So, your teenager has finished high school. In most families, while in school, they were encouraged to take advanced level courses designed to help them pass their college entrance exams. School counselors and teachers may have filled their heads with dreams of earning large sums of money with the fancy alphabet soup credentials they could display after their names.
Then your teenager shocks you by declaring they’re not interested in going to college, and that they want to go attend trade school. A Bachelor’s Degree means not just taking the courses for your major, but also a lot of general classes that many believe are a waste of time. There’s nothing wrong with learning philosophy, art, or public speaking. It’s the idea of paying money to take such classes that many sees as having no relevance in the field of their work.
Is there a specific type of high school my teenager has to attend?
It’s not necessary to go to any particular type of school prior to applying for trade school. Any of the many types of American schools, charter, public, private, etc., will provide a student the basic education they need to be prepared for trade school entrance exams. Their biggest decision when considering attending a trade school will be deciding what field they wish to enter.
Encourage them to keep their grades up.
Don’t let your teenager think that because they’re considering “just” a trade school that they can slack off on their math and science classes, or any of their classes. Many trades require a person to have knowledge in these areas. An electrician cannot be ignorant about math. If they hope to one day run their own company, they’ll want to have good language skills for communication with a variety of customers.
What’s the Advantage of Attending a Trade School?
A couple of the many advantages to attending trade school instead of college are that the student is more likely to find work in their chosen field after completing their education. In addition, job prospects in the skilled trades are better. Trade schools teach using a combination of classroom and hands-on instruction. So, rather than four years of theory, the student is immediately applying the skills they’re learning about in class to the real world.
The trade industry offers a wide variety of career offerings. Students can choose to be a Cosmetologist, an Electrician, a Plumber, a Welder, and so on. A reputable trade school will help the student decide on whether to pursue certification or a full licensure program. It will explain what sort of continuing education each field requires, also.
Is Trade School the Only Other Option?
A viable alternative to a trade school is to get accepted to an apprenticeship program. These programs generally teach while the student is on the job. This allows them to be earning a living while learning the skills needed for a career. Your state’s employment office is a good place to start to get information about what sort of programs exist in your area. A person in an apprenticeship program must be able to accept direction every day as part of the learning process.
How do they get ready to take their licensing exam?
Exam preparation is also an important part of any good trade school. Many schools are now offering online courses with 24/7 access. When choosing a school, find out if their test prep courses are for just your state of residence or if they offer test prep courses for other states as well. While some may prefer to remain within their immediate geographic area, others may wish to spread their wings and expand into other areas.
Making decisions about what career to pursue after graduating from high school is a big responsibility. The student needs to consider their own interests, what they’re best at, and what sort of financial responsibility they want to assume. They also need to think about what type of commitment they want to make. Attending trade school means making it to class for a period of time before they start working. An apprenticeship means showing up for work every day.
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