Two-Year Colleges
Two-year colleges provide courses that help students earn their associate degree. They are generally the equivalent of the freshman and sophomore years of four-year university. Community colleges generally focus on two-year associate’s degree programs and one-year certificate programs. Two-year colleges may be either public or private. The most common two-year college is the public community college.
Examples include Normandale Community College, North Hennepin Community College, and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
Four-Year Colleges
Four-year colleges are either public or private schools that allow students to earn their bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is often required for various entry-level positions. These schools offer a wide variety of programming and can vary in size.
Examples include both public universities and state schools like the University of Minnesota and Mankato State University as well as private schools like St. Olaf, Gustavus and the University of St. Thomas.
.
Technical Colleges
Technical colleges are educational programs for specific skilled trades, technology and applied sciences. Most technical colleges offer associate degrees, certificates or diplomas. Many are two years in duration and intended for students who want to enter the workforce directly after they complete their programming.
Examples include Dakota County Technical College, Hennepin Technical College and Dunwoody College of Technology.
.
Military
Joining the military provides students with the opportunity to serve their country, receive training opportunities in addition to educational programming. Students often work with a recruiter to ensure a successful transition between high school and the military. Students who would like to pursue a college degree before they complete their service commitment can apply for a ROTC program.
Examples include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force.
.
Some students choose to take a year-off after high school graduation and pursue a Gap Year. There are many programs that exist in which students can travel or participate in service opportunities. There is no set "track" for doing a gap year, but we recommend checking out the Gap Year Program Guide to get an idea of what is out there.
There are many ways you can start to research and develop plan for life after high school. We recommend that you take advantage of our course offerings at the high school to begin to see what a career in a given field may be like.
Naviance also offers many resources to help you find the job that is best suited for you. It also includes information about required preparation and schooling. Log into Naviance in your PLHS student portal and check out the Careers Tab for more info.
Writing a resume is an important part of joining the workforce. It is often difficult to figure out how to format your resume, as many examples found online are from people in the workforce already. Use Naviance's resume tool to help you figure out what information is best to include and how to format it to highlight your best skills.
Have a job already? Consider applying to our work program with Ms. Rutt. For more information, check out our registration guide.