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ALTERNATIVES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
ALTERNATIVES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
ALTERNATIVES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
WHEN A 4-YEAR COLLEGE IS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE
WHEN A 4-YEAR COLLEGE IS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE
College isn’t for everyone, plain and simple. There are many solid ways that you can live a proud life and make a good living without going to college. There are numerous careers in healthcare, technology, operations, transportation, building trades, and much more, that do not require a four-year degree. Education is critical; college is not.
Before you go further, read this article.
So, if you are not college-bound right after high school, what are some of your alternatives?
“What’s next?” seems like a simple question, but answering it can be a complex process. Remember: It’s okay to NOT know what to do next. The perfect job for you may be one you haven’t yet heard of; the career path you think is too hard or costly may actually be within reach; the job you thought you wanted may not be a good fit at all. Exploring options is an important first step down the path. The important thing is to stay open to new ideas, search out new information, and keep trying on different ideas to see what brings out the best in you.
The first thing you need to do is analyze yourself. Think about what you might want to do now and in the future.
Ask yourself these questions -
Ask yourself these questions -
What inspires you to get involved?
What are you passionate about?
What makes you feel energized mentally, emotionally, and physically?
What are you doing when you lose track of time?
When you’re talking with the most excitement, what are you talking about?
What ideas, images, or people keep showing up in your life?
Explore –
Explore –
Talk to someone who does the job you are interested in and visit them at their workplace. Perhaps you can job-shadow someone - go with them to their job and ask questions, watch what they do, look for internship or apprentice opportunities.
Volunteer in an area that interests you.
Take an online or community college class to explore an area of interest.
Use online tools to help you explore your interests and see what's a good fit:
Career Cafe: insights and tools to help you identify your career direction.
California Career Zone: will help you analyze your interests and explore careers.
See the federal government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. For hundreds of different types of jobs, this site has information about the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.
Read 300 Best Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree, by Michael Farr.
After some personal reflection, look at the options available below. Research them and find the one that fits your needs to accomplish your goals.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS & ASSOCIATES DEGREES
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS & ASSOCIATES DEGREES
Community colleges offer a myriad of 1-2 year certificate and associates degree programs designed to train students for the entry-level workforce. Areas of concentration can include criminal justice, architecture technology, digital media, web design, cyber-security, kinesiology, business, computer information systems, construction, culinary arts, dental care, sign language, education, and much more. Many of these curriculum offer pathways to transfer to a 4-year college, if you later desire to do so. Classes are relatively inexpensive and admission is easy. Many students work part-time to pay their way. The below 2 community colleges are within commuting distance from Sale Creek including the ones listed below, but you are not limited only to these. You can find any community college here.
Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland State Community College Cleveland, TN
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Vocational schools provide a narrow course of study focused on providing the training and skills students need for a specific job. Vocation schools have programs for computer information systems, cosmetology, automotive/aircraft technology, medical assistance, interior design, electronics technology, paralegal work, construction workers, chefs, and many more. Looks at ads for job positions you are interested in, and then call the employers to learn what kinds of training and experience will be meaningful and if they recommend any particular program. Be sure to find a vocational school that is accredited. You should research the placement record of its graduates for the program you are considering. Most of these schools offer career counseling; others are more proactive - sponsoring career fairs and other opportunities in which students can connect directly with prospective employers about both apprenticeships and jobs. Each school has its own admissions criteria, but expect to complete an application and submit your high-school transcript or copy of your GED. While vocational schools can be a cheaper alternative to a four-year college, you’ll still have tuition, fees, and books. Many schools offer financial aid, and you should not be shy to ask each school about what you can expect in terms of grants, scholarships, and loans.
For help in choosing a vocation school, visit the Federal Trade Commission website.
Click here Career Schools in Chattanooga TN for a list of vocational programs around Chattanooga, TN. You can sort by region.
Click here for a list of vocational programs within the entire U.S. You can search by program and location.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2015, 15 million individuals in America were self-employed; that’s about 10% of the workforce. With drive, initiative, and a quality product, it may be more attainable than you think to make it on your own.
Would you like to learn how to turn your resourcefulness into a way to start a business? Most communities have a Small Business Development Center led by the Small Business Administration. Most of these are connected with colleges and provide inexpensive or free training courses in business topics. Assistance from these centers is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business. The Small Business Administration even has a program specifically designed for teens.
The Small Business Administration has a list of Small Business Development offices.
The Small Business Administration has information for teens to learn more about Starting and Managing your own business, including many free online courses in Young Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Buying a Business, and much more.
This has a youth entrepreneur curriculum called “What’s the Buzz on Biz.
Junior Achievement has lots of resources directed at high school students, including a Business Start-Up kit.
Young Entrepreneurship Resources including the Education, Training and Enterprise Center has the New Youth Enterprise curriculum.
APPRENTICESHIPS
APPRENTICESHIPS
An apprenticeship is a centuries-old, formalized job training program. You “earn while you learn” as an apprentice – acquiring valuable vocational skills on the job. Apprenticeships are available not only in the manufacturing sector, but also in service, retail, and government trades. Apprenticeships give employers the opportunity to train you the way they want you to be trained and to see how you do on the job. Afterwards, companies are likely to hire the people they’ve trained – if they are workers who have not only learned the skills, but have also demonstrated a good work ethic and dependability.
