Cornell University, NY; Houghton College, NY; New York
University, NY; Paul Smith’s College, NY; Ohio State University, OH;
Penn State University, PA; Johnson & Wales College, RI; Champlain
College, VT; Green Mountain College, VT; Johnson State College, VT; and
Southern Vermont College, VT. Q.
How am I supposed to know what I should major in in college? A. You
have a choice. You can spend four years in college studying a little of
everything, hoping that something will grab your interest, and then
opening up the classifieds two days after graduation to see what jobs
are available. Alternatively, you can pursue a field that really
interests you, and create your own career. Most
high school students howl when I say this and protest that I can't
expect them to know, at their age, what they are going to want to do at
age 40. No argument there. What they are missing is the fact that if
they use their college education, and use it well, to develop
knowledge and skills and talent, they can do whatever they want to do.
If they wait until after college, this becomes much more challenging.
So, you have to decide who you would like to have choose your career.
Would you like to be the one that makes that decision? How about your
parents? Would you like them to make the decision for you? Not if you
are a normal (or even semi-normal) teenager! Would you like the job
market to decide what you will do for 45 years of your life? You
can take plenty of computerized career tests. Your guidance office has
them. But, I have to say, after 20+ years of working with students, I
have found very few for whom these tests were very helpful. Ask
yourself the following questions and spend sometime thinking about and
writing out your answers. What do you really enjoy doing? Don't get
serious on this one. Think beyond jobs. What do you really like doing?
What's fun? Next, what do you do especially well? What courses do you do
best in at school? What activities do you enjoy doing outside of the
classroom. I have found that those activities often connect most closely
with your future career. If
you got to the end of your career and said, Hey, I'm a success!≤
what would that look like? What does it mean to you to be a success?
How important is it to you to make a lot of money? Is it more
important to you than helping others? Is it important to you to be
challenged? How would you feel about a job with low challenge and easier
money? What about a job that really helps other people, but doesn't make
as much money? What about a job where you are high-profile, well-known,
but you don't necessarily make a lot of money? Now,
I know your parents may often come home grumbling about work, and from
that you may conclude that it is a job you would never want, but ask
them about their work. It is not at all unusual for children to end up
doing what their parents did. In fact, that has been happening for the
past several million years. With that track record, you should at least
be willing to spend ten minutes listening to what they have to say --
what they like and don't like about their job and how they would do it
differently if they were to do it all over again. Finally,
I would find the Occupational Outlook Handbook, in your guidance office
or on the Internet at www.bls.gov/oco/,
to find out a bit more about your career(s) of interest. What is a
typical income? What kind of education is needed? Is the number of jobs
in that career increasing or decreasing? Where can you get more
information about the career? Then, I would go straight to the college
catalogue and find courses that are at least somewhat related to this
career and look like a lot of fun to you. If you can find no courses
that look at all interesting to you, it is time to regroup. As
you head off to college, think about building your career, not finding a
career. Think about using the college to build a lifestyle and a career,
not to hit a job target. If you start building as soon as you arrive at
college, you can be the one who decides your career. Not everyone has
that luxury. A. If
you are determined to become a psychologist or a psychiatrist, then
majoring in psychology makes good sense. People
complain about the cost of college and the fact that many students
finish college with debt. It is very clear to me that finishing college
with debt is a lot better than not finishing college at all. Most
college graduates make approximately $22,000 a year more than someone
with only a high school diploma. The average debt from loans for
students attending four-year colleges is just under $19,000. You do the
math. $19,000 is a lot of debt, but $22,000 each year is a lot of
additional income. I
am a very big fan of going to college with a purpose. I think college
should be about more than self-enrichment. You should have a rewarding
career and lifestyle in your sights, and choose your courses and major
with that in mind. Majoring in just psychology could lead you to a life
as a psychologist or psychiatrist, which may be your goal. Better than
that, I would think about combining your psychology major with another
major such as business or education or medicine or human resource
management or marketing or communication or criminal justice or exercise
science or political science or fashion design or law. You might ≥declare≤
a ≥double major≤ or a major and a minor. Your goal is to
become an emerging expert in an area that interests you. Psychology
majors could work in any company as a director of human resources. An HR
manager who understands what motivates people and what motivates a
