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Gayle Dudley |
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Types of Post-Secondary Degrees Available |
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POST SECONDARY OPTIONS
There are many opportunities available to students following graduation from high school. This section will explain the most common choices.1. Trade/ Technical 2. 2-Year Community/Junior College 3. 4-Year Colleges/Universities 4. Military 5. Apprenticeships 6. On-the-Job Training 7. Entrepreneurship 8. Two other options
Trade/ Technical Schools (Private—Proprietary—For Profit) These schools offer short-term programs for over 200 different trades or occupations. Examples include automobile mechanics, court reporting, computer technology, dog grooming, taxidermy, auctioneering, and cosmetology (hair styling.) These schools may seem expensive but this can be balanced by the fact that they are short-term. They get you in and out quickly and help to place you in a job. Many offer lifelong training updates for their graduates. Some have excellent partnerships with industry and business. They can adapt their curriculum quickly to meet current changes in the industry It is important to be a wise consumer when checking out technical/trade schools. Some may use high-pressure sales tactics such as offering discounts “if you sign the contract today.” Protect yourself by: · Asking to see their job placement record for recent graduates. · Asking to see statistics on how many graduates passed licensing/certification exams. · Contacting employers who are likely to hire their graduates and asking their opinions. · Contacting the Better Business Bureau to see if there is any history of complaints. · Contacting graduates and current students to see if they are satisfied with the school. · Visiting the campus and sitting through a day of classes. Does their equipment and teaching staff live up to the advertising claims? Is it up to date with current trends? Caution: Many technical schools demand a fast pace. Some students would be safer working through a less expensive program at a public community college that stretches the work out over a longer period. Know your limitations and shop around. Also look for a school that allows you to access federal financial aid. (This isn’t always possible in programs that are very short-term.) Examples of these schools that Steamboat students have attended include Art Institutes and Wyoming Tech.
2. Community/ Junior Colleges—Publicly Funded Two-year colleges are also known as community colleges or junior colleges. They usually offer the following options: · Certificate Programs (6 months to 2 years) A certificate program trains students in specific career skills in as short a time as possible. Academic courses are eliminated. Students can learn skills such as welding, automotive mechanics, HVAC, and computer technology. Caution: If students later wish to pursue an associates or bachelors degree, it is unlikely that they’ll receive transfer credit for certificate coursework. They would start at the beginning as college f Community Colleges—Continued · Associate of Applied Science (AAS) (2 years) This is a 2-year degree that focuses on career skills. It is assumed that the student will not be going on for further education. It may include a few core academic courses but most courses are geared toward career training.
· Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) (2 years) An associate degree allows entry to many jobs after 2 years but it is also designed to transfer to 4-year programs. Students study academic core courses in addition to specific career training courses. Coursework should transfer to most 4-year colleges as long as the community college is properly accredited.
Community colleges usually accept any person who has earned an accredited high school diploma or GED. Students will take placement tests to determine if they are ready for college level coursework. If they are not ready, they will pay tuition for remedial coursework and face some delays in reaching the college curriculum. Nevertheless, the system is designed to help people reach their goal, regardless of the starting point.
Other advantages of community college: · Less expensive. · Can often be found closer to home. · Small class sizes and teachers who focus on teaching rather than research. · No minimum high school GPA or test scores required. · Scholarships often recognize vocational & leadership skills. GPA and test scores don’t have to be as strong to be considered for scholarships at community colleges.
If a student knows he/she will be transferring to a 4-year program later, it is wise to work with advisors at both the community college and the 4-year college in advance to make sure that all coursework will transfer.
3. Private or Proprietary Colleges or Trade Schools These are schools that operate on a for-profit-basis. They may offer special training or faster tracks to obtain certifications or certificates. Examples of these type of schools include Wyoming Tech or the Art Institutes, and many cosmetology schools. They may offer national recognized certification (such as ASC certification for automotive trades) or a diploma such as a bachelors degree. These schools may get students in and out of training in a short time period, but tend to be fairly expensive. Most of these schools have students sign non-refundable contracts and may offer limited financial aid. Most do not have any dormitories. These schools appeal to a highly motivated student, with specific goals in mind. They offer have wonderful contacts with the professional world and may offer flexible schedules for adult students. Before enrolling in this type of school and signing a contract be sure to investigate the history and reliability of the school.
