After High School: What to Do? College vs. Trade School

March 8, 2024
A woman is sitting on a desk in a classroom talking on a cell phone.

Years ago, when I spent 6 years as a high school counselor, we encouraged our students to attend college. We helped them find a college who offered the major they wanted. We also looked for ways for them to be able to pay for it. Some received athletic scholarships, others received a variety of scholarships and grants depending on their circumstances. There was one thing that was troublesome to all of us: the rising cost of college to the point of ridiculousness.


This blog is intended to address some of the issues around attending college vs. trade school.


COLLEGE


1. If you know the career you would like to pursue, before you enroll in college, check on the availability of actual jobs in that career. Business Insider lists a group of jobs comparing the annual pay for 2022 and  projected pay for 2032. This includes the education required for each job.  They have a well-rounded selection of jobs ranging from a high school diploma to a master’s or doctorate degree, but most are a bachelor’s degree. Health care and computers are two of the most popular types of jobs, but some of the trades are also in the list that includes outstanding pay.


2. If the career you want does require a 4-year (or more) degree, shop for the college that would best meet your needs. If living on campus is necessary, make sure you are familiar with the dorm situation. When I took my daughter college shopping, we had tours of several colleges and universities that had the major she was interested in pursuing. We knew what we were looking for, however; we let the tour guide tell us about the college before asking questions. We were trying to get the truest picture of the campus and what they had to offer by not putting words into their mouths.

One college really stood out in our minds when we noticed only some of the dorms had air conditioning. This was an area where sweltering, humid air was common. We were told that what determined whether you had a room with air conditioning or not was the number of credits you had. Usually, Juniors and Seniors had air conditioning and the others could buy a fan. That college was scratched from the list. Living off-campus was not an option; there was no place close to rent.


Pre-college visits are very important to get an idea of what feels comfortable to the individual student. We visited several between her Junior and Senior year of High School.


Here are some take-aways from that trip.


1. Several of the schools were located in the eastern part of the United States. We were from the West. The culture of each area was totally different, not bad, just different. Consider the culture of the area when making a choice. The student’s personality needs to be considered. You want them to be comfortable wherever they attend college, and the culture of the general area does make a difference.

2. Have a list of questions that are important to you while viewing each college. This can be a mental list or written down. We had a check list which we used after each visit. We also wrote down anything else we wanted to remember so we could adequately compare the colleges.

3. If your student is planning to live on campus, make sure you see the dorms. The difference in the dorms from one college to the next was huge. Some were very nice with a bathroom located in each room. Others had one common bathroom at the end of each hall. Also, some rooms served 2 girls while others served 3 or 4 depending on the configuration and how much you wanted to pay.

4. Is the campus secure? Some seem to have no real security, while others are fenced and gated with armed security guards at each entrance.

5. Will it be possible to complete a 4-year program in 4 years? Some colleges make it difficult to get all the classes needed for a chosen major within the 4-year time frame. This leads to many additional expenses. Many colleges now have the option of taking some of the classes online and attending others at the same time so that they all fit into the schedule.

6. Each person will have other things that they need to consider, so give it some thought ahead of time.


TRADE SCHOOLS


What if you are not interested in attending college and want to learn a trade? I know many people who are very mechanically inclined, that might prefer to learn a specific trade. Anyone who owns a vehicle or a house knows and appreciates someone in the trade they need, when something needs to be repaired. Electricians and plumbers are always in demand and are well paid. There are probably trades that would be a good fit for just about anyone who is willing to learn them. If this is an area of interest, here are some things to consider.


1. Check with your high school counselor to see if there are any classes that will count toward certification in a trade and also give you high school credit at the same time. I know we had several available in our community when I was a high school counselor. One of our students took welding classes at night, and by the time he graduated from high school, he had already earned several certifications and was on his way to a good career.


2. Take the time to check out your community college. Most have many great trade options for a very reasonable cost compared to a college degree.


3. Choose something you enjoy doing, so you can look forward to your classes. This will also help you be successful in your career.


4. Don’t be afraid to test out a few trade classes to see what you really like and what comes natural to you.


Another Option: MILITARY SERVICE


Today’s military has many options, and although this is not the focus of this Blog, if you are interested in serving our country and have thought about the military as an option, check out all the branches of service. They all have unique opportunities that might interest you. After you have completed some of your own research, and have a general idea of what you are looking for, especially which branch of service, it might be time to contact a recruiter.

Important to Remember:

Whether you choose to attend college, trade school, or enlist in the military, you can be successful. Sometimes people multiple careers over the course of their lifetime. Be open-minded and purposeful in all you do, but don’t waste your time, because you can’t get it back.



Ten Things to Help Your Child Be Prepared to Learn

August 6, 2025
Do you remember the beginning of each school year when you were young? I do! I loved school, or at least elementary and junior high. High school was not as much fun because of all of the drama probably due to raging hormones. During the summers, as kids, we would play school. Actually, it was a good thing. It helped us remember our math skills, and kept us reading throughout the summer. I’m of the age that home computers did not exist yet, and you were lucky if you had a wall phone without a party-line (when you share your phone line with someone else because there weren’t enough lines to go around). Obviously, we didn’t have cell phones to distract us. We played some of the standard games of that time period like Monopoly and Scrabble, but mostly we made up our own games to play outside. But today is much different. Hopefully our children are still excited about a new school year, but our children today face challenges that did not exist when I was in school. We have technology in most classrooms that can either be a huge blessing or for some a curse. But regardless of how our classrooms are structured, either at school or at home (for homeschool families), one thing remains the same, our children are there to learn. We, as the adults in the room, need to bring structure and the cohesiveness needed for the best learning outcomes. So, here are 10 things that parents can do to help their children be prepared to learn? Make sure they have enough school clothes that fit so that they are not self-conscious about how they look. If you can only afford one week’s worth of clothes that’s okay. Laundry can be done on the weekend, and the order in which they wear their clothes or the way they pair shirts and pants can change for new combinations. Get the most important school supplies ahead of time and have them in their backpack. Other supplies can be purchased as needed. (In many places the two or three weeks before school starts, all school supplies are really cheap comparatively, so if you can afford it, it’s nice to stock up on what you know will be needed.) Have a plan for an easy, healthy, high-protein, low-sugar breakfast they can eat each morning. If they take lunch, it’s helpful to fix it the night before and put it in the refrigerator to eliminate a lot of morning stress. Make sure homework or anything else that needs to go to school the next day is in the backpack the night before. Arrive at school a little early, so they won’t feel embarrassed by walking in late. You want them to get off to a good calm start every day. In the evenings, talk about what your child learned that day. Ask appropriate questions about each subject. If they need help, it’s okay to help them. Children learn in all different ways. Sometimes they may need some input from you to be able to do the assignment. If you feel they are struggling in school in general, schedule an appointment to meet with the teacher right away. If it’s just one subject that’s hard for them, I would personally schedule an appointment to meet with the teacher. Most teachers want to know if there is a struggle, so they can meet that individual need. Be aware of what your child is learning in school. If you have questions, ask the teacher, but don’t be a “helicopter” parent. The best place to do homework for a younger child is the dining room table. It helps them stay on track, and it lets you know what they should be learning. Actually, in my home we all did homework at the dining room table all the way through high school. It eliminates isolation and provides immediate help when needed. Happy New School Year!
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