business and how to combine the two within a company would be in great
demand. A Director of Marketing who really understands what motivates
people to make purchasing decisions the way they do and understands how
to translate that into revenues in a global market would be of great
value to most any company. Combining
a psychology major with a major in forestry or poultry science or turf
management may be a bit of a stretch, but with a little thought and
initiative on your part, you can turn a psychology major into a very
rewarding career. You
can find a psychology major at most colleges. Just a few colleges
recognized for having particularly strong psychology programs include: Occidental
College, CA; Pitzer College, CA; Scripps College, CA; Stanford
University, CA; University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of
California at Los Angeles, CA; University of California at San Diego,
CA; University of California at Santa Cruz, CA; Colorado Christian
University, CO; Colorado State University, CO; University of Colorado,
CO; University of Denver, CO; University of Northern Colorado, CO;
Connecticut College, CT; Fairfield University, CT; Yale University, CT;
University of Delaware, DE; Stetson University, FL; Emory University,
GA; University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, IL; Wheaton College, IL;
Tulane University, LA; Boston College, MA; Brandeis University, MA;
Clark University, MA; Gordon College, MA; Mount Holyoke College, MA;
Simmons College, MA; Smith College, MA; University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, MA; Wellesley College, MA; Wheaton College, MA; Bates College,
ME; Carleton College, MN; Gustavus Adolphus College, MN; Macalester
College, MN; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; Washington
University, MO; Guilford College, NC; Alfred University, NY; Barnard
College, NY; Columbia University, NY; Fordham University, NY; Ithaca
College, NY; Sarah Lawrence College, NY; Skidmore College, NY;
University of Rochester, NY; Ohio State University, OH; Ohio Wesleyan
University, OH; Lewis and Clark College, OR; Reed College, OR;
University of Oregon, OR; Willamette University, OR; Dickinson College,
PA; Muhlenberg College, PA; University of Pennsylvania, PA; University
of Pittsburgh, PA; Ursinus College, PA; Baylor University, TX; Texas
A&M University, TX; University of Texas/Austin, TX; University of
Utah, UT; Randolph Macon College, VA; Roanoke College, VA; University of
Richmond, VA; University of Vermont, VT; and University of Washington,
WA. Q.
I am interested in studying geology in college. Can you recommend any
good colleges? A.
Many colleges offer majors in geology and related fields, so I would
advise you not to limit your college search to the colleges I list
below. But, for good colleges to start your search with, I would look
into the following colleges with strong geology programs and that I
like. Arizona
State University, AZ; University of Arizona, AZ; California Institute of
Technology, CA; Stanford University, CA; University of California at
Davis, CA; University of California at Los Angeles, CA; University of
California at Santa Barbara, CA; Adams State College, CO; Colorado
College, CO; Colorado School of Mines, CO; Colorado State University,
CO; Fort Lewis College, CO; University of Colorado, CO; Western State
College, CO; Yale University, CT; University of Chicago, IL; Harvard
University, MA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA; Bates
College, ME; University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI; Carleton College,
MN; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; Montana State University,
MT; Guilford College, NC; Dartmouth College, NH; University of New
Hampshire, NH; Princeton University, NJ; University of New Mexico, NM;
Colgate University, NY; Columbia University, NY; Cornell University, NY;
Hamilton College, NY; Hobart & William Smith Colleges, NY; Saint
Lawrence University, NY; SUNY-Binghamton, NY; University of Rochester,
NY; College of Wooster, OH; Oregon State University, OR; University of
Oregon, OR; Allegheny College, PA; Franklin & Marshall College, PA;
Lafayette College, PA; Penn State University, PA; University of
Pennsylvania, PA; Brown University, RI; University of the South, TN;
Vanderbilt University, TN; Southern Methodist Univ., TX; Texas A&M
University, TX; University of Texas - Austin, TX; Brigham Young
University, UT; University of Utah, UT; University of Washington, WA;
Beloit College, WI; University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI; and the
University of Wyoming, WY. Places
like Colorado School of Mines, Texas A&M, and New Mexico Institute
of Mining and Technology are very focused on preparation for careers in
the geology, mining, and petroleum fields. If you wanted geology in a
small, liberal arts setting where you could take many other courses, you
might look into Colorado College, Bates, Guilford, Hamilton, Hobart
& William Smith College (that is one college, sort of), Saint
Lawrence, College of Wooster, Allegheny, Franklin and Marshall,
Lafayette, and Beloit. You
will need almost all A's and B's in honors courses in high school to get
into the following: CalTech, Yale, University of Chicago, Harvard, MIT,
Bates, Carleton, Dartmouth, Princeton, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell,
University of Pennsylvania, and Brown. If those don't appeal to you,
there are some great colleges on this list that are among my favorites. You
can find an almost complete list of colleges offering geology majors at www.collegeboard.com. Q.
