Education after high school - alternatives to 4-year universities
by Andy Schiller (March 20, 2008)The general opinion about traditional colleges these days is, “If you want to get anywhere in life, you need to get a Bachelor’s Degree from a good college. And this is true, for the most part. But the last census revealed that 1 out of 3 college students drop out! Too many people are falling through the cracks.
Even if you’ve dropped out of college, a higher education is still one of the most valuable assets you can have. Fortunately, because such a large section of people are trying to get back into an education, there are other alternatives!
Alternative 1: The Associate Degree
The first place to look would be a local community college. Why an Associate degree? 2-year degree programs can prepare students for entry-level work. It’s also a great preparatory track for a Bachelor’s degree. Associate degrees and community colleges also have the advantage of often being far cheaper, which can be a great help if you’re one of the many students who need to continue working to pay for school.
Alternative 2: Career College
Career college, technical institute, skills training – whatever you want to call it: it’s a great way to get moving quickly. In technical institutes, students receive a very targeted education, specific to their chosen job fields. Since you don’t spend any extra time learning about subjects outside of your specific profession, you can get finished much faster. If you want to get trained and get hired, a career college great option.
Learn more about your alternatives! Career colleges also have customizable financial aid support. Remember that many career schools have flexible schedules that help you work around your classes. No matter what option you go with - education is the best way to achieve future success.