Graduating high school is exciting! You are beginning your professional career and starting (or continuing) on the path of living independently. While getting a college degree is EXTREMEMLY VALUABLE, and attainable for everyone with the help of financial aid, it's not the best choice for everyone.

In this section, we will talk about alternatives to college. These are meant to help you explore and discover what you’re passionate about. There is no perfect path, so our goal is to help you get into the career field you want as quickly and inexpensively as possible!

Here are some of the alternatives to college you can explore!

ALWAYS check with Maricopa Community Colleges to see if they offer the program you are looking for before looking at a trade school. They have really amazing options and are WAY cheaper option. PLUS!!! You can use FAFSA financial aid to pay for most of your community college courses.

For more details, please click here to view the Maricopa Community Colleges' Degrees and Certificates

Examples of in-state trade, technical and vocational schools:

RSI- Universal Technical Institute HVAC, Refrigeration, Electrical, Welding

UTI - Universal Technical Institute Automotive & Machining

AAI - Arizona Automotive Institute Diesel, HVAC, Refrigeration

West MEC Adult Education Division Aviation, IT, Security, Pharmacy, Welding

Avalon Cosmetology

Many occupations offer apprenticeships, including healthcare, construction, information technology, cyber security, advanced manufacturing and business services. These programs combine on-the-job-training experience with related (classroom) instruction.

Apprenticeship trainings last from one to six years, but most average three to four years. Graduates who successfully complete their apprenticeship training will receive nationally recognized completion certificate. Apprenticeships are hard work and competitive. An apprentice must have the will to see the program through. It takes ambition, drive, courage and patience!

Advantages of Registered Apprenticeship

• A paycheck - From day one, an apprentice will earn a paycheck guaranteed to increase over time as he or she learns new skills.

• On the job training - An apprentice will receive practical on-the-job training related to their specific occupation.

• An education - Apprentices will receive hands-on training and have the potential to earn college credit, an associate or bachelor’s degree. In many cases, classes are paid for by the employer.

• National industry certification - when you graduate from a career training program, you’ll be certified and can take your certification anywhere in the U.S.

How to apply for an Apprenticeship

If you are interested in an apprenticeship program please contact one of the active programs (see list below) and follow these three steps!

1. Call the apprenticeship programs / companies and ask if and when they are accepting new applications.

2. Find out which documents they require to apply.

3. Ask to be provided with informational materials about their programs. Review the company’s website and informational materials, and ask don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Tips

• You will need to interview for your spot, so prepare your résumé, dress professionally and bring a working pen to complete your application and take notes.

• Make sure you take a list of addresses and phone numbers from past employers or references that you may need for your application.

• Ask your references in advance for their permission to use their names.

• Bring all required documentation.

Explore Current Opportunities

• Arizona Apprenticeship Program

• Arizona Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association

• National Apprenticeship Search

• College Depot (city of Phoenix) offers personalized assistance with applying for apprenticeships.

Explore current opportunities:

• • Americorps - Americans from around the country and across countless communities come together each year to tackle our most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities, making service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. See below for the different program types. The four programs below (1-4) come with a living stipend and either an education award (~$6,000) to be used for tuition or student loans, or a one time end-of-service stipend (~$1,200) CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT AMERICORPS

    • AmeriCorps Nation Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)- For 18-26 year old, team-based direct service program i.e. building houses or clearing trails, Region-based with campuses in Sacramento, CA, Denver, CO, Vinton, IA, and Vicksburg, MS. Everything is included (room, board, transportation)

    • AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service for America)- You select the organization you want to serve with for a year. Capacity building i.e. piloting new programs, writing grants. Mission to break the cycle of poverty through strengthening communities by building capacity and indirect service. You have to find your own housing and buy your own food but you get a small living stipend. Upon completion you get two years non-competitive eligibility for federal careers.

    • AmeriCorps State and Nation (ASN)- Think Teach for America or Habitat for Humanity or your state conservation corps. Can select geographically where you want to work. Stipend included.

    • AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates- Only occurs during the summer and allows members to do direct service unlike VISTA.

  • Apprenticeship - Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Applicants for apprenticeship programs must be at least 16 years old and meet the program sponsor's qualifications. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF CURRENT ARIZONA APPRETICESHIP PROGRAMS

• Job Corps - Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24. Private companies, state agencies, federal agencies, and unions recruit young people to participate in Job Corps, where they can train for and be placed in jobs. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT JOB CORPS

  • AZ Conservation Corps - ARIZONA@WORK serves job seekers of all backgrounds, all skill levels—and all ages. Whether you’re an adult with years of job experience or seeking a new career path, we can put our programs and services to work for you. And if you’re a young person looking to find employment, get job training or further your education, we’re here for you too! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT AZ CONSERVATION CORPS

  • Mobilize Green - Our internship and Resource Assistant internship opportunities allow young people to get paid experience in the roles that can help shape and guide their careers. And we even offer conservation opportunities across the nation that give high school students access to the experience and real-world problem solving that allows them to build truly rewarding careers. We provide conferences, career fairs, and networking opportunities to enable youth from all backgrounds to meet businesses, non-profits, and academics who would benefit from hearing different points of view. The VirtualIntern, our new online platform, has emerged as a groundbreaking tool for young adults to gain paid work experiences with employers seeking to hire and engage diverse talent! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT MOBILIZE GREEN