What exactly is
engineering and where should I go to college if I am interested in it? A.
Exactly what engineering is is a tough one. It is a lot. Those
engineers are everywhere! If you could escape to the top of a mountain
with minimal clothing and no apparel, you might be away from engineers
(though cold). On the way to getting to this mountain an engineer
designed and at least directed the construction of the tires you drove
on to get there, the car you drove in, the airbag that protected you,
the windshield that kept you dry, the windshield fluid that helped you
see, the music that came from your radio, the iPod connected to it, the
gasoline that powered your car, the computers that helped your car run
well, the Styrofoam cup that held your coffee, the cardboard box that
held your doughnuts, the jelly in your doughnut, the asphalt you drove
on, the paint for the white lines, the street sign that directed you.
I'll stop there. Engineers
design and often construct manmade THINGS. They use their knowledge of
math and science to make sure things work well. They understand the math
and science behind why things do what they do and how to make them
better. In
college, you could major in architectural engineering, robotic
engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum
engineering, ceramic engineering, music engineering, chemical
engineering, computer engineering, nuclear engineering, environmental
engineering, aeronautical engineering, marine engineering, agricultural
engineering, construction engineering, materials engineering, biomedical
engineering, transportation engineering, industrial engineering,
communications engineering, plastics engineering, metallurgical
engineering, mineral engineering, software engineering. I'll stop there. If
you like math and science and designing things and find yourself
wondering how something works, you might look at the following colleges,
which are just a few of your many good college options for engineering. Auburn University, AL; Arizona State University, AZ; University of Arizona, AZ; California Institute of Technology, CA; Harvey Mudd College, CA; Santa Clara University, CA; Stanford University, CA; University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of California at Los Angeles, CA; University of California at San Diego, CA; University of California at Santa Barbara, CA; University of Redlands, CA; University of San Diego, CA; University of Southern California, CA; University of the Pacific, CA; Colorado School of Mines, CO; Colorado State University, CO; United States Air Force Academy, CO; University of Colorado, CO; Trinity College, CT; U.S. Coast Guard Academy, CT; University of Connecticut, CT; Catholic University, DC; George Washington University, DC; Howard University, DC; University of Delaware, DE; Florida Institute of Technology, FL; University of Florida, FL; University of Miami, FL; Georgia Institute of Technology, GA; Northwestern University, IL; University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, IL; Purdue University, IN; University of Notre Dame, IN; University of Kansas, KS; Tulane University, LA; Boston University, MA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA; Northeastern University, MA; Smith College, MA; Tufts University, MA; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA; Wentworth Institute of Technology, MA; Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA; Johns Hopkins University, MD; Loyola College, MD; University of Maryland/College Park, MD; Maine Maritime Academy, ME; University of Maine, ME; University of Southern Maine, ME; Michigan State University, MI; University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; Montana State University, MT; Washington University, MO; Duke University, NC; University of North Dakota, ND; Dartmouth College, NH; University of New Hampshire, NH; Rutgers College, NJ; Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ; University of New Mexico, NM; Clarkson University, NY; Columbia University, NY; Cooper Union, NY; Cornell University, NY; Manhattan College, NY; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY; Rochester Institute of Technology, NY; SUNY-Binghamton, NY; Syracuse University, NY; U.S. Military Academy - West Point, NY; Union College, NY; University of Rochester, NY; Case Western Reserve Univ., OH; Miami University, OH; Ohio State University, OH; Ohio University, OH; University of Dayton, OH; Oregon State University, OR; Bucknell University, PA; Carnegie Mellon University, PA; Drexel University, PA; Lafayette College, PA; Lehigh University, PA; Penn State University, PA; Swarthmore College, PA; University of Pennsylvania, PA; University of Pittsburgh, PA; Villanova University, PA; Brown University, RI; University of Rhode Island, RI; Clemson University, SC; Vanderbilt University, TN; Baylor University, TX; Rice University, TX; Southern Methodist Univ., TX; Texas A&M University, TX; Trinity University, TX; University of Texas/Austin, TX; Brigham Young University, UT; University of Utah, UT; Norwich University, VT; University of Washington, WA; Marquette University, WI; University of Wisconsin/Madison, WI; West Virginia University, WV; University of Wyoming, WY. I'll stop there. Q.
