Upon entering college, many students are faced with a difficult decision to make: What should I major in? For some, this may come easy, but for others the decision is a difficult one.

A Fall 2000 survey performed at all ACCD colleges show majors in Nursing, Education and Business Management to rank high among students here at Palo Alto College.

“There will always be an interest in these majors,” said Mary L. Apolinar, a counselor/coordinator of the Transfer Advisement Center. According to Apolinar, this survey was conducted before Palo Alto became part of the Texas A&M System to determine the kinds of degree plans that should be offered to its students.

“I chose Business Management as my major because I feel that once I graduate, there will be numerous jobs to choose from,” said Marcella Garcia, Business Management major.

According to a recent San Antonio Express-News article, business majors rule at college campuses across the state. However, higher education officials say employers will be looking increasingly toward universities to produce more engineers, teachers, health professionals and computer scientists in coming years.

Education majors follow a close second on the survey. “More women than men enter the field of education. This is one field women rule,” said Terry Livingston, a kindergarten teacher at Woodlawn Hills Elementary School. “There has always been the debate of a teacher’s salary. This probably has been a discouraging factor in the decision to major in education, although some say the gift of teaching a child is far greater.”

Students choosing a major based on job security might want to consider fields that will be in demand in the future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists occupations with the fastest employment growth through 2006. The number of jobs in these areas is projected to grow very quickly within the next few years: 1) Database administrators, 2) Computer engineers, 3) Systems analysts, 4) Personal and home care aides, and 5) Physical and corrective therapy assistants and aides.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Labor Statistics, is available for students wanting information on different types of careers. This book provides career information including what workers do on the job, salary, working conditions and expected job prospects. The book is sold at bookstores for about $13 or is available at the Palo Alto Library.

Help is also available at the Career Resource Center to any student confused about choosing a career. You may discover your strengths and interests to help you set your future goals. The Discover System is a computerized test that provides information about various careers. All services are free. The Career Resource Center is located in Building P, Room 119. The hours for the center are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 921-5114.