Once you have graduated high school, you may be wondering what your next step should be. Plenty of high school graduates attend a four-year college and get a degree before entering the working world. However, this is not the only path to a career, and many graduates do not get a degree from a four-year school. You may not think a four-year college is the right choice for you at the moment. These schools can present barriers to affordability or geographic location. If you are looking for alternatives to four-year college, here are some possibilities.
1. Apprenticeship
If you are looking to go into a trade or a specialized field, you may want to consider getting an apprenticeship. This form of training bypasses institutional education and allows you to get right to work in your chosen field. An apprenticeship can give you direct work experience and may pair you with a capable professional who can offer you real-world perspective and guidance. Apprenticeships can also offer you connections in your field that can benefit you once you are practicing on your own. Some apprenticeships can be federally subsidized, making it easier to get hired and creating a more lucrative situation for you and your employer alike.
2. Virtual Learning
You don’t need to attend a four-year school in-person to get a useful degree. If distance poses a challenge to going to school, you may want to consider a digital school instead. These universities can be less expensive and less time-consuming, and the power of the internet makes it easy to study and learn from anywhere. It can be important to carefully vet virtual universities. The most popular online colleges will often boast accreditations and recommendations in the fields of study you are interested in. Digital schools can be a useful and efficient alternative to in-person learning.
3. Entrepreneurship
There are no educational requirements for starting a business. If you’d like to begin a venture immediately after graduating high school, you can. Starting a business can require some know-how or the ability to be a quick learner, but it can also be a good option for people with passion. Self-employment is also made easy by online sales platforms that allow you to sell merchandise, crafts and other wares with minimal setup. Whatever your interest, if you have an idea and the right amount of drive, you may be able to make a business take off.
If you don’t feel that a four-year college is right for you, you don’t have to worry that you’re out of options. Many high school graduates do not attend a traditional college or university. You may be able to directly enter the work world or get some kind of alternate training. Pursuing one of these options can help prepare you for a career in a cost-effective manner. It can be important to review your options and your desires to figure out what the right path is for you. Once you know, you can be better prepared for the next part of adulthood.
