Competition is so fierce for the physician assistant program at Western Michigan University that only 4 percent of the more than 900 people who applied for the master’s-level program got in last year.
In fact, nearly all health-related programs statewide are experiencing surges in popularity.
Programs that prepare students for computer science engineering careers are equally popular, with about 264 job openings a year for computer software engineers, who can net an average of $38 an hour.
At the University of Michigan, for instance, enrollment in computer science is up 73 percent since 2007, while enrollment in computer science engineering is up 60 percent.
Experts say it’s a sign young people aren’t just following their passions; they’re matching their dream jobs with majors that will prepare them for the high-demand, high-wage jobs of the future.
Full story: Students picking major by matching passion, demand | freep.com | Detroit Free Press