By GreatSchools Staff
College is not for everyone. Your child may have reasons to delay it or forgo it altogether. But that doesn't mean he can afford to skip getting the training he needs to succeed.
There are good jobs and salaries available in fields from biotech to 3-D animation. They don't require a bachelor's degree, but they do require a solid academic foundation and technical skills.
Kids who decide not to go straight to a four-year college come in all shapes and sizes: They include the student who is clearly focused on a specific career as an auto mechanic or chef, the student who lacks the academic preparation or confidence in his ability to succeed in college, and the student who may simply need more time to figure out what she wants to do before she sees a reason to pursue a college education.
While the focus in most high schools is on moving kids from high school to a four-year college, vocational education - now called career and technical education - is getting more attention and some funding at the state and federal level. In an economy that requires stronger technical skills, career and technical ed looks a lot different than the vocational ed you might remember. It is more likely to include robotics than wood shop.
Here's how you can help your child prepare to enter the workplace if he's not planning to go to a four-year college:
Your student still needs a strong foundation in core academic subjects. In an economy changing as quickly as ours, all kids will need to learn new skills as their jobs change. After all, today's auto mechanics need to understand how to work on cars with sophisticated computerized systems, and chefs need to have a grasp of the science of cooking.
ACT documented the need for math and reading knowledge in a 2006 study. The study compared the skills needed for college success with the skills needed in entry-level jobs that provide opportunities for advancement and incomes high enough to support a family. It concluded that students need the same reading and math knowledge whether they are headed for college or directly to work.
Dual enrollment offers many high school students a way to earn both high school and college credit for classes taken at a community college. Because community colleges have facilities and technical programs not available in high school, this can be a great way to get a head start on a career.
"Middle College" programs offer similar opportunities for high school students to spend their school day at a community college and earn a diploma and up to two years of college credit. You can read more about middle college on GreatSchools in Alternate Routes to High School Success. Talk to your child's counselor to find out about whether any of these options are available near you.
Your child will likely need to look at a community college or technical training program after high school to prepare for the job he wants.
There are lots of reasons to consider community college. It's a far less expensive way to pursue post-high school education than going directly to a technical program or a four-year college, a key consideration for the student who is unsure of his career direction. Community colleges offer technical training programs, and they also typically have smaller classes than four-year colleges. That means that in addition to getting technical training, your child can sample college-level academic classes in a less stressful setting than the typical large state university. You can learn more by reading the College Board's Why Community Colleges?. They Teach That in Community College? A Resource Guide to 70 Interesting College Majors and Programs may help you get your student thinking.
Technical schools can be expensive, and they may not offer the training your student needs to get a job. Some questions to ask before investing time and money:
To learn more, read Choosing a Career or Vocational School on the Federal Trade Commission's Web site.
It may be hard for parents who grew up in a less competitive era to understand, but an increasing number of students who've spent years building their academic credentials with AP classes are asking for a breather before going to college. Your child may have the academic preparation for college but feel too burned out to take advantage of it right now. A gap year may be just the thing to get him recharged and focused on what he wants out of an education.
More and more colleges are allowing students to apply, then defer enrollment while they gain life experience and perhaps, a more international perspective. There are programs for students to help villagers build homes in Latin America or work in health clinics in Africa. Princeton University is formalizing the process by offering students financial aid for a gap year. An industry has grown up to place students in overseas programs for a gap year, a concept much more common in Europe than in the United States.
These programs can be a great way to help a student focus on career goals, but they generally cost money rather than providing a means to earn it. It's important for your student - whether she's applied to college or is not ready to do so - to understand the real cost of a gap year program. Talk to your child's college counselor for ideas about researching financial aid options for a gap year.
Finally, try to encourage your child to keep his options open. He may change his mind -many times. The global marketplace will change even more. There will be jobs in 2020 that most of us haven't imagined yet and careers that now look like lifelong paths may simply be first steps into an unknown future.
If your child needs some direction, the Occupational Outlook Handbook [http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm] by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a wealth of information about jobs, including the training and education needed, earnings, job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions.
Encourage your child to pursue his interests. The kid who loves playing games online may indeed grow up to invent them. But he'll also need to focus on school so he can learn how to think analytically, solve problems and become a lifelong learner.
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