Is choosing to attend a technical or a vocational college over a traditional college or university a bad idea? Depending on what your long-term goals are in life, attending a technical or trade school over that of a university, may actually be a very good idea. People today put so much stress on education and higher learning, that in more ways than one, it almost over stresses teenagers and youths who may be close to graduating high school.
Many teenagers find themselves stressing over what college or university they will attend, not necessarily because it’s the college of their own choice, because they are worried about how other people will perceive them, especially those in their own families and friends who are closest to them. It is time to put to rest the idea or the thought that attending a trade school makes you less of a person, or means that your career will amount to less.
If you’re considering any type of higher learning, commend yourself and the fact that you are even attempting to take on a task that is not required to do. No one can make you attend college, or make you go to school after you have graduated high school. Taking on the task on your own is a great undertaking, and should be taken seriously by not only the person attending college, but by their friends and family.
On average, a person who graduates from any college or university, whether it be a technical college or traditional university, will earn up to $1 million more in their lifetime. Having a degree or a certificate of any kind is almost like a ticket to success in most cases. Keep in mind this is not always the case, as many people who graduate with a degree often find themselves either without a job, or working at a job that has nothing to do with the degree that they went to school to get.
Before diving into any type of higher education situation, it is a good idea to do thorough research of that particular field or career to make sure of a few key important things. What are some of the key factors that should make you decide whether or not you want to pursue a particular career?
- Education opportunities
- Job demand
- Yearly salary
- Compatible with career
- Location
- Financial Situation
These key points mentioned above, are not the only things that you should consider, but should at least help you to understand what common factors will help decide whether or not a particular career choice for you may or may not be successful. Just because you may want to pursue a particular career, doesn’t mean that career opportunity will work for you. Statistics show that students who travel cross country or even cross state to pursue a higher education have less of a chance of graduating, than those who stay at home to attend either a university close to home or a junior college or even a trade school. Basically, this is saying view your education opportunities closely, try and find a local school that offers the classes or courses that you would like to take, if you cannot find one within driving distance of where you currently live, only move if you feel that this is the only course or program that you fill make you happy in the long run with the career you choose.
Why is job demand so important a factor when choosing what career you will choose. Simply because a job will make you a lot of money, bring you fame and fortune, or just make you happy does not mean that bad job is the right job for you. This is where research will come in handy. If a career offers little to no job opportunities, there is a high probability that you will attend college, earn a degree and then graduate with no job opportunities waiting for you. It is for this very reason that you will find bartenders at your local bars with degrees that can earn them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Simply put, Supply and Demand.
A yearly salary should not be the only reason that you attain a particular degree. If you strive for a job solely for the purpose of making lots of money, you may find that you were not so happy even with large amounts of money. For example, lets say you choose to pursue a career as a Radiology Technician. The schooling time is short, the annual radiology tech salary is awesome, but you hate hospitals and dont like interacting closely with people.There needs to be a balance between the money you make and how I job makes you feel, not only at work but at home as well.
The next key point about being compatible with the career, goes along the same lines as pursuing a job strictly for the amount of money you can make. A job should make you happy and more than one way. These ways are as of mentioned above, about making enough money, finding a job that makes you happy and pursuing a job that has plenty of demand.
Location is not only an important key to attending a school that will fill the needs of the career you are pursuing, location can also play a big role in whether you succeed in graduating. Students who find a college close to home, that allows them to stay at home while attending, are more likely to finish their college classes and graduate with a degree. This is because they are able to lower their personal stress due to bills that come with extra living expenses when you leave home. So for example, if you live in Houston Texas and are interested in a career in radiology, it would not make sense to look for x ray technician schools in California. Instead you would be better off finding a local x ray school in Houston or one of the many surrounding cities. Just because a school is local, does not mean the education you receive will be any less valuable, as long as you attend an accredited school.
Finally your financial situation should play a large role on what career you choose. If you do not have the money to pursue an education from a particular school, do not let it keep you from attending school. You may have to decide on attending a different school, a school you can afford. Choosing to go to a lesser or less known school, does not mean that you will get less of an education. It is only important to make sure that the school you attend is an accredited school. An accredited school one sure that your degree or certification will be honored by any employer looking to hire.
Take into consideration all the things mentioned here, and take your time when it comes to deciding what career path you would like to take. Do not let someone else make that decision for you, whether it be a counselor at school, a teacher, friend or even family member. Ultimately, the choice is yours because you’re the one who’ll be living with the decision that you make. Hopefully with proper research, you will make a decision that will make you happy for the rest of your life.