Where can I go to college to study snakes? A.
Herpetology
is the word. Herpetology is actually the study of reptiles and
amphibians. So, if you were studying herpetology and you decided after a
few years that you knew everything you wanted to know about snakes, you
could keep studying herpetology to learn about iguanas or lizards or
frogs or turtles or salamanders. Actually,
you cannot "major" in herpetology in undergraduate school
(grades 13 – 16 of college) or in graduate school (grades 17 and
beyond), but you can major in zoology or biology in college and
specialize in herpetology and snakes. As
long as you don't have a large snake in your arms, you can expect that
some people will tell you that you should study something in college
that can help you get a real job. Whether snake or no snake, I am not
one of those people. If you like snakes, I suggest you become an expert
on snakes and study lots of herpetology. Learn about other reptiles and
amphibians. Study biology and ecology and zoology and chemistry and
wildlife management and statistics and computers and, probably, another
language. Not all snakes speak English. And, you may need to travel to
other countries to research more snakes. A
few good colleges for Maine students which have programs in herpetology
include: Humboldt State University, CA; University of California at
Berkeley, CA; University of Florida, FL; University of Hawaii, HI;
University of Chicago, IL; University of Illinois, IL; University of
Kansas, KS; Harvard University, MA; University of Michigan, MI; Davidson
College, NC; Duke University, NC; University of Nebraska, NE; Cornell
University, NY; Miami University, OH; Ohio University, OH; Oklahoma
State University, OK; and University of Texas at Austin, TX. All of
these are big universities with the exception of Davidson, Duke, and You
should also be looking at schools with strong zoology and biology
majors. Below is a list of schools that I like with strong zoology
majors. Arizona State University, AZ; University of California at
Berkeley, CA; Colorado State University, CO; University of Florida, FL;
Albertson College, ID; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA;
Michigan State University, MI; University of Montana, MT; Miami
University, OH; Ohio State University, OH; Ohio Wesleyan University, OH;
Penn State University, PA; Clemson University, SC; University of
Texas/Austin, TX; Brigham Young University, UT; University of Vermont,
VT; University of Washington, WA; University of Wisconsin/Madison, WI;
and University of Wyoming, WY. My list of colleges with strong biology majors is too long, but you can find it at www.mainecollegecircle.org. Q.
Can you recommend some colleges where I could study
film? A.
You
have plenty of good options depending upon what you want to do in film.
I suggest you look into the following schools: Arizona State University,
AZ; Occidental College, CA; Pitzer College, CA; Pomona College, CA;
University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of California at
Los Angeles, CA; University of Southern California, CA; Wesleyan
University, CT; Full Sail, FL; University of Florida, FL; Savannah
College of Art & Design, GA; Columbia College, IL; Northwestern
University, IL; Boston University, MA; Emerson College, MA; Hampshire
College, MA; Massachusetts College of Art; Husson College, ME;
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI; Bard College, NY; Hofstra
University, NY; Ithaca College, NY; New York University, NY; Sarah
Lawrence College, NY; SUNY-Purchase, NY; Syracuse University, NY; Drexel
University, PA; Penn State University, PA; Brown University, RI; Rhode
Island School of Design, RI; and Evergreen State College, WA. Q.
