Trade School is Better Than College?
Whenever someone thinks about plans after college, the first thought that almost always comes to mind, is college. Because of this, the option of a trade school is basically thrown out the window and rarely considered. Even though college is the first option for a reason and is very flexible, most of the time trade schools are better because they do not make students take unneeded classes, do not cost as much, offer hands-on experience as opposed to theory, generally take less time to graduate and focus only on the chosen field. Trade schools have been overlooked as a substitute for college since college became as big as it is now. The benefits of trade schools outweigh the benefits of college in almost every scenario, making trade schools a better option than college.
The biggest reason trade schools are actually a better choice than college is the cost. While the cost of college varies depending on school and location, “ranging from 36000 to 120000 per year”(Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Arizona, 2016), trade schools generally are less than 36000 a year. The biggest reason for this is because college makes you take classes that are unrelated to your major, therefore increasing price, whereas, trade schools only make you take
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courses related to your major, which in turn lowers cost of attendance. Trade schools also take less time for you to graduate lowering cost of attendance even lower and allowing you to focus solely on classroom duties and not how to come up with the money for the cost of attendance (New Castle School of Trades, 2017). Another reason why college is so expensive is because of the constant need of a higher education, therefore equating to more time spent in college and increasing the overall cost of attending college. Spending more time in college is another negative, and not just because it equates to more debt. The more time spent in a college means more time is being lost; time that could be spent actually working with a new degree to try and pay off collected debts, for example, “Not only is the time commitment for a trade school education typically shorter than that of a university, but students can start earning a return on investment in a quicker amount of time.”(NCST, 2017). The extra classes that college encourages to be taken add months, if not years, of unnecessary time spent taking classes that do not even have relevance to the chosen field. The time that could have been spent earning money to start paying living expenses and paying debts, is spent taking general classes that have already been taken in high school, raking in even more debt. The longer a college keeps students enrolled with unnecessary courses, the worse they are making it for the student since they can not start making their own money. Yet another negative for college is the amount of unnecessary classes that are taken because of the college’s encouragement to do so. Most majors have specific courses that are needed to be taken in order to pursue further education, however, there are always some courses that have zero relation to the field chosen. These courses are not benefitting in any way towards the major and only serve to keep students there longer and spend more money, for example, “it may seem unnecessary to pay for extraneous credits and courses. Sure, that improv theater class was fun, but was it helpful for your chemistry major?” (Trent Hamm, 2016). Trade schools on the other hand only take 4 years at the most to graduate from and only make students take courses directly related to the chosen major, equating to less time spent in schooling, less debt taken, and more time to start working a normal job to pay living expenses. This factor is greatly overlooked when talking about the differences between colleges and trade schools, even though such an important point equates to thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars in difference. Taking unnecessary classes seems to be the norm at colleges, and it is almost always mentioned when this argument is taking place. These unnecessary classes usually are taken because of college requirements, such as, “colleges require you to take a variety of general education courses, many of which ultimately won’t apply to your major or career ambitions.” (North American Trade Schools, 2017). On the flip side, “Trade schools and technical schools, meanwhile, only require classes that are directly related to your field of study.” (NATS, 2017), this factor plays heavily into decision making for future plans. Unnecessary classes are responsible for most of the wasted time and extra costs in college, effectively making them a huge factor for the difference between trade schools and college. While unnecessary classes are one of the biggest points of contention between the two, there are other reasons that are just as big and contribute the same to decision making between the two. Another reason that adds to the point that trade schools are better than college is that trade schools only take courses specific to the chosen major. As stated in previous paragraphs, colleges make you take unnecessary courses; they also generally make students take at least one