College is not for everyone, but that does not mean you shouldn’t pursue some sort of higher education or job training. When you think about your future, what do you envision? Are you doing something you love, or are you just working for a pay check?
If you are one of the many who is trying to make a decision
about where to spend your money and invest your future, read on. This article
provides a comparison of 4-year colleges and technical schools. Which one is
right for you?
How to choose between 4-year colleges and technical schools:
Ask yourself these questions and then consider the benefits
and disadvantages of each type of school.
What are your goals? Do you have a specific career goal?
What are your educational goals? Do you want to learn as much as you can about
a variety of subjects? Do you want to learn as much as you can about one
specific topic (become an expert)?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Would you benefit from
a shorter more targeted program?
Lifestyle. How will school fit into your life? Would you
benefit from non-traditional scheduling such as online, evening, or distance
learning? 4-year colleges and technical colleges both offer such options, but
it varies by school so check with any schools you are interested in attending.
What do you need? Realistically, what sort of degree or
training do you need to pursue your dreams? Research your desired field--know
what the requirements are and how they compare to the programs you are considering.
The US Department of Education website offers resources for career and training
research.
Be a consumer. Check equipment; is it new and up-to-date?
How does it compare to the equipment you will be using on the job? Trust me,
this can be tedious but it is quite important. After graduation I realized I
should have taken more time to research the computer programs employers
expected me to know for technical writing jobs. Had I been better informed, I
could have taken extra courses dealing specifically with those programs.
Investigate the following: campus size, current and former
students, faculty and staff;
Find out if the school is accredited and licensed; Do they
make extraordinary claims? Will your credits be transferable?
4-year Colleges
Some people like to learn just for the sake of learning,
while some are more focused and driven and use school as a steppingstone for
job advancement. If you are interested in more scholarly pursuits a traditional
4-year college might be your best option.
Benefits: liberal arts training applies to many fields,
diverse topics to explore, prestige, “college life”
Disadvantages: expensive, time consuming, may get degree in
area you no longer wish to pursue, high admission standards and prerequisites,
job market may be slower upon graduation-may require additional training
Technical Schools
If college was for everyone, technical schools would not
exist. Some people may feel a stigma is attached to technical schools. In a
society where attending college has become standard, we lose sight of the value
of skills training. People feel abnormal and may be angry if they don’t want to
go to college but feel pressured to do so anyway.
Benefits: shorter duration, focused programs, easier
admission standards, flexible scheduling, certifications not necessarily
offered at 4-year colleges, hands on training
Disadvantages: may be viewed as less prestigious, can be
expensive, may be less room for exploration of other subjects, accreditation,
for-profit institutions
Many of the fastest growing jobs do not require a bachelor’s
degree but do require post-secondary education (education beyond high school)
These jobs include:
• Medical
Assistants
• Social
and human service assistants
• Home
health aides
• Medical
records and health information technicians
• Physical
therapist aides
• Physical
therapist assistants
• Fitness
trainers and aerobics instructors
• Veterinary
technologists and technicians
• Hazardous
materials removal workers
• Dental
hygienists
• Occupational
therapist aides
• Dental
assistants
• Personal
and home care aides
• Self-enrichment
education teachers
• Occupational
therapist assistants
• Environmental
science and protection technicians, including health
• Preschool
teachers, except special education
• Respiratory
therapists
For more information on job growth statistics see the Bureau
of Labor Statistics webpage.
Remember, the best way to determine what is right for you is
to simply know yourself and be informed.
Comments