Alternatives to College

While Colleges and Universities are a very publicized way to get an education after school, there are many alternatives that may work better and be less financially burdening

By: Jefferson Rich

When it comes to choosing your life path as you become an adult, it can be overwhelming. Many see college as the only option to choose from. Factors like their parents saying that is the best option for them or that a family friend became successful after going to college are good examples for why college may be seen as the only good option for post-K-12 education. However, there are noteworthy alternatives high school students should consider.

Different paths after high school include working at an entry-level job, getting an apprenticeship, trade/vocational schools, becoming an entrepreneur, joining the military, internships, mission work, or the Peace Corps. There are many pros and cons when it comes to all of these options, and it’s important to consider what you want to do before making a decision.

Some pros of going to college include meeting people/networking, possibly a higher-paying job, and a more specialized profession. Some cons of college include potentially financially crippling student debt, stress, and fewer hands-on learning opportunities.

Vocational trade skills may be more practical skills to possess if you already know what kind of job you want, or what specifically you want to do. Some pros to trade/vocational schools include less time spent being educated, considerably cheaper tuition compared to college, and getting a more personal feel for the school and business environment. Cons of going to trade/vocational schools include a limited number of schools in most areas, and trade jobs are generally more dangerous than college jobs.

Michael Plummer, Tool and Die repairman says about the topic of danger in working at a vocational job, that “It can be very dangerous”.

Some vocational jobs can be dangerous because you work with hazardous materials. Hazardous materials you may encounter in vocational jobs include electricity, fire, sharp, heavy, and fragile objects. If you wish to work at a job where there is no risk of injury, vocational jobs may not be for you. The risk of injury in these jobs does lend to the benefits of better job security and ease of finding a job, which is always a plus.

Plummer says about the topic of ease of finding vocational jobs to work at, that “it isn’t very hard, no”. In recent times less and fewer people seem to be working in the vocational field, so it is easier to get and keep a vocational job. The reason for this seems to be that people want jobs that don't include risks or much manual labor. That makes sense, but those jobs don’t have as good job security and don’t seem to pay as well, especially in entry-level positions at most vocational jobs.

Plummer says about the topic of pay in vocational jobs, that “yes, vocational jobs usually pay well” Most vocational jobs pay well even with little education. There are two main types of education for the vocational field: getting a degree or certificate at a trade school, and on-the-job training/apprenticeships. A lot of jobs will pay you more or value you more for having on-the-job training compared to a degree. Plummer says about the topic of what training for vocational jobs is the best, that “on the job training and experience are valued most”

One plausible reason employers may value on-the-job training over a degree is that most vocational jobs are technical and sometimes dangerous. If they have someone who has seen how to do things on the job the person will be able to do things more efficiently and have a lesser risk of getting injured. At the end of the day, every option is good for someone, so it is up to you to decide what is best for you.