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Baby boomers are people who were born in the late 1940s to 1960s and are defined so because the birth rate increased significantly during that time period. Currently, baby boomers are reaching retirement age and are facing the many ailments that elderly people face. Because of their current condition, the baby boomer generation has influenced the college degree and career choices of the current generation.

Baby boomers have influenced the current generation to receive medical degrees and go into medical professions. More elderly people are in need of healthcare or medical assistance than ever before because of the large baby boomer generation. The nursing and healthcare job market is very stable, as medical professionals are needed regardless of the state of the economy. The job security rate for these professions is currently high because of this, catching the eyes of many young college students.

Jobs in the healthcare industry generally pay very well, with nursing positions on the lower end of the spectrum and doctors at the higher end of the pay scale. This is part of the reason why these positions are so attractive to college students. Another reason is altruism.

The baby boomer generation was inspired by their hard-working, depression-era parents, who instilled realistic goals and a good work ethic, as well as stressed the need for financial and economic security, in their children. These values were then passed down onto their children, along with the encouragement to follow their dreams. Many college students today are a product of the “follow your dreams” generation, and many of their dreams include helping others. The medical industry is probably the best place where one could practice helping others. People from all economic backgrounds, ages, and needs come to hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices for medical help and advice, whether their need is dire or not. The notion and opportunity to help a variety of people attracts young people as well because of their interest in uniqueness and diversity.

Currently, colleges have had increases in applicants applying for medical degrees. These applicants are undergraduate students who just graduated from high school, as well as registered nurses (RN) going back to school to receive a more advanced degree. Acceptance rates for these programs, on the other hand, have not been as high as the application rates.

However, this increase in people with undergraduate nursing or medical degrees means that the job market is oversaturated. Many people who have graduated nursing school or college with only an associates or baccalaureate degree are having a difficult time finding jobs in their field. Those with at least a bachelor’s degree, on the other hand, have greater chances for finding a job after graduation because of the need for skilled nurses, doctors, and medical professionals. The requirements for nursing positions have become more relaxed recently, but hospitals and clinics are looking to change this. Studies say that by 2020, the Institute of Medicine will require more medical professionals to have a baccalaureate, masters, or doctorate in medicine. More people will be applying for medical degrees because of this.

The baby boomer generation has influenced other degree programs as well. Education and child development degrees have also increased because of the baby boomer generation. The education field, like the medical field, is also oversaturated because of the large number of applicants facing less and less jobs. There has also been a decrease in the requirements to become a teacher, making it easier for applicants to apply for these degrees.

The baby boomer generation has inspired a sense of altruism and hard work in the college students of this generation, inspiring them to get degrees in fields such as education and medicine.

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Author Bio
Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the influence of baby boomers on degree choices and aims to encourage further study through USC Aging Degrees.