As your high school student begins to discover his or her interests and options for a career, college is the most common option. However, there are other paths your child can take after high school that can cater to his or her interests and offer a fruitful learning experience and preparation for a rewarding career. If your high school student is not interested in pursuing higher education, it’s important to present options that are just as exciting.
From trade schools to entrepreneurship opportunities, your high school student can find inspiration and motivation to succeed after secondary education. Here are some options to consider.
Trade Schools
Trade schools also referred to as vocational schools, offer your child a career-focused program in a variety of fields. When attending a trade school, students receive hands-on training and hands-on experience in a field they are seeking. Most trade schools do not require general education courses that colleges require, and instead focus on industry preparation and experience.
High school students interested in trade schools have several options when it comes to a field or discipline. For instance, some trade schools focus on preparing students for the manufacturing, construction and technology fields. Other trades schools focus on healthcare fields with clinical hours required in medical settings.
There are also trade schools focused on the liberal arts that can prepare your child for a career in art or music, as well as trade schools that prepare students for a career in cosmetology, electrical work, automotive, welding, law enforcement, animal care, dental clinics, food services and hospitality. The best way to determine if a trade school is a viable option is to schedule a tour and visit to see the ins and outs of the program. Inquire about job placement and financial scholarships available, as well as the length of the program, which is not as lengthy as a four-year university or college.
Self-Paced Programs
Similar to online schools, a self-paced program can prepare high school graduates for a variety of careers. Certain jobs do not require formal education, so a self-paced learning program may be the best option. For instance, students interested in illustration and animation, computer programming and coding, design, or video production can teach themselves the skills with free online resources or opt for a paid program through an accredited institution online.
Many of these self-paced programs also offer live instructors and training on how to be an entrepreneur. This approach allows your student to take their education and career training into their own hands.
Travel Careers
For students who love to travel and explore their options elsewhere, a travel career might be a satisfying alternative to college. While you may need the funds to begin a journey, travel careers could involve working on a cruise ship to learn a new skill, taking scenic photographs for magazines, newspapers and online companies, or engage in travel writing as a freelancer. This alternative to college does take some planning and resources but can offer your child a cultural experience that college cannot provide.
Apprenticeships
If your child is confident in working in a trade, it may not even be necessary to enroll in a trade school if an apprenticeship is available. For instance, owners of plumbing firms, electricians and HVAC professionals are often looking for students to train and eventually take on a more prominent role within their companies.
While an apprenticeship can be paid or unpaid, students gain from on-the-job experiences and learn a new trade from the experts. If they do well, they also have a confirmed job long-term, typically.
Military Options
Many high school students opt to enter the military following high school vs attending college. This is a serious commitment, though, and takes some time and careful consideration. With several branches of the military, it’s important to meet with recruiters from each branch to learn about the qualifications needed to enlist and the expectations during service.
Enlisting in the military can provide your student with a strong foundation and additional funds to attend a trade school or college in the future. Joining the military gives individuals an opportunity to train for a variety of fields, including aviation, engineering, human resources and computer networking. This commitment also requires the ability to work well with others and make sacrifices for the country.
Entrepreneurship
Students with a business idea and the resources to launch a start-up or company may love what comes with entrepreneurship. This alternative to college may involve turning a hobby into a career and providing products and/or services to the community. The best way to begin this journey is to think about your child’s basic skills, knowledge of business and marketing, and ability to put ideas into action.
Even a small company can develop into something much larger with hard work and commitment. To prepare, you may want to encourage your student to take a marketing or business seminar or workshop at a local community center or vocational-technical college to see if he or she enjoys what lies ahead with entrepreneurship.
Management
Many high school students have part-time jobs while attending classes. These part-time jobs can lead to bigger and better opportunities if your child is interested in management. Think about how to prepare for management by having your child inquire about the opportunities, benefits and proposed salaries of management at his or her current job.
Many companies in a variety of industries are looking for strong leaders to rise from the ranks. If this is something that sounds appealing to your student, suggest he or she shadow a manager in his or her desired field to see what the job entails. It may also be helpful to enroll in a management class, workshop or seminar to learn more about what is expected of leaders in today’s workforce.
Helping Your High School Student Make the Best Choice
Now that you’re aware of the alternatives to college for your child, it’s time to dig deeper. Before making a final choice, consider the following:
What is the best learning environment for your student? Evaluate how your child learns and what type of environment would enhance learning. For example, does your high school student thrive in a self-paced environment or is hands-on learning much more beneficial?
What are the job opportunities? Ultimately, the goal is a career after high school. Do some research to determine the job opportunities in his or her chosen field, including researching salary expectations, job satisfaction, and job environments.
What did you observe? It’s very important to visit potential trade schools and apprentice opportunities when determining alternatives to college. Have your child make a list of what he or she liked about the program and then help him or her make an informed decision. All of these observations can help you to assess whether or not the option is a good fit for your child. You can also trust your gut feeling following a visit.
What does your student want? Although the ultimate decision may not be left up to your child completely, it’s important to get his or her insight, especially when visiting trade schools or military recruiters. Did your child seem more enthused about one option versus another? Sit down with your child to truly see what he or she is comfortable with before making a final decision. You may be surprised that your child’s gut feeling is just as strong as yours.
Financial Support for Educational Endeavors
You are not alone when choosing the right college alternative for your child. In fact, the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is here to help make any type of educational or career transition as smooth as possible for adults and children alike.
The Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is available to assist with furthering involvement in educational endeavors and student success. The mission of the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation is to build foundations for the future by providing educational assistance to children and adults who are members of families with low to moderate incomes. Learn more about these opportunities at https://www.weinereducationfoundation.org/.