or two years of general courses before actually focusing on the major, and even then there are some unneeded classes sprinkled in. Trade schools focus solely on the chosen major in the beginning and do not give the student any classes that are unnecessary to their major. Students take classes specific to their major as soon as they start classes and do not deal with unneeded classes, therefore, all the money and time spent is well worth each penny. Students attending trade schools are also generally one hundred percent sure on what they want to do, for example, “Whereas an English major in college may have trouble deciding whether to pursue journalism, fiction writing or teaching, a graduate from a welding program knows he or she wants to be a welder and is achieving the means to do so.” (NATS, 2017). Classes specific to a chosen major are very important when deciding for future plans, and should be heavily considered. Hands on experience, which colleges seem to bypass in favor of theoretical knowledge, is a huge plus for trade schools. Many believe that “While colleges provide many theory-based classes, hands-on training is often limited. Usually, such training comes by way of internships, which are often unpaid, involve relocating, and bring with them additional costs”(NATS, 2017), however, trade schools “provide hands-on training that qualifies students to begin new careers upon graduation” (NATS, 2017). Hands-on experience is such a crucial factor in this day and age because it trains in what will actually be done after graduation as opposed to just talking about the theory behind it. Another plus of hand-on experience is that students are taught to “learn and master the newest real-world techniques, tools and knowledge necessary to succeed on the job” (NATS, 2017), which gives trade school grads a huge advantage in adapting to the job they are looking to go into. Hands-on experience is such a crucial factor to have at any college or trade school as it gets students ready for the actual job they will be going into, and as such, it should heavily weigh into their decision making. Even though college does have many negatives, there are a few positives within their curriculum for certain students. One of which being flexibility; College is a very flexible place for students who have not decided on their major yet, since they are able to take many diverse courses to figure out where their interests lay. In college, “These classes set you up for success within a wide range of majors, and allow students flexibility over the first year or two of their degree program to make a decision in the specific degree they want to pursue” (My College Guide, 2017). This curriculum also allows students to change their major fairly easily if they chose to do so, whereas in trade schools, changing majors means starting from the beginning again. These positives for college are only applicable if the incoming student has not chosen a major yet; if the incoming student has chosen a major however, trade schools are much better. Even with all of colleges positives, trade schools are by far a better option when a specific major is decided. While they are not as flexible as the college curriculum, they are very specific to the major chosen and do not bombard students with extra classes and extra debt. The extra classes that colleges offer to students to broaden their perspective, gives colleges their so called “flexibility”, however, “The college lifestyle isn’t cheap either — dorming, paying for food, going out, and even doing your own laundry adds up!”(Hamm, 2016). What students gain in terms of flexibility in college, the pay for in terms of money and debt, leaving them in unnecessary and avoidable debt. While trade schools do not offer the same flexibility as colleges, they make up for it in terms of cost and speed, allowing you to graduate with less debt and in a faster time. Because colleges have long since been the go to option for after high school education, trade schools are generally overlooked.
The positives of trade school are lost in the ocean of colleges seeking your attention to bring in more students. Trade schools offer lower cost, faster graduation, classes only relating to the chosen major, teach hands-on as opposed to theory and do not give students unneeded classes. For these reasons, trade schools is actually a better choice than college for post high school education when you have a specific major in mind. College flexibility is no longer the front runner these days as more and more students are deciding on majors well before
graduation. As I have stated in previous paragraphs, college is only really worth the money if you have not decided on your major yet. If you have decided on your major, trade schools i the better option since it will cost less and you will graduate sooner. Many people fail to check out the benefits of trade schools when looking into post high school education and are all missing out. You could save thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, as well as, years of time from going to a trade school instead of college. With that being said, everyone looking into post high school education should look into trade schools and all their benefits to see if a trade school is right for them.
