Tech School Can Be an Underrated Option

The majority of high school students who choose to continue their education after graduation attend either community college or a university.  Conventional wisdom indicates that getting a degree in your preferred field will help secure a job later.  The better your education, the better pay rate you’ll be able to command later.  However, recent studies show that technical colleges often yield higher job placement rates for graduates.

Perhaps the biggest deterrent is that students are not informed about the advantages that technical schools may offer.  Though they are far more common in third world countries because of their affordability, there are many benefits that are overlooked in western society, simply because of the way technical schools may be viewed in popular culture.  Here’s a look at some of the reason why technical schools are actually underrated.

Unlike two or four year colleges, technical and vocational schools offer short terms.  Many of the courses can be completed in a matter of months, or perhaps a year at most.  Because each course focuses only on one particular set of skills, rather than developing a number of complimentary schools as in typical college courses, there is much less time required.  Another advantage, particularly for those who don’t enjoy school, is that you don’t need to take core level classes designed to teach “life skills”, but instead can simply focus on the skills you’ll need for the area you’re specializing in.

Technical colleges also can be a lot less expensive than longer college courses.  Rather than paying for years of education, you can complete your short course, acquire the skills you need, and be about the business of doing the job you’ve trained for.  By attaining a certificate of achievement or skill, you eliminate the need to pay extra fees for books you’ll never use again, room and board, or other expenses that are only necessary at four year colleges.

There is a high demand for skilled professionals.  Because of the experience attained through certification type courses, the need for extra education is unnecessary.  For the most part, hiring managers in skilled labor type jobs are more interested in knowing that the skills are there than that the applicant has years of education.  In fact, many jobs looking for skilled professionals will pay more than they would for unskilled, overeducated candidates.

Many of these courses are also available online.  By doing the work in your town, you can get the book knowledge you need online and avoid extra classroom time and unnecessary travel.  Online schools are even known to be surpassing classroom oriented courses in terms of enrollees.

Technical or vocational schools also offer an opportunity for adults who did not do well in school to find their way into a skilled career and higher pay.  Attaining education through vocational and technical schools allows varied opportunities to learn a skill or trade.

Some of the other benefits will include the ability to be actively engaged in problem solving at work, the ability to engage in hands-on activities which allow the application of such knowledge, and challenges that offer greater responsibility.  Some of these careers may allow outdoor work, skills for emerging careers, and a flexibility that allows for growth.

Even if you do attend a technical school, you still have the option to transfer to a two or four year school after your completion if you decide that you want to.

Byline

Karl Stockton writes for newschoolarch.edu. For those interested in educational programs in architecture, contact newschoolarch to learn about their architecture program.

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