Examples of these schools that Steamboat students have enrolled in include Wyoming Technical College, Colorado Art Institute, Glenwood Cosmetology School, Woodward Technical College, California Institute of Fashion Design.
. 4-Year Colleges/Universities College, in the traditional sense of the word, means an institution offering coursework that leads to a 4-year bachelors degree or higher. This coursework will be a combination of general education courses, electives, and courses related to a specific major.
A university is actually a collection of colleges within one system. Universities usually have a liberal arts college as well as several others that specialize. For instance, the University of Colorado includes the following five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business and Administration, Engineering and Applied Science, and Music. Each of these may have its own set of entrance and degree requirements. Most of these schools require ACT or SAT test scores. The most common classifications for colleges and universities include: · State funded school: out-of-state students pay higher costs · Public or private school: residency is not tied to tuition costs
There are more than 2000 four-year colleges in the United States. The average annual cost for a public 4-year college is currently $9,000. For private 4-year colleges, it is $17,000. It is often possible to reduce these costs through scholarships and grants. Work-study and student loan programs also assist students in attaining a college degree. See pages 23-24 for specific admission requirements, and pages 50-54 for financial aid information. 5. Military Service The military offers young people: 1. A chance to serve your country. 2. Free training for a career and a chance to travel. 3. Housing & food allowances. 4. Free medical & dental care. 5. Regular promotions based on your abilities. 6. 30 days vacation with pay each year. 7. Bonuses for enlistment / re-enlistment in certain military jobs. 8. Savings from shopping at military stores (commissaries). 9. Free or low-cost entertainment & recreational facilities. 10. Advanced education at little or no cost. 11. Excellent retirement program with qualifying years of service. 12. Programs that build discipline, maturity, leadership, & confidence. 13. An advantage if seeking government employment after military service. 14. Financial assistance for college after military service. The military requires a serious commitment of several years. Young people cannot simply quit or leave if they do not like it. Training missions and international conflicts can also place military personnel in danger. Information about most military programs can be found at in the Internet section of this book.
Military Service—Continued There are three paths that a high school student can take to enter the armed services: · Enlisting A recruiter for each military branch (Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army) has been assigned to our school. Recruiters have offices at Craig or Glenwood Springs but do visit SSHS occasionally. All branches of the military websites can be found in the Internet resource section of this booklet.. For specific dates when recruiters will be in the Career/College Center check with the Center. These recruiters can provide specific information about the jobs and benefits available. Please see the Career/College Counselor if you need any assistance in reaching a recruiter. They will be glad to help. If a family finds that a recruiter is calling too often, clarify the recruiter’s name and branch of service. Politely state that you "are not interested and would prefer that they not call again." Be prepared to repeat this for each branch of the military that calls. If you hear from the same recruiter and/or branch of the service after telling them this, please contact the Career/College Counselor. Please be respectful of the recruiters when they call. They are on military assignment to our area and are simply doing their jobs. Many of them work hard to be a positive influence in our community. If you do not want to be contacted by the military at all, there is a form that parents may sign to not have student’s names given to recruiters. · ROTC 2, 3, and 4-year ROTC scholarships are available to outstanding students. College costs are covered by the military in exchange for military service after college graduation. Students live a civilian life during college years. They enter the military as commissioned officers. Discuss this options with the recruiters or contact the ROTC office at the college you plan to attend. In order to receive full benefits, this should be done during or before the freshmen year of college. · Military Academies These colleges are operated by the military: · Coast Guard Academy in New Groton, Connecticut · U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado · U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland · West Point Academy in West Point, New York These academies offer an outstanding free education but competition is fierce for the few spots available each year. To have a fighting chance, students must complete a very rigorous course of study and earn excellent grades and test scores. They must have strong leadership in sports and activities. They must also be very physically fit. Good eyesight is a plus when pursuing the U.S. Air Force Academy since new freshmen need to be pilot qualified by military standards. Students should see the Career/College Counselor as early in high school as possible if they are considering a military academy. Steamboat has a local representative that works closely with students and makes recommendations to the academies. Waiting until the senior year of high school is too late for this option. Students in the academies live a very strict military lifestyle without the same freedoms as civilian college students. They spend most of their summers in training programs. They owe a commitment to the military for several years after graduating.
