Career Planning and College Choice (for teens) (continued)

How do you know a particular area of study or type of career is right for you?

"Students should be good at what they do, enjoy what they do, and feel they are a kindred spirit with others who do that kind of thing," White says.

Major Timelines

Some majors require students to decide on them early. Competitive engineering, architecture, nursing, fine arts, and other programs may be difficult to transfer into later in your college career. If you're interested in one of these types of majors, make sure to find out the requirements to get into the specific program (not just the college).

The Rest of Your Life

As you think about how your career interests intersect with your college choices, remember that college is about more than career training. In fact, many adults change careers at least once––and often several times throughout their lifetimes. College is about preparing yourself for the rest of your life, so choose a college that will help you grow as a person, as well as train you for a career.

"The most beneficial product of the educational experience is not how many more dollars an individual will earn in a lifetime," says Dessimoz. "Rather, it is in the quality of life that the individual will have, both in and out of the work place."