Higher Education and Other Post-Graduation Pathways
Graduation season is a time to celebrate students' achievements across the country and recognize all the hard work that led them to this moment. Students make essential decisions daily to advance themselves towards graduating from high school. In this article, we will discuss the different educational routes students can take post-high school, while providing resources and tools to plan for college and your career. There are multiple routes to success, and everyone’s path looks different.
High School Student Checklists
There are college and career checklists that can improve the planning process for current high school students. BigFuture by CollegeBoard is a free online planning guide that helps all students take the right first step after high school. This site is an excellent resource for checking out careers you may be interested in, finding colleges and vocational schools based on what is important to you, and discovering ways to pay for higher education.
BigFuture offers a series of checklists as outlined below for students from freshman to senior year to guide you through each semester.
It’s never too early to start planning routes for higher education.
9th Graders: This year is all about setting a solid foundation. Focus on choosing the right classes for you and getting involved in extracurricular activities.
10th Graders: Refine your extracurricular activity list, learn about AP classes, and explore future college and career paths.
11th Graders: Focus on taking the PSAT/NMSQT, researching colleges, and starting to prepare for the SAT. This is also the time to challenge yourself with AP classes.
12th Graders: Apply to colleges, write college essays, prepare for the SAT, and secure financial aid to ensure all your hard work pays off.
Staying organized is key for all students throughout the college and career planning journey. We recommend keeping a master calendar to monitor important deadlines. Key checklist items for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders include talking to your parents or a trusted adult about your future, getting the facts about college costs, and meeting with your school counselor. Other essential pieces for 12th graders include balancing their college list with at least six safety, match, and reach schools, registering for AP exams, completing the FAFSA, asking for letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, applying for scholarships, and writing their personal essay. However, one final thing on the 12th Graders' checklist is to enjoy the summer before college and prepare for the first semester of college.
Four-Year Colleges and Universities
What is the difference between “college” and “university”? In the U.S., the terms are often used interchangeably, but there are some key differences.
Generally, colleges tend to be smaller, more focused on undergraduate education, and may have smaller class sizes. Conversely, universities are larger institutions that offer a broader range of programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, and may have larger class sizes.
There are also different kinds of colleges and universities, including public, private, and online schools. Public colleges tend to have lower tuition costs than private colleges, but private institutions may offer more research and networking opportunities. Online colleges offer the advantage of completing coursework primarily on an individual’s schedule and offer flexibility to those who work full-time.
The college application process will depend on the school you are applying to, as each institution has unique admissions requirements. According to GreatSchools.org, some crucial elements to include in college applications are highlighting academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities. College essays are also part of the application process and should showcase who students are in settings outside of academics. A compelling essay that depicts passion, personality, values, and unique experiences can make all the difference.
Community Colleges
One path of post-secondary education that offers high school graduates a chance to test the waters of higher education is the two-year community college route, where you can receive an associate's degree, among other benefits. Not only do their costs typically average around one-third the price tag of four-year colleges and universities, according to U.S. News, but many have agreements with colleges and universities to allow students to transfer their credits toward a bachelor’s degree. This route can cut tuition costs by almost half. However, it’s essential to review the requirements of these agreements because they can vary between schools.
Comprehensive databases of community colleges by state can be found on U.S. News’ and Niche’s websites.
Trade and Vocational Schools
For those who don’t want to pursue academia, trade and vocational schools can provide valuable skills for fulfilling careers through hands-on, career-oriented programs. Like college and university, trade and vocational are used interchangeably, but they are different.
For those who don’t want to pursue academia, trade and vocational schools can provide valuable skills for fulfilling careers through hands-on, career-oriented programs. Like college and university, trade and vocational are used interchangeably, but they are different. Trade schools focus on skilled trades for manual or technical fields such as construction, electrical work, carpentry, welding, and plumbing. Vocational schools are broader and cover industries such as healthcare, dental, cosmetology, and culinary arts. Some key aspects of trade and vocational schools are that they tend to be cheaper, class sizes are typically smaller, and they take less time to complete than a four-year degree. These schools can be found across several resources, including Accredited Schools Online and Niche.
Native American and Alaska Native Students
Some colleges are designed with Native students and Tribal cultures in mind. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium has a map of where these colleges and universities reside, along with information about the schools, financial aid resources, and other resources that Native students can use. On top of that, the American Indian College Fund has a Tribal Colleges & Universities Exploration Guide that provides in-depth descriptions of each school. Also, earlier this year, Indian Country Today put together a digital magazine that contains an interactive map of Tribal colleges and universities, a guide on FAFSA, and an article about the Indigenous Pathways program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
How do I decide on my major or career?
For those of you struggling to know what to study, tests are available that can help narrow down your options. One test is the Strong Interest Inventory test. This 30-40-minute test can help you determine which career paths suit you best. These careers include law enforcement, medicine, computer science, art, writing, teaching, marketing, finance, and management. This test can be accessed online, in college career centers, by licensed counselors, and by career coaches.
While this is not a complete list of all the resources available to navigate post-secondary education, the ones provided can help young people plan for the future, regardless of their path. There are many steps and considerations to take when applying to any of these institutions, and these resources can assist you in spending more time thinking about what you want to do with your life rather than contemplating the next step with a blank slate and no direction.
Resources for Students and Parents/Guardians