Deborah Schneider spent far more time researching the $15,000 car she once bought than she did on a slightly larger purchase -- her $90,000 law degree. "Years later, I realized how common that is," says Schneider, who coauthored Should You Really Be a Lawyer? with Gary Belsky and produces its accompanying Web site. "Each year, many college students spend more time ...

You may think your school's career center is only for senior year. But throughout college the career center can help you choose a major, secure a summer internship or find a job after graduation. Explore Majors and Careers "We help people look at themselves," says Jennifer Kimbarovsky, career counselor at Northwestern University's career development center. "We want to help students ...

Parents pay a lot for their children's college educations, and so they often feel they ought to help select their children's occupations. Sometimes it's subtle, and sometimes it's in-your-face coercion. In my experience, arranged careers almost never work out. If you're going into accounting, consulting or law school because your folks think that would be great for you rather than because ...