Synopses & Reviews
Get a good education without massive debt, and enter a field that's actually hiringIn coming years, millions of great jobs will be opening up in growth areas like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, and sustainable energy. These jobs can pay as well as, or much better than, the average income for four-year college graduates. They generally offer high levels of day-to-day satisfaction. And the path to all of them begins in the community colleges. In The Community College Career Track, Tom Snyder gives young people and their parents, as well as mid-life career changers, a practical, inspiring guide to taking that path and completing it successfully.
The old model of a bachelor's degree leading to a good job and career has broken down for large numbers of young people, many of whom graduate college only to work in a career that doesn't require a degree. Meanwhile, millions of productive American white collar and blue-collar workers have been laid off and need retraining for second careers. This book helps you find a new way forward.
- Offers insights on how to save money over a lifetime through an affordable college education that provides high-paying jobs
- Author Tom Snyder is the president of Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana's statewide community college system and the largest singly accredited community college system in the country
Author Tom Snyder has confronted the education-jobs mismatch from both sides, first as a highly successful business executive and now as an award-winning educator. Follow his efficient, affordable, and rewarding path to a great career and a satisfying life.
Synopsis
The path to increasing numbers of today's and tomorrow's best jobs runs through the community colleges. In
The Community College Career Track, Tom Snyder gives young people and their parents, as well as mid-life career changers, a practical, inspiring guide to taking that path and completing it successfully.
The old model of a bachelor's degree leading to a good job and career has broken down for large numbers of young people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the college graduates under 25 who have a job, 49 percent do not have a job that requires a bachelor's degree. Meanwhile, millions of productive American white collar and blue collar workers have been laid off and need retraining for second careers.
The good news that Tom Snyder has to share is that millions of great jobs will be opening up in coming years in growth areas like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, and sustainable energy. At the same time, traditional trades increasingly require an ability to handle sophisticated technology, whether in automotive repair or in environmentally sustainable construction practices and building systems.
These jobs can pay as well as, or much better than, the average income for four-year college graduates. They generally offer high levels of day to day satisfaction. Many of them lead to significant levels of responsibility. And once again, the path to all of them begins in the community colleges.
Synopsis
Get a good education minus the debt and enter a field that's actually hiring.In coming years, millions of great jobs will be opening up in growth areas like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, and sustainable energy. These jobs can pay as well as, or much better than, the average for four-year liberal arts graduatesand offer high levels of career satisfaction. And the path to all of them begins in community college. In The Community College Career Track, Tom Snyder gives young people and midlife career changers a practical guide to taking that path and completing it successfully. You'll learn:
- Why everyone should consider a science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), or health care related career, and why community college is the best place to start
- How to use community college as the smart start to a bachelor's degree
- Great, lucrative careers that only require two-year degrees or one-year professional certificates
- How to prepare for college level work whether you're in high school or you're changing careers
- How to thrive in a community college
About the Author
THOMAS J. SNYDER is the President of Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana's statewide community college system and the largest singly accredited community college system in the country. While he was CEO of Delco Remy International, the company grew from $500 million to $1.3 billion in global sales. He has confronted the education-jobs mismatch from both sides, first as a highly successful business executive and now as an award-winning educator.
Table of Contents
Part I. The Best Higher Education Value in AmericaChapter 1. Why Community College Is a Great Choice for Almost Every Student
Chapter 2. Affordable for All: Paying for Community College and Lowering Your Total Higher Education Costs
Chapter 3. Scholarships and Financial Aid
Chapter 4. It’s Not Where You Study, It’s What You Study: Why Everyone Should Consider a STEM-Related or Health Care-Related Career and Why Community College Is the Best Place to Start
Part II. Great Community College Options – and You Can Choose More Than One
Chapter 5. The Smart Start to a Bachelor’s Degree: How to Use Community College as a Stepping Stone to a Bachelor’s Degree
Chapter 6. Two-Year Degrees and One-Year Professional Certificates: Gateways to Great Jobs and Careers
Chapter 7. On Campus or Online?
Part III. Getting Ready for Community College
Chapter 8. What You Should Do to Prepare for College Level Work if You Are Now in High School
Chapter 9. What You Should Do to Prepare for College Level Work if You Are a Career Changer
Chapter 10. Self-Assessment Tools to Help You Prepare for the Tests That Determine Where You Start in College
Part IV. How to Succeed in Community College
Chapter 11. If You’re Going to Community College Directly from High School as a Full-Time Student
Chapter 12. If You’re Going to Community College as a Part-Time Student or a Career Changer: Juggling Classes, Homework, Your Job, and the Rest of Your Life
Conclusion: Achieving the American Dream
Appendix: The Higher Education America Needs: Win-Win Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Employers
Appendix: Additional Resources
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index