College or Career? 4 Different Educational Paths for Prospective Students

In some cases, it may be best to take a year off after high school or skip college altogether. Let’s look at some alternate pathways for those looking to find an educational solution that works best for them.

Take Advanced Placement Courses in High School

By taking advanced placement courses during high school, it may be possible to accumulate college credits before you get your diploma. This allows you to skip one or more classes during your freshman year, and that could allow you to graduate up to a semester early.

You may also be interested in taking college courses during the summer before your freshman year to further accelerate your path toward a degree. It may also be a good idea to see if your high school offers college courses for those who have finished their school year early.

Typically, AP courses finish weeks before the traditional school year does. If you are a junior or senior, it may be possible to complete specialized programs that offer college credit instead of just sitting around in study hall all day.

Complete Your Education at Home Online

Homeschooling has been around for decades, but the internet has allowed students to take classes online from certified teachers. Completing your education in a homeschool setting may be ideal because you focus more on your lesson and less on what others are doing in the classroom. You also don’t have friends to distract you or other stimuli that interferes with your ability to concentrate.

Taking classes online may be ideal because it makes the content more interactive. It also helps students get comfortable with using computers and the internet, which has become a staple in the 21st century. This may help to build the foundation for a future career either with a traditional employer or by leveraging applications to make money.

Take College Classes Online

Taking college classes online gives you the ability to get an education without having to quit your job. This is because you can watch a video, respond to a lecture or otherwise get your work done when it is convenient for you. As online programs may take two years or less to complete, you won’t waste time waiting for a degree that you may need to get your dream job or earn a promotion.

Get Certified by Your Employer

If you are looking to start a career driving a truck, working on vehicles or something similar, it may be possible for your employer to help you get an education. Specialized certification programs may be available to help you get the skills that you need in a short period of time.

Once you have been certified, you can then find a job that may offer additional training opportunities. All of this may occur without the need to get a formal college degree or spend any money paying for your certifications. Best of all, you may be able to find work in a field offering starting salaries as high as $100,000 a year.

There are many different ways to get the education needed to find a job. Whether you choose to get a traditional degree, choose to get certified through an employer or want to go to school online, there are options that fit your needs and your budget. This eliminates the need to forego your education in lieu of getting a job or delaying the start of your career to continue your education.

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College Financing reference:

finding money for college guide

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