Trade School Vs. College: Which Path Is Right For You?
As the end of your high school years approach, it’s important to begin planning your future. One important aspect of those plans is where you intend to go, and what you intend to do when you get there. For some graduating Seniors, they might take a gap year to travel and see more of what the world has to offer. For others, they might be excited to jump right into their first year of college and get on campus ASAP. But there might even be some of you who are still unsure. Every single version of this is okay.
It’s hard to know what to do and where to go during a time of change and transition. Luckily, here at the National Society of High School Scholars, we want to help. That is why we think it’s vital for you to consider all your options, like whether or not trade schools are right for you. In this article, we will break down a few key elements concerning trade schools, and hopefully help answer some fundamental questions about your future.
1.What’s a trade school?
Trade schools are smaller, more specifically-designed programs that focus on a certain craft or trade, which can be used in the job market right away. These schools provide hands-on training and practical applications to the role of things like welders, technicians, electricians, and other mechanical-based jobs. The schools are only focused on teaching you what you need to know in a short, straight-forward way, without all the extra accruement of larger four-year universities. For those of you who are simply interested in learning a particular skill, and not as invested in clubs and Greek life and playing sports, then a trade school might just be your best option.
2. Price Difference
When it comes to the clubs, sports, and myriad of other social outlets that a University or college provides, it’s important to consider the cost of it all. In short, getting the full college experience isn’t cheap. Of course there are literally thousands of scholarships, financial aid packets, and other ways to reduce the cost of college, but for some people that just isn’t worth it. Some students are focused on learning and moving into the job market. Trade schools are a much cheaper way of accomplishing that goal. According to the National Midwest Institute, the annual cost for college is $9,800.00 per year, coming to $39,200.00 for all four years. Compare this to the price of a trade school, with an average cost of $5,500.00 per year, coming to roughly $11,000.00 for two years. It’s also important to note that students can still receive government-funded financial aid as well as apply for trade school scholarships. These reasons alone can be very good incentives for those looking to get out into the workforce cheaply and quickly.
3. Duration
And speaking of quick, the majority of trade schools are created for students to receive their diplomas within two years. Some certifications can be awarded within a single year, while other, more technical trades require up to three years. Compared to the four-plus years at a University, this can determine a lot of how you spend that time we began this article talking about. If you are somebody who is more focused on beginning your career quickly, then trade schools might be the best place to accomplish that.
4. Knowledge to be Gained
The most crucial consideration you must make when deciding on where to go comes down to what you want to get out of the program you choose. If you are somebody who is interested in engineering, then a trade school might be your best route. However, if you are interested in learning music theory, classical literature, or biochemistry, then it might be best to seek out the best four-year university for that. As important as things like time and money are, nothing is as important as what you do with your future. There are always scholarships and financial aid options out there to help reduce the anxiety over cost, and you can always take extra classes and graduate from college early if you’re worried about time. Trade schools were created for those who simply want to master a skill and get out into the workforce. If you, however, are somebody who is still unsure, and can find a way to pay for college, then a university campus might just be your best choice. And luckily, we at NSHSS have plenty of scholarships to help you on your path toward your future.
No matter what path you go down, it’s always important to try and follow your passion—that will take you farther than you can ever imagine. At NSHSS, we want to empower your future by providing roadmaps along the way. If you’re interested in more information on trade schools, check out some of our other articles on the topic, as well as our scholarships we offer. And if you’re still unsure, then reach out to us. We strive to help guide you into the best future for you!