Can you recommend some colleges with good programs if I want to study
forestry? A. Maine students interested in forestry and related fields should take a good look at the following schools with strong forestry programs: University of British Columbia, BC; Colorado State University, CO; Fort Lewis College, CO; University of Florida, FL; University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign, IL; Kennebec Valley Community College, ME; Unity College, ME; University of Maine at Fort Kent, ME; University of Maine at Presque Isle, ME; University of Maine at Orono, ME; University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, MN; Montana State University, MT; University of Montana, MT; University of New Brunswick, NB; Paul Smith’s College, NY; Syracuse University, NY; Oregon State University, OR; Penn State University, PA; Clemson University, SC; Sterling College, VT; and University of Washington, WA. Q.
Where are the best colleges to study foreign
languages? A.
Honestly, the best colleges to study Spanish are in You
will find good opportunities to study foreign languages at most
colleges, particularly four-year colleges, and especially colleges with
a liberal arts curriculum. At many popular four-year, liberal arts
colleges and universities, you can expect to find French, Spanish,
German, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, ancient Greek, and Italian. You may
also find Portuguese, Hebrew, Russian, and Arabic at many colleges. With
just a bit more research on your part, you can find colleges that offer
Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Czech, Tamil, Bengali, Persian, Uzbek, Catalan,
Akkadian, Sumerian, and/or Aramaic. You get the picture. Learning
these languages can open up great career opportunities. Knowing another
language is one of what I consider to be the five most valuable career
skills from college. This country really needs more people who know more
languages and more cultures. In today's global market, knowing another
language or two is a very smart career move. Just make sure you include
some study abroad in your college education. Just
a few colleges that are typically recognized as having strong foreign
language programs and that can work well for Maine students include:
Pomona College, CA; Scripps College, CA; Stanford University, CA;
University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of California at
Los Angeles, CA; Connecticut College, CT; Yale University, CT; Catholic
University, DC; Georgetown University, DC; Grinnell College, IA;
University of Chicago, IL; University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign,
IL; Earlham College, IN; Indiana University, IN; Boston College, MA;
Harvard University, MA; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA;
Johns Hopkins University, MD; St. John's College, MD; University of
Maine at Fort Kent, ME; Kalamazoo College, MI; University of Michigan --
Ann Arbor, MI; St. Olaf College, MN; University of Minnesota/Twin
Cities, MN; Duke University, NC; Dartmouth College, NH; Princeton
University, NJ; Saint Johns College, NM; Colgate University, NY;
Columbia University, NY; Cornell University, NY; New York University,
NY; U.S. Military Academy - West Point, NY; Vassar College, NY; Ohio
State University, OH; Linfield College, OR; Reed College, OR; Bryn Mawr
College, PA; Dickinson College, PA; University of Pennsylvania, PA;
Brown University, RI; University of Texas/Austin, TX; Brigham Young
University, UT; University of Virginia, VA; Middlebury College, VT;
Beloit College, WI; and University of Wisconsin/Madison, WI. Most
colleges offer the option to study abroad; some colleges really
encourage it. At many more selective, liberal arts colleges, as many as
70% of the students study abroad, usually during their junior year. Some
colleges have their own programs abroad; others just help you hook up
with another college’s program or with a large, international, study
abroad organization. Sometimes your courses will be in English;
sometimes they will be in the native language. Some colleges allow you
to study abroad almost as often as you want, for a semester or a year.
And, it usually costs no more to study abroad than it does to study on
campus. That means you pay your regular college costs and usually no
more. If you really like learning languages, studying abroad is the way
to go. But
if it is Uzbek that interest you and your mother isn't ready for you to
head off to
Q.
What
are some good colleges if I want to do a lot of rock climbing and hiking
in the mountains? Also
in In
the Northwest, you could look at Lewis and Clark, Willamette, Reed,
Linfield, and the You
might look at On
the east coast, I would look at the Obviously, there are many other good college options for rock climbing, but these are a good start. Just don't forget the other reasons for going to college! Q.
What colleges might be especially good to study environmental science
and alternative energy? A.