Apprenticeships An apprenticed career is one learned through on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction. There are over 800 occupations that are available through an apprenticeship. A "formal" apprenticeship indicates that a written training plan has been filed with the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training Office. A formal journeyman card in these registered programs is recognized throughout the United States. A journeyman is a skilled craftsman who has completed an apprenticeship program and worked a specified number of years in that trade. The journeyman distinction allows craftsmen to work for labor unions and/or government projects for the higher wages mandated by federal "Davis-Bacon" wage laws. Many apprenticed careers are related to construction and manufacturing. (An example is the apprenticeship programs offered by TIC—The Industrial Company.) Apprentices are paid while they learn. The classroom instruction usually involves someone who has worked in that field for many years. Classroom lessons and workday experiences reinforce each other. Apprenticeship programs may be offered by companies, labor unions or in conjunction with a community college. Some apprenticeships can be started during the senior year of high school—through the CAREERS class. TIC has special arrangements available for Steamboat Springs High students who wish to enter the industrial construction field. See the Career/College Counselor about these opportunities. 7. On-the-job Training Nearly everyone’s first job would fall into this category. Most entry-level jobs involve sales or service. Many workers "get their foot in the door” through seasonal or temporary work. By working hard, they may be promoted to full-time positions that offer employee benefits such as health insurance, paid vacations, and retirement benefits. All jobs, no matter how menial, should be viewed as stepping-stones. Ask yourself what you can learn from the job and your co-workers that will be useful in the future. Being able to list a previous employer as a reference can be very helpful. Many trades are learned through on-the-job training. A smart worker looking to get ahead will watch for opportunities to learn from experienced co-workers. For example, many experienced (and well-paid) heavy equipment operators started as laborers. During breaks, they asked for the opportunity to operate dozers, scrapers, and backhoes in safe practice areas. As their skills improved and they earned a reputation for trustworthiness and safety-consciousness, they moved into the higher paying operator jobs. Even though their skills are not recognized by nationally registered programs, they can show a powerful list of skills on their construction resumes and can quickly prove themselves to new employers. 8. Entrepreneurship Emerson Klees in his book, Entrepreneurs in History: Success vs. Failure, (Cameo Press, Rochester, NY 1995) states "Determination, drive, motivation, and perseverance are critical qualities for an entrepreneur. They must be willing to take the individual responsibility to set goals, to solve problems, and to reach goals by their own striving." Luck is not the key factor. Rather, it is a matter of getting yourself to the right place at the right time. Entrepreneurs are prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. While they are sometimes inventors, more often they are the people who commercialize other’s ideas to a wider audience. Teenagers who run their own lawn care service or firewood service are entrepreneurs. They work for themselves. They must buy their equipment, recruit their customers, manage their time and money, and file the correct paperwork with various government agencies. Entrepreneurship—continued FBLA is an extracurricular programs at Steamboat Springs High School that teach entrepreneurial skills. Business Law, Accounting, and E-Business are helpful courses, as well. The CAREERS class has an opportunity for students to be the boss of a company that was donated to the school several years ago. If this is something that you are interested in, see the CAREERS teacher during your junior year. The Small Business Center is located at Colorado Mountain College offers individual counseling and entrepreneurship workshops. There are local business owners who are willing to discuss entrepreneurship and small business ownership with teens. Please let the Career/College Counselor know of your interests. TWO ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Americorps is a national service program in which individuals work for 1 or 2 years helping communities with their education, public safety and environmental needs. After a year of service, students receive an educational award of about $5,000 to help pay for college or other postsecondary training. Go to www.americorps.org for information.
Traveling abroad for a year following graduation may help many students find out more about themselves. There are many programs that work with students to do this. The local Rotary club has a program – contact a Rotary member for more information. Also consider AFS – American Field Service at www.afs.org/usa.
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