After graduating from high school many young people have the option to directly enter the work force. Most students who have the opportunity, however, decide to go to college before finding jobs (They attend college to obtain more choices,-higher salaries, and more opportunities for advancement in an increasingly competitive job market. Before attending college, students have a limited opportunity to specialize. After obtaining a specific college degree a job applicant can be competitive for previously unavailable jobs. For instance, applicants with Computer Science degrees would not only be qualified for jobs in high-tech companies, they would also be well prepared for any job with computer skills as a prerequisite. With a larger range of potential jobs to choose from, degree holders are more likely to find a job that suits their particular needs and interests. Additionally, employers are willing to pay a premium for highly qualified applicants. For example, many companies desire employees who are competent in more than one language and offer higher salaries to attract them. Even if a job applicant without a college degree has high standardized test scores, employers may still place a higher value on an applicant with similar test scores who also possesses credentials from a well-known university. Because of the extent to which a college degree is accepted by employers as proof of competence in a given field, college graduates are not only more likely to receive more job offers, they can also command higher salaries than applicants who lack college diplomas. Finally, in addition to offering more choices and higher salaries, a college degree offers access to jobs with a clear path towards professional advancement. A B.S. in biology, for example, could allow a student to find a job in a lab after graduation, a first step on the road towards a career in scientific research. The same major could also be used to apply to medical school, and a career as a doctor. Both of these avenues would be unavailable without taking the first step of an undergraduate degree in biology.
高中毕业后许多年轻人都选择直接进入工作队。大多数学生有机会，然而，决定去上大学之前找到乔布斯（他们参加大学获得更多的选择，高工资，和更多的机会晋升在日益竞争激烈的就业市场。在上大学之前，学生们有一个专门的机会。在获得一个特定的大学学位后，求职者可以对以前无法获得的工作进行竞争。例如，计算机科学学位的申请者不仅可以胜任高技术公司的工作，而且还可以为从事计算机技能的工作做好充分的准备，这是一个先决条件。拥有更大范围的潜在的工作机会来选择，度的人更有可能找到适合自己特殊需要和兴趣的工作。此外，雇主愿意为高素质的申请者支付保费。例如，许多公司都希望在一种以上的语言上能有能力的员工，并提供更高的薪水来吸引他们。即使没有大学学历的求职者有很高的标准化考试成绩，雇主也可能对一个具有类似考试成绩的申请人有更高的价值，同时也有来自知名大学的学历证书。由于程度，大学学位被雇主接受的证明的能力在一个特定的领域，大学毕业生是不仅更有可能获得更多的工作机会，他们可以同时命令更高的薪水比那些没有大学文凭的申请人。最后，除了提供更多的选择和更高的薪水，大学学位提供了一个通向专业发展的清晰路径的就业机会。生物学学士学位，例如，可以让学生找到在实验室的工作毕业后，第一步对科学研究事业。同样的专业也可以用来申请医学院，并作为一名医生的职业。这些途径都是不可用的，不采取在生物学的本科学位的第一步。