The federal Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services website provides information on how to begin an apprenticeship and provides links to national apprenticeship programs, as well as programs in your own area that especially focus on young adults.
DVC Pre-Apprenticeship Program: This program is designed with the career-focused student in mind. This fast-paced program puts students on track to a career in the building trades. Students will receive the training they need for a new and exciting career in a number of apprenticeship programs, including:
Electrician
Carpenter
Plumber
Laborer
Ironworker
Steamfitting
Pipefitting
And more!
EMERGENCY SERVICES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
EMERGENCY SERVICES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Firefighting, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), and Police work can be very rewarding careers. Each agency will have its own educational requirements, and the training and hiring processes can take anywhere between several weeks to 18 months, depending upon the program. You may be able to take some of the required courses at a community college. Remember, you are setting an example for your community, so you must maintain a clean background and lifestyle.
For more information about becoming an EMT or firefighter, read Becoming a Firefighter: 10 must-do things.
TIME OFF
TIME OFF
Some people need a little time to decide what their next steps should be, and when they return, have a clear vision for their future. Time off can be for a semester, a year, or more. There are several productive things you can do during this phase, and many structured Gap Year programs are available.
TRAVEL: You can travel and explore some other part of the world. Traveling is a great way to experience other cultures, learn more about you, and equip yourself with cultural knowledge to apply in the global economy. If you have some money, you can find innovative and cheap ways to explore the world on your own. There are also several structured Gap Year programs available. If you don’t have money, look into student exchange programs, employment on cruise ships, or becoming an au pair or nanny for a family in another country.
VOLUNTEER: While you are trying to find your place in the world, why not spend some time after high school making a difference? While you may be familiar with the Peace Corps, they actually prefer college graduates. So you might instead consider looking locally or consider such national programs as AmeriCorps, with offers 17-24 year-olds the chance to make a difference through a national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S., as well as the Student Conservation Association, which has conservation programs (jobs and internships) throughout the U.S. for adults 18 and older.
JOB: Test the waters by holding down a full-time job. Go into it thinking this is a temporary situation while you sort things out, and be open-minded about what you do and see. This will keep you thinking about a plan for your future, rather than stopping here. Explore an area of interest, learn what the work day is like, see how much money you can earn, and what career opportunities are available for those with little training. You’ll be able to talk to workers in that field to gain a broader understanding of that industry and how you can fit into it. Ask what their training path was and visualize yourself doing the same. You’ll earn money while clarifying your future ambitions; sometimes opportunities or ideas arise that you may never have considered.
Visit the Gap Year Programs page.
Visit this link to learn more about some travel, academic, and volunteer programs.
See links to job websites below under JOBS
MILITARY
MILITARY
Some people make a career out of it, while others use it as a training ground so that they can apply what they’ve learned to the civilian workforce, or pursue a college education after a few years of service.
Some people make a career out of it, while others use it as a training ground so that they can apply what they’ve learned to the civilian workforce, or pursue a college education after a few years of service.
Areas of work for enlisted personnel (those without a college degree) can include, but are not limited to:
- Intelligence specialists
- Information technology
- Healthcare
- Electronics
- Administration
- Construction
- Machine operations
- Protective services
- Media specialists
- Transportation
- Mechanics (vehicle, equipment)
- Environmental health
- Food service
- Religious program specialists
- Trainers / Recruiters
Beyond the form of service, the practical benefits of being in the military are another reason to consider joining:
Structured training programs.
Free health care for you and your family.
Lower cost of living if residing on base.
Tuition is paid for while in service, should you decide to earn a degree at some point. You have a variety of online learning options, and many military bases have satellite classrooms in prominent colleges. You can also take advantage of the GI Bill once your active service is complete and get some of your education paid for, depending on your time on active duty.
Travel the world – while certainly not the point of military service, this is a benefit that shouldn’t be ignored.
30 days of vacation per year. The average number of days for civilian workers is 17.
Retirement with benefits after 20 years of service. For an 18 year old, that means you can retire from the service at 38. You’ll have time to pursue another career or continue your line of work in the civilian workforce. While you likely won’t be able to live entirely off those retirement benefits for the rest of your life, you’ll have much less to worry about financially.
Visit these websites:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: information on military careers
JOB
JOB
Some students prefer to head directly to the workforce right out of high school. Nothing helps more with the transition to adulthood than holding down a full-time job. If you plan to get a job right out of high school, your goal should be to move away from the companies that typically hire teens for part-time work to employers that can provide a future. Often larger employers have more opportunities, training programs, and room for advancement, so start your search there. Also, identify employers whose product or services interests you, and whose culture you respect.
Conside training programs such as these:
South East Youth Corps offers a challenging education and job-training experience that helps youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives
National Retail Federation: Everything you wanted to know about retail careers. Find the resources to get the career you want and learn about the endless possibilities in the retail industry.
Search job websites:
idealist.org (also includes paid and unpaid internships and volunteer opportunities)
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