There are Many paths to future success
Research shows that people who attend college tend to report feeling happier and having more job satisfaction than those who don't. According to the Educational Credit Management Corportaion (2013), students who attend college tend to live healthier lifestyles and are more involved in their communities as adults. This resource also suggests that unemployment rates drop in direct relationship to how much education a person receives.
Attending college does often cost you money...but in the long run, NOT going to college may cost you more. Most research suggests that students who attend 4 years of college (earning a Bachelor's degree) may earn nearly twice as much as students with only a High School Diploma...that's TWICE AS MUCH in every paycheck for all the paydays to come for 40 or more years.
Let me be clear. I DO NOT believe that college is for everyone! However, I believe that SOME TYPE of additional education or training beyond high school is for MOST people! Stay with me....
Attending college does often cost you money...but in the long run, NOT going to college may cost you more. Most research suggests that students who attend 4 years of college (earning a Bachelor's degree) may earn nearly twice as much as students with only a High School Diploma...that's TWICE AS MUCH in every paycheck for all the paydays to come for 40 or more years.
Let me be clear. I DO NOT believe that college is for everyone! However, I believe that SOME TYPE of additional education or training beyond high school is for MOST people! Stay with me....
What Paths are available?
Trade and Vocational Colleges
These schools focus on developing practical career skills. The key word here is PRACTICAL. In this type of program, students will focus only on the skills that are necessary to be successful in a particular trade, apprenticeship, or earn a certain certification. These are usually shorter programs (sometimes only a few weeks or months) and typically cost less to attend. An additional benefit is you are able to enter the working world very quickly.
Examples of this kind of school would be a welding training program, or a mechanic school.
Private Career Colleges
These schools are similar to trade and vocational colleges but are designed to provide students with a variety of academic subject matter with hands-on lab experiences and often internships in the real working world before completing the program. Some of these schools work very hard to help their students find jobs right after program completion and have on-going relationships with big employers who actually call them hoping they have students ready to work. This route often requires a good bit of money BUT financial aid and grants and scholarships are usually available.
Examples of these in our area include Miller-Motte Technical College and American National University.
Community Colleges
These schools are designed to meet the vocational (work) and educational needs of the community. These schools differ greatly from one to another so you will want to explore several to see what courses and programs are available. You can earn certificates, vocational training and associate degrees from a community college. They often also offer evening classes and can accommodate people who are working during the day. With a full-time student schedule you can usually earn an associate's degree in two years.
Example of this type of school in our area is Central Virginia Community College (CVCC).
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
These schools focus on offering educational programs that lead to bachelor's (four years), master's (another 2-3 years), and doctoral (another 2-4 years) degrees. Students typically choose a course of study to major in and spend the last half of their time really involved in courses that related to that chosen field of study. This helps to prepare a student for careers that require a college or professional degree. These are the schools that typically offer on-campus housing. Some students begin taking courses at a community colleges (for less money) and then can transfer those credits in when they transfer to a four-year school. There are many opportunities for a student to access money for college so please don't decide that you can't afford it without talking with someone about the MANY ways a student can receive GRANTS (money you don't have to pay back!), SCHOLARSHIPS (more money you don't have to pay back!) and LOANS (money you will pay back but not until you are finished with school and usually at a very low interest rate).
Examples of this type of school in our area include: Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, Liberty University, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia and many many more.
These schools focus on developing practical career skills. The key word here is PRACTICAL. In this type of program, students will focus only on the skills that are necessary to be successful in a particular trade, apprenticeship, or earn a certain certification. These are usually shorter programs (sometimes only a few weeks or months) and typically cost less to attend. An additional benefit is you are able to enter the working world very quickly.
Examples of this kind of school would be a welding training program, or a mechanic school.
Private Career Colleges
These schools are similar to trade and vocational colleges but are designed to provide students with a variety of academic subject matter with hands-on lab experiences and often internships in the real working world before completing the program. Some of these schools work very hard to help their students find jobs right after program completion and have on-going relationships with big employers who actually call them hoping they have students ready to work. This route often requires a good bit of money BUT financial aid and grants and scholarships are usually available.
Examples of these in our area include Miller-Motte Technical College and American National University.
Community Colleges
These schools are designed to meet the vocational (work) and educational needs of the community. These schools differ greatly from one to another so you will want to explore several to see what courses and programs are available. You can earn certificates, vocational training and associate degrees from a community college. They often also offer evening classes and can accommodate people who are working during the day. With a full-time student schedule you can usually earn an associate's degree in two years.
Example of this type of school in our area is Central Virginia Community College (CVCC).
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
These schools focus on offering educational programs that lead to bachelor's (four years), master's (another 2-3 years), and doctoral (another 2-4 years) degrees. Students typically choose a course of study to major in and spend the last half of their time really involved in courses that related to that chosen field of study. This helps to prepare a student for careers that require a college or professional degree. These are the schools that typically offer on-campus housing. Some students begin taking courses at a community colleges (for less money) and then can transfer those credits in when they transfer to a four-year school. There are many opportunities for a student to access money for college so please don't decide that you can't afford it without talking with someone about the MANY ways a student can receive GRANTS (money you don't have to pay back!), SCHOLARSHIPS (more money you don't have to pay back!) and LOANS (money you will pay back but not until you are finished with school and usually at a very low interest rate).
Examples of this type of school in our area include: Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, Liberty University, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia and many many more.