Students have many advantages while attending Trade Schools. Students focus strictly on the classes they need to make them the best at what they wish to become. Prior to the direct education, they work mostly hands on. This technique allows students to really understand what they are doing. Also once they complete the school, they are almost guaranteed a position in their career putting them on track to a successful life and reducing the stress of job hunting. The length is short, about 9 months to a year, so students can start a family; buy a car, etc faster than if they were to attend a university. In addition students do not have to leave their families behind. Students who stay in a single parent household and takes care of the house could stay and continue to help their parent out. That way they can better their life while still helping out around the house. The best advantage of attending a Trade School is that it will not leave you in a world of debt, these schools are very affordable. The escape from paying back loans allows students to spend money on them and even start investing in a house if they want. It cost less than 5,000 dollars to complete Trade School; that is less than one year of any university, whether it is in-state or out of state. Therefore high school students and even adults do not have to complete college to be a
In comparison to a 4-year university a 2-year community college is much more affordable option. Even if a student ultimately transfers to a university, those first two years at a community college can still save a student ten-of-thousands, and some cases hundreds-of-thousands, of dollars, “In 2011-2012, after accounting for grant aid from all sources, net tuition and fees… at public two-year public colleges was effectively zero for students from the two lowest income quartiles.”(Jenkins). Along with saving students money overall, community colleges allow students to work while going to school, so it gives students the pros of both not going to college, and going to college. The one downside of community college is the lack of degree options, but there is still a large selection of degrees that can be acquired at community college, just not as many as a 4-year university. When comparing all three of these options, the community college option seems like the only option where the pros heavily outweigh the cons while with the other options, the cons can easily overpower the
Doing something you’re good at, and learning the different skills that will help you better yourself in the job are more important that what you could learn in a school. College isn’t for everyone, but you can learn just as much without it. Nothing beats, “The satisfaction of being good at what does for a living” (Murray 237). Education is important, it’s been taught since before Kindergarten that a good education will open more doors. And that’s true, however there are also a number of things that you learn through hard work that can’t be taught, instead “work smart...make every move count” (Rose
The “best option” cannot be argued in a general sense; it instead must be evaluated on a case by case basis. For example, from an economic standpoint that considers the constant increase in knowledge required to maintain a significant position in the economic hierarchy, the “best option” for a student immediately after high school graduation may be vocational training at a specialized institution.
However, on the other side of things every does not agree with spending thousands of dollars and hope to get a career out of it. The price of college increase yearly leaving so individuals discouraged about what to do with their life. Some discover that they’re be better off going off to a trade school granting immediate work experience instead of waiting four plus years to get the real deal experience. Some of the most exceptional people are known to be a “college dropout” to devote themselves solely to there business ventures that led them to be millionaires, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Kanye West and Bill Gates. For the individuals who do wish to explore higher education but do not have the funds to do a trial and error at university have the opportunity to take free online courses. However those courses do not come with a degree in the end. Gaining knowledge through self-exploration by searching on to Google for free online classes. Is an easier way to discover how much a person can handle academically without wasting time and money on an experience that does not fit. Going to college right after high school is a very expensive trend. However, there are many other ways to execute a successful future without going through four years of a liberal arts
Many people may assume that attending trade school is less successful than going to community college. There are many misconceptions that an employer might prefer a college graduate over a trade school graduate. In fact, this can be misleading because there are many more advantages of a person going from trade school instead of a community college. These benefits include but are not limited to smaller student to teacher ratios, a huge difference in tuition and time invested in your desired career, and a higher possibility of fulfillment for both students and families. However, there are many people, including myself, that believe that trade schools benefits outweigh college benefits.
Overall, CTE programs are a wildly beneficial option for high school students. They offer a chance for the student to have an inside glimpse into the field they are considering and allows them to solidify their decision or gives them the opportunity to change their career early on. Although cost is a major factor when it comes to enabling these programs, giving the student the option to learn and grow in an alternative environment may be worth the effort of raising the funds.
Figuring out if they should find jobs right out of high school or go to college first. Nevertheless, most people are sure that they want to have a better job. Not only one that will pay more, but one they are pleased with, and one that makes him/her happy. Today, practically 60 percent of all jobs in the United States require their employers to have a higher education. Jobs for individuals who only have a high school diploma are decreasing. A large majority of high school graduates work in some type of service industry. These individuals also work in low paying jobs with no position to advance. On the other hand, college graduates tend to have more skills that qualify them for a much larger range of employment opportunities. This makes it easier for them to move up in positions. According to Catherine Rampell, “there are more employed college graduates today than employed high school graduates and high school dropouts put together” (678). Thus, as the economy progresses over the years to come, college graduates will be better placed to find jobs that will offer a larger amount of pay. Therefore, earning a college degree will greatly enhance your marketability as a professional.
