Attend school where the jobs are located

While applying to college scholarship opportunities are helpful for offsetting the rising cost of tuition, you'll need to find a job quickly after graduation if you want to build a financially stable future for yourself. Though many students believe they can pick up and move wherever they want as post-grads, loan debt and lack of a paycheck can make this easier said than done. To give yourself a leg up in the job search, consider applying to schools in areas of the country with the greatest job growth.

Attending a college or university in or near a city where job growth is strong is a major advantage in the current economic situation. Many employers won't even consider an application that comes from out-of-state candidates, so establishing networking contacts in your area as an undergraduate is a vital step.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several areas in the United States experienced significant job growth and recovery during 2011. The fastest expanding metropolitan area was in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, which saw a 2.85 percent change from 2010 to 2011. Rounding out the top five metropolitan areas were San Jose, CA, Houston, TX, Charlotte, NC and Nashville, TN.

Keeping abreast of job recovery changes and the country's economic situation can help you prepare well in advance for entering the competitive marketplace.

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