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Just from reading the article title, one might be wondering, why would something like this be here? On a website about college students? Wouldn’t this be counterproductive to this website’s message? To the fellow readers here, let me ask you something. When was the last time you needed to type, say, a 5 page report in 3 hours on a specific topic that you only learned about 2 lectures ago? How about taking a test on the FD&C Act of 1938, the Miller Pesticide Act of 1954, or how food affects social gatherings? Yeah, none of those are any use once you are out of college and in the real world. I myself went to college, got a 2 year associate degree and guess what? I haven’t done anything remotely beneficial with it. Reading this, you must think there is something more to this, either I am continuing my education, I must have changed majors and now need another degree, or perhaps, I just dropped out because I couldn’t cut it? Those are very fair assumptions, though all of them are off. What I believe college is meant to be is a place of discovery and self growth, and while alternatives may seem far and few inbetween to this institution of learning, I’d like to mention a few alternatives here, while providing explanations for each on how they can be justified as successful alternatives to college.
Vocational school/trades
Can’t see yourself sitting in a classroom for hours listening to lectures and then taking exams on the material you just heard? Can’t sit still and have “itchy feet” that make you want to do something? How about giving trade/vocational schools a shot? Learn hands-on skills that transfer comfortably into the workforce while also providing a sense of job security to provide peace of mind. Most programs run ~2 years along with multiple start dates that allow for more flexibility compared to the usual fall and spring starts for college.Trades will place a focus on practical knowledge and experience, meaning less time in classrooms and more hands on approach. One lasting benefit for trades is preparation for in demand careers. Electricians, plumbers, dentists and such will always be necessary and even though they may not be the highest paid, you don’t have to worry about being outsourced, as humans will always have a need for them. This provides a reliable source of income, as well as a steady flow of business.
Now unfortunately, there are downsides to going to trade school. A potential hurdle is the limited career growth. Yes, it will provide a steady job, but most senior positions nowadays require higher education such as a college degree (bachelor’s or higher) making advancement difficult. Financial assistance won’t be as prevalent in trade schools compared to college, though may still be available in limited options.
Rigorous scheduling allows you to get in and out quickly compared to college. However, unlike college, that doesn’t leave much free time to hang with friends, goof around, and generally enjoy yourself.
To wrap it up, They say keep your friends close and enemies closer also applies here. Your classmates are all gunning for the same position as you, whether it be plumbing, automotive, etc and with similar skill sets an employer will only take the best, and if that isn’t you, tough cookies as a surplus of graduates will lower your market value in the supply and demand category. Though the ability to enter the workforce rapidly may outweigh these cons, so think about your situation and weigh the pros and cons before committing to trade school.
Online courses
The internet. We really can’t live without it and with each passing day, it becomes ever more intertwined in our lives. Smartphones to computers to ordering dumplings online, what can’t we do. But how does the place that brought us memes, youtube, and Club Penguin serve as an alternative to college? Massive open online courses or (MOOCs) for short. These online courses provide an alternative to the traditional classrooms, providing you with the resources to learn virtually any subjects you desire. With no set syllabus or rigid structure you control the pace of learning. Want to learn coding, sign up for an online bootcamp. Perhaps you are on the other side of the spectrum and have been in your respective field for a while. Online courses provide you an avenue to stay up to date on techniques and information allowing you to stay competitive in the field.
Internships
Have an idea of what you want to work in, but not sure if you would enjoy it or just need more hands- on experience? Try searching for an internship. This will provide you an opportunity to get real world exposure to a chosen field, make connections and build your networking with other professionals in said field, develop hard and soft skills, and if you play your cards right, even land full time jobs and careers. Such opportunities give you the chance to learn what an entry level position may entail, but more importantly, allows you to “sample” different jobs with less commitment and stress. Businesses have started to look for internships on resumes as well, for having them provides an employer the opportunity to see that you have real world experience, not just classroom facts, and the ability to apply them appropriately. To find internships, online may be the first option you search for, though be aware that it may be overwhelming to sort through thousands to find the correct one that suits your needs. If you are a student, this may be a bit more convenient as career fairs and campus recruitment means employers essentially come to you. If anything else, try looking at your favorite organizations to see if they offer anything. Check out a company’s website to see what they offer and if something catches your eye, go for it.
Conclusion
As someone who already went through college, these are just some of the different options I would have liked to have been informed of instead of having such a linear perspective for higher education. Though I don’t regret it, at times I do wonder if anything would have changed if I had been aware of these other opportunities that could provide their own unique experiences. Funny enough, post college, I was able to land an internship, where I am working at and writing this now. There are options, you just need to be on the lookout for them.I hope I’ve provided some insight to others about just how many directions you can take your life in and that there is more than one path for success.