In this nuts-and-bolts guide, over 750 professionals speak candidly about “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of two dozen popular professions. Dispensing with romantic fantasies, real-world professionals — from nurses and pharmacists to architects and attorneys — speak about the day-to-day realities of their careers in six categories:

College vs. Reality

The Biggest Surprise

Hours and Advancement

The Best and the Worst

Changes in the Profession

Would You Do It All Over Again?

Chapters include overviews of each profession, followed by helpful information about education, testing, and registration and licensing requirements; the number of positions across the country; and the average starting or median annual salaries.

This valuable resource is filled with the open, personal insights and observations most students and career-changers want — and need — to make informed decisions about what they will do with the rest of their lives.