I'm a 17 year old female and I want a college career. My problem is that I'm a afriad I will go to college, graduate and not be able to find a job in my field. I was thinking to getting an accocietes degree as a dental hygienist. I researched it on Monster.com and found NO JOBS in austin, texas which is where I live. I do not want to be a nurse. Although I was hoping for a medical career. Does anyone know a good career where when I graduate I will be able to find employment? Please help.

J.J.

Medical careers don't include just nursing or hygienist. Have you looked at respiratory therapy, physical therapy, lab or X-ray technician positions, or even EMT work? Then there's all the admin work specialties: billing, transcription, records, etc. Monster is good if you're willing to fly off for interviews in Baltimore or Tacoma, but closer in you might consider Craig'slist or even old fashioned newspapers.

You are wise to research jobs before you start making decisions about college. I wouldn't let a single jobs website determine what jobs are available and what jobs aren't available though. Check the help wanted ads in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio newspapers for medical jobs/help wanted. Still, you need to major in something that you can be passionate about when you graduate. Just finding a vocation where there are jobs available doesn't mean that you will enjoy working in that field. Believe me, there's hardly anything more disheartening than to spend 2 to 6 years in college, graduate, and then find that you really don't like the work that you have trained for. Try to talk to someone currently practicing what you are interested in (dental hygienist, for example). You've got plenty of time to decide. Look at all the opportunities for 2 year associate degrees and also specialized training such as court reporting, etc.