There are many different options available to students about what they would like to do when they graduate from high school. While many students follow a path to college, others choose to pursue an alternative route to the career or life they desire. Some of these alternate options are discussed below. Regardless of what your goals are, it is important to speak with your school counselor to discuss the most appropriate post-secondary plan for you.
Taking a Gap Year is opting to take some time after high school, whether a semester or a year, to press pause and think about what is important to you. There is often an experiential or learning component that goes along with this.
Check out the Guidance Blog post highlighting several Gap Year programs HERE or watch a webinar interviewing Gap Year program staff HERE and view a summary HERE.
Gap Year Program Search Sites
Gap Year Scholarships & Financial Aid
Interested in taking a Gap year? Many Gap year programs offer scholarships and opportunities to apply for financial aid.
Click HERE for more information
Thiel Fellowship: a 2-year program for young people who want to build new things. Thiel Fellows skip or stop out of college to receive a $100,000 grant and support from the Thiel Foundation’s network of founders, investors, and scientists. Click HERE for more information.
Many organizations provide service or community aid to others in all types of settings. Your length of involvement in such programs can vary significantly, so it is important to fully research each opportunity. Listed below are a few of the many different service organizations.
Many students express an interest in exploring different parts of the country and the world. There are a number of programs allowing students to do just that. Some of these non-traditional classrooms give academic credit, but it is important to fully research each program. A few programs are listed below.
Internships are excellent ways to gain experience and learn vocational skills by being placed on-site in a particular industry. Some internship programs are listed below.
Studying in another country is a great way to learn while immersing yourself in another culture. The length of time spent abroad can vary from program to program. Several programs are listed below.
A post-graduate, or PG, year is typically an additional year of academic study in a boarding school environment where a student can transition to the college lifestyle. Some students may choose to do a PG year to build upon existing academic foundations, to strengthen social or academic skills prior to college, or to increase proficiency in an area such as art, music, or athletics. To learn more about PG years, speak with your guidance counselor and explore the following resources:
The Association of Boarding Schools
Military Service
There are five branches of the military. Enlisting can offer a wide variety of job training skills in a number of vocational areas. Once basic training is completed, individuals must complete two years or more of service. Interested students should take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which is typically offered at MHS in the Spring.
Vocational Opportunities
There are a number of local trade schools and community colleges that offer license/certificate programs for various careers. Click HERE to search for trade schools or check out the programs listed below.
Job Corps
Free job training and education for low income 16-24 year olds in a variety of fields. Link to website.
Automotive Technology
Franklin Cummings Tech - Boston 877-400-2348 franklincummings.edu
Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley 781-239-3000 massbay.edu
Minuteman Technical Institute - Lexington 781-861-7151 minutemanti.org
Porter and Chester Institute - Worcester 508-304-6500 porterchester.com
Carpentry/Construction
Minuteman Technical Institute - Lexington 781-861-7151 minutemanti.org
North Bennet Street School - Boston 617-227-0155 nbss.edu
North Shore Community College - Danvers 978-762-4000 northshore.edu
Computer Networking/Computer-Aided Design/Cybersecurity
Bunker Hill Community College - Boston 617-228-3398 bhcc.mass.edu
Franklin Cummings Tech - Boston 877-400-2348 franklincummings.edu
Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley 781-239-3000 massbay.edu
Northern Essex Community College - Haverhill 978-556-3000 necc.mass.edu
Cosmetic Services
Catherine Hines Institute of Esthetics - Woburn 781-935-3344 catherinehinds.edu
Elizabeth Grady - Medford 781-395-1971 elizabethgrady.edu
Minuteman Technical Institute - Lexington 781-861-7151 minutemanti.org
New England Hair Academy - Malden 781-324-6799 newenglandhairacademy.com
Tri-County Regional Vocational Continuing Education - Franklin 508-528-5400 https://www.tri-county.us/page/continuing-education
Culinary Arts
Bunker Hill Community College - Boston 617-228-3398 bhcc.mass.edu
The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts 617-354-2020 cambridgeculinary.com
Quinsigamond Community College - Worcester 508-853-2300 qcc.edu
Electrician/Electrical repair
Franklin Cummings Tech - Boston 877-400-2348 franklincummings.edu
Minuteman Technical Institute - Lexington 781-861-7151 minutemanti.org
Porter and Chester Institute - Worcester 508-304-6500 porterchester.com
The Peterson School - Westwood 781-320-3292 petersonschool.com
Tri-County Regional Vocational Continuing Education - Franklin 508-528-5400 https://www.tri-county.us/page/continuing-education
Wentworth Institute of Technology - Boston wit.edu/academics/workforce-development
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Nursing Assistant/Dental Assistant
Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley 781-239-3000 massbay.edu
Northern Essex Community College - Haverhill 978-556-3000 necc.mass.edu
Quinsigamond Community College - Worcester 508-853-2300 qcc.edu
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R)
Franklin Cummings Tech - Boston 877-400-2348 franklincummings.edu
Porter and Chester Institute - Worcester 508-304-6500 porterchester.com
The Peterson School - Westwood 781-320-3292 petersonschool.com
Interior Design
Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley 781-239-3000 massbay.edu
Northern Essex Community College - Haverhill 978-556-3000 necc.mass.edu
Manufacturing Technology
Quinsigamond Community College - Worcester 508-853-2300 qcc.edu
Paralegal Studies
Bunker Hill Community College - Boston 617-228-3398 bhcc.mass.edu
Mass Bay Community College - Wellesley 781-239-3000 massbay.edu
Plumbing
Minuteman Technical Institute - Lexington 781-861-7151 minutemanti.org
The Peterson School - Westwood 781-320-3292 petersonschool.com
Porter and Chester Institute - Worcester 508-304-6500 porterchester.com
Community College Pathways
Community College is now free for Massachusetts residents! You can read more about eligibility criteria and how to apply here. There are 15 community colleges in MA. Click here to see a list of the colleges and learn about what each offers. These colleges provide scheduling flexibility, including evening or online classes and part-time options, allowing students to work full-time. As a community college student, there are different pathways you can take:
Associate’s Degree
This is a two-year degree that trains students for specific careers such as Early Childhood Education, Nursing, or Computer Science.
Certificate Programs
These programs may be as short as one semester and provide students with the training needed to enter the workforce in a specific field, such as a phlebotomist, an infant-toddler teacher, or a web designer.
The Mass Transfer program allows students to earn an Associate's Degree at a Community College and transfer to a 4-year MA state university to earn a 4-year Bachelor’s degree. Some colleges offer guaranteed admission to one of the 4 year MA state colleges as long as students earn a minimum GPA at their Community College. This offers a more affordable way for students to earn a 4 year degree. Check out more information about this program HERE.
Mass Bay Community College Partnership with Framingham State University
This allows MassBay students to live in the Framingham State University dorms and access Framingham State campus activities while taking their courses at MassBay. Transportation is provided between the two campuses. This allows students to live independently and have the experience of living on a college campus while being able to access free community college and a flexible schedule.