Westborough, as well as some surrounding towns, have a certain stigma around what students will do leading up to, and post graduation. Oftentimes, people tend to think that a 4-year college is the only way to go about post high school life, but some don’t even know that there are numerous other opportunities. Listed below are some of the lesser known “options” post-grad, as well as the more commonly known paths with their pros and cons.
Four-Year College/University:
- Can prepare for a wide-range of professional careers
- Challenging
- Lack of structure/support
- Depending on the college little to no individualized education programs (IEP’s)
- Smaller schools offer more attention while bigger schools often have more resources
*Would recommend checking which colleges CAN offer more support if needed
Two-Year College/University:
- Good option for those who aren’t ready to choose their career path
- Have the option to move onto a four-year school when ready
- Can strengthen skills + still prepare students for careers
- May offer more tutoring/training opportunities
The pros to attending any college would be how there is a higher learning potential, as well as more access to jobs; but, with that being said there is also a high cost to attend.
Trade and Certificate Programs:
- Offer a direct path towards specific jobs
- Wide-range of areas including web design, electronics, and medical assistance
- Colleges also offer certificate programs
- Provide more supervision to help students keep up with work
- Often offer internships or apprenticeships that may help move you into the workforce
The Military:
- Good option for those who thrive on structure and physical activity
- Involves practice + repetition
- Service can lead to a job or a college-level education
- Military does have certain rules for qualifying if a person has taken ADHD medicine in the past of needs special accommodations
Gap Year:
- Colleges will allow students to defer enrollment for a year
- Many spend this time exploring their interests through travel, internships, volunteer experiences or a job.
Work:
- Going straight into work is a good option if schooling doesn’t feel right
- Hard to get a job at times especially if they have no experience
- Consider volunteering to build skills
The pros of not going to college after high school mainly include how you won’t be spending as much money, and rather will be making more, as well as the fact that you will gain life skills and more independence earlier on. With that being said, there also can be limited job opportunities, as well as potential challenges in career placements.
Sources:
After high school: Different ways to thrive
