Path To Your Dream Job | GraduationSource

Lawyer

Represent businesses and individuals in criminal and civil cases,
advising clients in a court of law.

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Earn your undergraduate degree, ideally taking classes in political science, economics, and history.
Enroll in a course to prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), and then take the test until you are satisfied with your scores.
A law degree is necessary to be a lawyer. Best law schools include:
- Yale University
- Harvard University
- Columbia University

Relocate — lawyers have the highest earnings in these three cities, all in California:

SJ
San Jose
LA
Los Angeles
SF
San Francisco

Median salary is

$111,970

per year as of 2014.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts
43,800 new jobs will be created for lawyers by 2024.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Accountant

Maintain, inspect, and handle detailed financial records for corporations and
individuals. Prepare taxes and conduct audits.

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Top accounting programs include:
- University of Texas, Austin
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- Brigham Young University
Taking the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) after 150 class hours, or 5 years of school, will create further employment opportunities.

Relocate — accountants with the highest salaries are employed in these cities:

NYC
New York
SAL
Salinas
SJ
San Jose

Median salary is

$65,940

per year as of 2014.

Upward mobility in accounting is very high — there are many
chances for salary increases and advances in your career.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Web Developer

Utilize programming software to build websites from scratch. Can include
HTML and CMS coding, or designing the layout in Photoshop.

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Many employers prefer web developers obtain bachelor's degrees in computer science or information technology. Great undergraduate programs include:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- California Institute of Technology
Optional certifications strengthen your resume, like Certified Internet Webmaster, Certified Web Developer, and Advanced Web Developer.
In your free time, build a strong portfolio of mock websites and commissions to impress potential employers.

Relocate — The highest-salary positions for web developers are in the following cities:

SEA
Seattle
SF
San Francisco
SJ
San Jose

Median salary is

$63,490

per year as of 2014

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that
39,500 new jobs will be created in this field by 2024.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Statistician

Use mathematical data and interpretation to help companies make informed decisions.

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Should pursue and obtain a bachelor's degree in statistics. A master's degree or Ph.D. is necessary for teaching and more advanced, higher-paying positions. Best statistics programs include:
- University of California, Berkeley
- Stanford University
- University of Washington
While earning your degree, accrue a general knowledge of Standard Query Language (SQL) and open source software to gain valuable skills for the job market.

Relocate — statisticians are compensated the most in these three cities, all located on the coast of California:

SD
San Diego
SJ
San Jose
SF
San Francisco

Median salary is

$79,990

per year as of 2014.

Career field expected to grow 34% from 2014 to 2024,
creating 10,100 new jobs.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Physician

Diagnose and treat patients for a variety of medical maladies. Multitudes of specialties,
including cardiology, urology, dermatology, neurology, and gynecology.

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Earn your undergraduate degree and pursue a pre-med track in biology, chemistry, or mathematics. Maintain a high GPA.
Study for and ace the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) one year before you plan to begin medical school.
Earn your degree from medical school while deciding on a field of study. Great medical schools for primary care include:
- University of Washington
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- University of California, San Francisco
Requirements for internships and residencies will vary based on your field of choice. Most range from three to eight years.

Physicians make great salaries all over, but the highest-paid physicians live in:

FLR
Florence
ATL
Atlanta
MED
Medford

Median salary is

$187,199

per year as of 2014.

Opportunities for employment among physicians will increase
9% by 2024, creating 5,100 new jobs.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Psychiatrist

Diagnose, treat, and work with patients to prevent disorders relating to
mental and emotional health.

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Earn a bachelor's degree, taking a pre-med concentration or track if possible, including focuses in biology, chemistry, math, or physics.
Study for and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) one year before you plan to start medical school.
Psychiatrists must earn a degree from a medical school. Top institutions for psychiatry include:
- John Hopkins University
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- University of Pennsylvania
Complete a four-year residency program serving under licensed psychiatrists. During this time, consider what subspecialties interest you.
In order to subspecialize psychiatrists complete a one-year fellowship after residency.Some fields include:
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Addiction Psychiatry

Relocate — top-paying psychiatry positions are located in:

BIR
Birmingham
IND
Indianapolis
VAL
Vallejo

Median salary is

$181,880

per year as of 2014.

The profession will grow 15% by 2024, resulting
in 4,200 new jobs.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Occupational Therapist

Work alongside patients to help them build and restore their abilities to
perform day-to-day tasks.

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First obtain your bachelor's degree, ideally in psychology, anatomy, or physiology if there is no occupational therapy track.
Earn a master's degree from an institution approved by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, which you must do to sit for the certifying exam. Great programs include:
- Boston University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- University of Southern California
Note: Many institutions combine undergraduate and master's degrees in occupational therapy into one five-year program.
To gain employment you must then pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam.

Relocate — the highest salaries for occupational therapists are found in these cities:

LV
Las Vegas
BMT
Beaumont
DAB
Daytona

Median salary is

$78,810

per year as of 2012.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment
growth of 27% by 2024, creating 30,400 more jobs.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Actor

Land a lead role in a major film franchise and win multiple Oscars.

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Attend a top acting program. Or skip college and study with an independent acting teacher or top improv comedy school. Top programs include:
- Northwestern
- Julliard
- Yale School of Drama
- Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
- Carnegie Mellon
Top improv schools include:
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- The Groundlings
- The Second City
- iO
Join SAG-Aftra – the union for professional film and TV actors – which will allow you to work on union projects.
Find representation through networking or by participating in an industry showcase. An agent or manager can submit you to audition for professional projects.
Start booking parts in films and TV shows.

Relocate — acting is an industry-specific job and you must live in a major city to earn a living. The best cities for acting include:

NYC
New York City
LA
Los Angeles
CHI
Chicago
ATL
Atlanta

Average salary of SAG-Aftra members:

$53,423

But that number is skewed by actors like Dwayne Johnson
($64.5 million) and Jackie Chan ($61 million) in 2016.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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Athlete

Win NBA Championships and try to surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest
player of all time.

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Earn a scholarship to a top Division I basketball program.
- Only about 3% of high school senior basketball players make it onto an NCAA team.
Colleges with the most current NBA players:
- Kentucky (21): Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, John Wall
- Duke (19): Kyrie Irving, Jahlil Okafor, Jabari Parker
- North Carolina (15): Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine
- Kansas (14): Andrew Wiggins, Paul Pierce, Marcus Morris
Enter the draft after 1-2 college seasons.
- Only 4 of 14 NBA lottery picks in 2016 played more than 2 seasons.
- The last four-year college player drafted #1 was Kenyon Martin in 2000.
- Only 1.1% of NCAA players are drafted into the NBA.
Play at least 4.8 seasons – the average length of an NBA career.

Average salary was

$4,900,000

for the 2013-2014 season.

Use this information to make an educated decision
and begin your path to your dream job today.

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