Is College For You? Try Trade Schools!

Hello Students,

I know the title of this post may seem a little odd, especially since this blog is about you students going to college.

You will find me saying that anyone can go to college, and I firmly believe this.  However, is that where everyone should go?  Is college for everyone?

Again, I firmly believe all students can succeed in college if they have the right support.  There are alternatives to this form of higher education!  A very solid and stable option would be to attend a Trade School!

Do not know much about them, or what they can offer?  Read on!

Trade schools (or Vocational schools) are institutions that teach students specific skills for specific jobs.  This means that the education you will receive may or may not be as well-rounded as the liberal arts education you will receive at college, and that is ok!

This type of education is very beneficial for those students who do not think the typical college experience is for them.  I have a good friend of mine who dropped out of a local college and became an electrician.  He enjoys his work AND is making a comfortable living (the schooling did not take as long either).

If this is the route you are thinking about taking, what you students have to decide is which trade sounds appealing to you?  Is it becoming an electrician, plumber, or working in such fields as interior design, hair styling, culinary or fashion?  These are viable options that trade schools offer to people.

The similarity in Trade School and a traditional four-year university, however, is that you still have to pay.  It probably will not be as much as your four-year university, but the tuition still has to be paid.  After conducting some research, I have found that students can apply for the FAFSA for their respective trade school.  This is good news!  If students cannot earn enough to pay for their tuition in financial aid, student loans are available.  If this does not sound like a good option, please refer to my earlier posting about student loans here.

I do believe that trade schools are a great option if you students think college may not be for your.  Granted, you still will be taking classes and completing school work, it is a different kind of schoolwork.  Trade Schools and College Universities is a great site that compares vocational and trade schools with traditional colleges.  If college is not what you think is right for you, please explore these options!