• ARIZONA @ WORK - ARIZONA@WORK serves job seekers of all backgrounds, all skill levels—and all ages. Whether you’re an adult with years of job experience or seeking a new career path, we can put our programs and services to work for you. And if you’re a young person looking to find employment, get job training or further your education, we’re here for you too! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION ABOUT ARIZONA AT WORK

• Helios Scholars @ TGen - Helios Scholars at TGen is a paid, eight-week summer internship program in biomedical research open to incoming and continuing undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students who have studied at an Arizona high school, college, or university. Interns work full-time on a research project under the mentorship of a TGen scientist to unravel the genetic components of diabetes, neurological disease and cancer. At TGen North in Flagstaff, interns focus their summer research on public health and pathogens such as Valley Fever and antibiotic resistant bacteria! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFOMATION

• The Mayo Clinic also has a program called Mayo Clinic CARES for students interested in the medical industry but are not sure which field. It's free and for current grades 9-11. For questions and official application contact Office for Diversity, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science – officeforeducationdiversity@mayo.edu

Internships aren't only for college students. While most interns are college students, adults may also work an internship for similar reasons as their college-student counterparts. An adult may be able to negotiate for a paid internship, while a college student may receive college credit instead.

Interns gain valuable experience by completing relevant work that's related to the industry want to enter while learning new skills they can apply in the workplace. Internships are paid, unpaid or completed in exchange for college credits.

How to get an internship?

PAID: Search for opportunities the same way you would search for a job. Click here for an example

UNPAID: Another idea is to go to the top people in the field you want to work in and offer one year of internship. Let them know you are open to any position and willing to work in exchange for their experience and knowledge. Add value to their lives. Come prepared, by offering up free labor. Tell them you’ll brief them on books, video research, whatever it is, whatever they need to be more efficient. You will become their personal assistant, and all you want is the experience – not a single dollar!

EXPLORE CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

• • AZ Youthforce - A dynamic job training program to help young adults prepare for and connect to work opportunities. Once training is complete, you will be placed in a PAID internship, ranging from 8 weeks to 4.5 months in length. Partner companies (where you can complete the internship) include: Phoenix Suns Arena, Haskins Electric, Jiffy Lube, Future Engineers, Bank of America, Safelite Autoglass, Banner Health, Diversified Roofing, Maricopa Country Sheriff's Office and many more!! Click here for a list of current internship opportunities. CLICK HERE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AZ YOUTHFORCE Click here to apply ⭐

Bootcamps are one of the latest alternatives to college and have grown exponentially since the first program launched in 2011. These 2-12 week courses offer intensive training for a short period of time, then give assistance in canvassing the job market and starting your career. There are free and paid options. See lists below for more information and resources.

Free coding bootcamps: Check out a list here

Many programs like General Assembly feature unique ways of attracting students beyond providing a quick route to coding jobs. Students at Fullstack Academy and Lambda attend bootcamp for free and pay tuition only after they land a job. Other programs, including App Academy and Thinkful, offer money-back guarantees that graduates find employment.

Best coding bootcamps and more info about coding bootcamps vs. college degree: Check out a list here

Apply for Entry-level Positions: Find an industry you have some interest in and start applying. Getting an entry-level position will teach you a lot about yourself and whether you want to work your way up or switch careers entirely.

Networking: Networking is something you’ll need to actively do no matter what path you decide to take — even if you go to college! Some ways to create networking opportunities are:

• Find people in positions or industries you want to be in. Follow them on social media, interact with their posts, and build a relationship at a distance.

• Join online communities with like-minded people. Add value to the community, and they will add value to you. (great places to look for these are Reddit, Linkedin, Facebook, and Discord.)

• Ask a hero of yours out to lunch. Interview them appropriately about how they got to where they are.

• Contact hiring managers and ask them to do a mock interview with you. These mock interviews should be considered practice only (don’t bother them about getting the job afterward) but the relationship with the person should be considered real. Later when you’re more qualified these connections will benefit you.

• Talk to people! Simply making friends and getting to know people will lead you to different ways of thinking, and surprise you with the number of opportunities it creates.

Resources for finding a job:

Arizona at Work: When looking for a job, it helps to have connections. Whether you’re looking for your first job, making a career switch, or re-entering the workforce, ARIZONA@WORK is the place to start. In addition to their no-cost workforce readiness services, they can connect you to their partners for expert advice and guidance on everything from child care, basic needs, vocational rehabilitation for job seekers with disabilities, and educational opportunities.

My Career Advisor: My Career Advisor is an online career development and training resource to help prepare you in your journey to finding sustainable employment. It offers resources such as resume review, online training modules, live chat, and job postings. You can access their wide range of no-cost career services from any mobile device: your computer, laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

College and Career Center Webpage: Access examples of job search websites, cover letters, resumes and more.

Click here to access contact info for our Military Recruiters