A hard choice many people face in today’s society is whether to attend a university or to go to a trade school. With the economy America has right now it is clear that the best way to get an actual paying job is to go to a trade school and receive a certificate, rather than a college degree. It is proven that you can be just as successful in life with a job that requires technical skill over a college degree. Sadly, the culture we live in today brainwashes people into thinking technical degrees are undesirable and that a college degree is the best and only way to go. Often when students proceed on this course of life that society told them to take they may be stuck with large student loans to pay off without the promise of finishing their degree or getting a job.
While many times it is not about the grades and getting into college, it is all the other aspects including financial issues, level of independence and whether or not a major is already determined. One of the hardest decisions a high school graduate faces is the choice between attending a community college or a university. Community college and 4-year universities both have great purposes but are meant for different people. In my opinion, somebody would benefit more affectively from a community college. There are several reasons why community college is a better choice for students. My reasons as to why I believe students should attend a community college rather than a 4-year university is because class sizes are much smaller, students will have the opportunity to have a flexible schedule, and students who are undecided about their majors have a chance to experiment and try different majors. While they both have their advantages and disadvantages, they both offer the same varieties of knowledge.
On a list of pros and cons that would be the only pro on the list. Student loans are a simple one way ticket to debt and depression; and there’s never truly a need to get a full student loan. With community college and trade school out there, it opens plenty of money saving alternatives that wouldn’t require a full student loan. The student loan system in itself is a broken system that needs a lot of adjusting. With all of the other alternatives out there it almost doesn’t make sense these days for students to go on and get full student
Heading off to a four-year college after graduating from high school has become the norm. However, like Murray, I believe that a college education is not for everyone. Vocational school provides students with an education and an experience necessary for only their job of interest. Instead of taking off your cap and gown and running off to college, people should consider vocational school because it saves so much money, is worth the time, and prepares students with an education specific to their needs. It is common knowledge that college prices have skyrocketed and put students into major debt. Thousands of dollars in loans are taken out each ye...
Vocational and technical schools offer these people a second chance at finding the career that they will love. According to fifty-year-old Jeff Martinelli, “For a guy like me, with no college, it’s become pretty bleak out there” (qtd. by Egan 106). Martinelli spent most of his life operating heavy machinery at Kaiser Aluminum until it shut down a few years ago. He started working there right out of high school and didn’t pursue any further education. Now, he has no certification and no degree. It is nearly impossible to find a good job without either a degree or certification. Vocational schools offer people like Martinelli a second chance. He can take just one year and do a program at a technical school to get a certificate. With that certificate, he will be able to provide for his family again. At a technical school, they don’t just have young people straight out of high school. According to Fox Business, interest in vocational schools spans high school students, 4-year school graduates, and people who want to improve their skills or switch careers. That means that everyone has a chance to get the job that they are passionate about, no matter what their previous
The rate of students attending two year college after high school has increased substantially throughout the years. In the United States approximately half of all high school graduates attend two year colleges. There are many advantages of attending a two year community college. Unlike universities two year colleges have a class room range of 25-35 students (Belfield). Small class size makes it easier for students to talk to their instructor and keep track of progression throughout the semester. Another advantage is that most students that attend community college either work part-time or full-time jobs. Community college give new moms and working students the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of education, by offering class during the day, evening, and on weekends. Two year colleges have a variety of programs in many fields of study which means that students are likely to find a program that fits their interest (Belfield). Many students who enroll in community college realize that they achieve the same level of academic success than those at a university for a low affordable cost.
In this day and age, having a narrow education limits your abilities in the ever changing job market. Whether or not to go to college is a major decision not to be made lightly. Stephens reported, that the cost of tuition has risen 3.6 times what it was 20 years ago; and not only that but student loan debt surpassed credit card debt in 2010 with over a staggering one trillion dollars. This may scare prospective students, but does it outweigh the thought of generating a good income immediately out of graduation? It varies from student to student. If the student is dedicated enough anything is possible. Stephens believed that if we focused on collaborative growth, sharing ideas, and most importantly promoting societal growth, we would naturally be more creative and innovative, due to the fact that we wouldn’t be regurgitating the same facts that have been written for years. You are using experience to learn and using application to gather a greater understanding of how...