At the same time, it's not enough to just say that you should pursue a career where you know you'll get a job. Right now there's a 100 percent placement rate for people who finish dental programs.

Does that mean everyone should try to be a dentist? No. Not everyone can be a dentist. And if there were a huge increase in the number of students in dental programs, would there still be a 100 percent placement rate?

No one expects you to have your career completely mapped out. But you should have some idea of what strengths you have and what courses you can take in your first year.The most important areas are math, chemistry, physics, biology and computers. If you have skills in these subjects, you should plan to take courses in them.

Of course, if you hope to run your own business one day, you will need to take business courses. Did you know that 80 percent of new business fail?

You can't be a successful businessperson without a strong academic background in business studies.

A lot of universities and colleges now have co-op and work placement options. Whatever program you're taking, it's worth your while finding out if you can do some kind of work while you're studying.

Graduates with work experience find jobs more quickly than those who have never worked. And make sure you register with your college or university's Career Center; they provide invaluable advice on career choices.

Your choice of college or university program is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. The program you choose will give you a certain set of skills that will help you establish a career path.

In the next five years, 60 percent of all jobs will require a combination of postsecondary education and specialized work experience, so making sure you have the right qualification is essential