Over the past few months, alternative energy and environmental
technologies have nudged their way into the main stream of the In
You
should look into the EcoLeague, which is a consortium of smaller,
somewhat eclectic colleges with a serious commitment to environmental
responsibility. Colleges in that consortium include Alaska Pacific
University, AK; College of the Atlantic, ME; Northland College, WI;
Antioch College, OH; Green Mountain College, VT; and Prescott College,
AZ. Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon has been another leader
in environmental responsibility, and recently received a grant to build
another consortium of concerned colleges. A
few other colleges with strong environmental science programs that Maine
students may like include: University of Arizona, AZ; Humboldt State
University, CA; University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of
California at Santa Barbara, CA; University of Redlands, CA; Colorado
Mountain College, CO; Fort Lewis College, CO; University of Colorado,
CO; University of Denver, CO; Connecticut College, CT; Eckerd College,
FL; University of Florida, FL; University of Illinois -
Urbana-Champaign, IL; University of Kansas, KS; Tulane University, LA;
Clark University, MA; Harvard University, MA; Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, MA; Tufts University, MA; Williams College, MA; Johns
Hopkins University, MD; University of Maine at Fort Kent, ME; University
of Maine at Machias, ME; University of Maine at Presque Isle, ME;
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI; Macalester College, MN;
University of Minnesota -Twin Cities, MN; Montana State University, MT;
Mount Allison University, NB; Warren Wilson College, NC; Dartmouth
College, NH; University of New Hampshire, NH; University of New Mexico,
NM; Sierra Nevada College, NV; Barnard College, NY; Clarkson University,
NY; Cornell University, NY; Hobart & William Smith Colleges, NY;
Paul Smith’s College, NY; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY; Saint
Lawrence University, NY; Oberlin College, OH; Allegheny College, PA;
University of Rhode Island, RI; Texas A&M University, TX; University
of Virginia, VA; Johnson State College, VT; Marlboro College, VT;
Middlebury College, VT; Southern Vermont College, VT; Sterling College,
VT; University of Vermont, VT; Evergreen State College, WA; University
of Washington, WA; Western Washington University, WA; Whitman College,
WA; and University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI. Some of these colleges
have strong environmental engineering programs. The
Q.
Is art a good college major to pursue and what are the best colleges
for art? A.
If
you really enjoy art and feel you have some talent there, art can be a
great career to pursue. Parents often worry about their child becoming a
"starving artist" for life. Indeed, if your career goal is to
paint pictures and sell them on the sidewalk, they may have good cause
to worry. But, as your art talent wanders off the sidewalk and into most
any business or other organization, you will find a big market for art
talent. Commercial
art, graphic design, illustration, fashion design, interior design, web
design are all very live markets in today's economy. Art is a
significant part of any company's, or college's, or nonprofit
organization's marketing efforts. Currently, you march through your day
staring at your box of Froot Loops designed by artists, textbooks with
covers designed by artists, dapper teachers with clothes designed by
artists, Gatorade bottles designed by artists, video games designed by
artists, maybe even a dinner table designed by artists, more textbooks
designed by artists, a toothpaste tube designed by artists, and,
finally, your very cool iPod, with plenty of artists in its creation.
Alas, a day full of artists, and a world full of opportunities for you. I
understand that some artists-in-waiting don't aspire to climb a
traditional corporate ladder, but your art talent and your creativity
when combined with other knowledge about a field that interest you, can
be a great asset to many companies. That company may not be IBM or a
Wall Street investment firm, but it could be a local nonprofit whose
cause you really believe in. Or, it could be some friends with a great
idea or a great product with a great need for better marketing. Or, it
could be Kellogg's, or Merrill Lynch. Yes, there are companies of many
kinds looking for creative, artistic, multi-colored, free spirits. You
will find art of various kinds at most colleges, so make sure you
consider everything else that matters to you when you choose a school.
You will need to think about whether or not an art school would be good
for you. That means all art. And, it probably means no physics and no
Latin and no Rolle's theorem. A few colleges that Maine students (and I) like and that are recognized as having strong fine arts programs include: Scripps College, CA; Stanford University, CA; University of California at Berkeley, CA; University of the Pacific, CA; Connecticut College, CT; Fairfield University, CT; University of Hartford, CT; Yale University, CT; Flagler College, FL; Lynn University, FL; Emory University, GA; Savannah College of Art & Design, GA; Columbia College, IL; Lake Forest College, IL; Centre College, KY; Loyola University, LA; Boston College, MA; Boston University, MA; Harvard University, MA; Mount Ida College, MA; Northeastern University, MA; Smith College, MA; Wheaton College, MA; Williams College, MA; Johns Hopkins University, MD; Eastern Maine Community College, ME; Maine College of Art, ME; University of Maine at Augusta, ME; University of Maine at Machias, ME; University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor, MI; Washington University, MO; Guilford College, NC; Franklin Pierce College, NH; Alfred University, NY; Bard College, NY; Barnard College, NY; Columbia University, NY; Cooper Union, NY; Cornell University, NY; Hartwick College, NY; Houghton College, NY; Manhattanville College, NY; New York University, NY; Paul Smith’s College, NY; Pratt Institute, NY; Rochester Institute of Technology, NY; Skidmore College, NY; SUNY-Purchase, NY; The New School University, NY; University of Rochester, NY; Vassar College, NY; College of Wooster, OH; Kenyon College, OH; Marietta College, OH; Oberlin College, OH; Lewis and Clark College, OR; Willamette University, OR; Carnegie Mellon University, PA; Lafayette College, PA; Moravian College, PA; Muhlenberg College, PA; University of Pennsylvania, PA; Brown University, RI; Johnson & Wales College, RI; Rhode Island School of Design, RI; Salve Regina University, RI; Brigham Young University, UT; James Madison University, VA; Roanoke College, VA; University of Mary Washington, VA; Bennington College, VT; Champlain College, VT; Goddard College, VT; University of Washington, WA; Lawrence University, WI; West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV; University of Mary Washington, VA; Bennington College, VT; Champlain College, VT; Goddard College, VT; University of Washington, WA; Lawrence University, WI; West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV. Q.
Why should I go to college if I am not very interested in it? A.
You
probably shouldn't. Going
to college when you are not interested can be expensive and not very
productive. It can be a poor investment of your time and your parents
(or your!) money. Going to college and dropping out after a few months
can be very hard on your wallet and your confidence, which is probably
the most valuable commodity for success in your future. I spend my life
helping students go to college, but I also recognize that many high
school seniors are not yet ready to make a lot out of college. Furthermore,
I spend a lot of my time helping students understand the difference
between being excited about college and being excited about learning in
college. Being excited about college often involves observations about
nice dorms and good food and cool tour guides and new athletic
facilities and stories of good times at college. But, it is far more
important to be excited about learning in college, Think
college majors. No, I am not asking you to know what you want to do for
a career. Very few people do. I am suggesting you go to college with at
least an interest in studying something that currently interests
you. You
are going to college to learn! You are far better off going to college
excited about learning something, even if you change your mind ten
times, than you are going to college waiting for something or someone to
interest you. Being undecided in college is not a problem; being
uninterested is. Finally,
it arrived in our mail. Amid glossy viewbooks and DVDs, there it was, a
college course catalogue. A black and white description of the courses
the college offers. Sadly, my interest in the content was greater than
my son's, but I said to him as I have said to so many other students,
"If you can't find ten really interesting courses, this probably
isn't the school for you." The
nature of the student body, the social scene, the values of the college
community, the activities off campus, the supportiveness of the academic
environment all matter a lot. Even the food can make a difference. But
in the end, you will be far more productive in college if you are
studying something that really interests you. How
do you know what major is good for you? First, you have to understand
what the options are – what bioinformatics is all about. Career fairs
may tell you what jobs were available last year. This list of majors may
give you an idea about jobs you could create in your future. You've
done your research on all of these and you still don't know which major
would be good for you. Start with what you enjoy doing today and expand
your ideas from there. I remember well the low-gear boy whose only
interest he could express to me was television (and video games, I am
sure). He is now in college, fully-engaged, productive, and studying . .
. television. Here
are some great majors to think about:
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