<p>I noticed this article in the paper - <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/business/manufacturers-scramble-to-fill-jobs-struggle-to-recruit-women-b99372472z1-279720472.html">http://www.jsonline.com/business/manufacturers-scramble-to-fill-jobs-struggle-to-recruit-women-b99372472z1-279720472.html</a></p>
<p>Although it focuses on women in manufacturing, it could apply to either gender hs student that wants technical training instead of academic college route. </p>
<p>Thanks for this. I really wish someone would write a book on options like this. I was at the optician’s the other day and they can still train on the job, then get licensed via exam. Medical careers, insurance, manufacturing, cabinet-making, yoga instuction, etc.etc. I feel that those for whom college is not a fit have few paths drawn for them, at least paths that enable them to move forward financially and hold their heads up high.</p>
<p>My son is taking this alternate route. He did extremely well in HS—many APs (all with 4s and 5s), a perfect 800 on his verbal SAT, straight As—but in hindsight we should have known traditional college wasn’t for him. Getting him to apply or look at schools was like pulling teeth; his lack of enthusiasm was palpable.</p>
<p>He was accepted to a well-known state school for engineering as well as the honors college. Unfortunately it took a whole year for him to fully realize it wasn’t for him (we had a strong idea after first semester, but he insisted he still wanted to go back and try again). </p>
<p>He is now commuting to a technical college and studying for 2 Associates degrees in 3 years (heavy equipment and diesel technician). His grades are excellent now and between his APs and high SATs, he got out of most of the gen ed requirements. He comes home smelling of oil and tired every day, but he is much happier.</p>
<p>I think people nowadays don’t think about or mention these options because everyone is focused on traditional college and the white collar path. Blue collar jobs are for people who don’t have the smarts (totally not true—you better hope the guy servicing or building that airplane has a good understanding of math and science). Some may think my son isn’t “living up to his potential”, but why? He works with his hands, enjoys it, comes home and writes published fiction in the evenings. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>I will say that in my research I discovered a wide variety in the quality of the technical programs. Some are for-profit schools and many of the reviews are not good. A community college can often be a better bet, or a school like my son’s, which offers everything from a certificate to a Bachelor’s and is fully accredited and affiliated with a traditional university.</p>
<p>We knew when our son was in high school that he wanted to work with his hands, but he was in a district that was all “college or bust” and it wasn’t until I had him switch residences from his dad’s to mine and got him into an alternative program where he was happy. He went on to the military where he trained in machine repair, got out and added a community college welding certificate, and now is the only person in a company without a 4-year degree where he runs experiments on building integrity (that’s the best way I can describe it). He loves what he does, gets paid very well, travels, and because of his other training, is having fun fixing up a boat he bought at auction and now a small commercial truck. He’s happy and doing what he loves-isn’t that-SHOULDN’T that-be the goal for all kids?</p>
<p>One reason why I think kids shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend college while they are unencumbered with other responsibilities.
A college degree opens doors that a high school diploma does not. While it is still possible certainly to attend college after you are 28, it is much more difficult.
It doesn’t take much bad luck to be injured so you can no longer perform your very physical job or to have your industry shut down or move out of state/out of the country.
Without a degree, you may be making good money at 25 and not mind the forced overtime, but when you are 45 and have only had cost of lving increases that barely keep up with inflation, and your local of degree means you’ve hit the ceiling in your field, it’s pretty frustrating.</p>
<p>If you know you will be self employed all your life, don’t get a degree if you think you don’t need it. ( Although it will be an asset in general when selling your credibility & skill)
But for Hs job, new hires have at least a two year certificate, if not a four yr degree. But still need hands on experience, so he trains them in his shop, then they move ahead in the company. Id tried to encourage him to go back to school, but it has been so long that he wont consider it. But he’s very smart, especially regarding his job. He should have been an engineer but his family made him think he wasn’t college " material".
Now H has not had any classes ( except when both of us took a drafting class at my behest, before we were married), outside of work, so he has reached his level totally on the back of his previous work experience.
There are many vocational programs available, and there should be no embarrassment about attending vocational school or community college.
I know quite a few people my age with degrees, who needed or wanted to change fields in order to stay employed, who have gotten training at a community college in order to do so. ( one was even a college prof, who became sick of the high drama of an English dept, and is now working as a nurse)</p>
<p>I agree that the trades require just as much inteligence, perhaps much more so than being a paper pusher, all the more reason to get a degree if it is at all an option.
But most people I know who are carpenters, plumbers, electricians- who have their own company, already have at least a BA.
I mean if someone who is going to be an artist or dancer is encouraged to get a degree, why wouldnt someone who you want to wire your house, or build a retaining wall?</p>
<p>This may not be general knowledge:classes at a community college may be transferable at some point to a four year school more so than classes at a vocational school. Might be worth thinking about. However, there are schools like Antioch, who will let prove your knowledge for credit towards a degree, and TESC, which will allow you to use your two year vocational program from a community college for an * upside down degree*, and take two years of more general college courses at Evergreen for a diploma.</p>
<p>IMO college is not for everyone – some people’s interests and aptitudes may lead them to learning a trade. Better to be a successful and happy welder, mechanic, etc than a miserable college graduate. My S has a friend who always struggled in HS and he started college and dropped out after 3 weeks – he went to a technical school and learned to be a mechanic and now he’s doing great and is very happy. And whenever I get a bill from my plumber, I think a solid trade is a good way to go for some! </p>
<p>Interesting comments about college degree in the mix too. The welder featured in the article had an anthropology degree first. </p>
<p>College is not for everyone but I really agree with emeraldkity’s post. I have seen many older students struggling to go back and pick up a bachelor’s for career advancement when they realize that many doors are indeed shut without that piece of paper. It’s much easier to get it when you’re young and don’t have other responsibilities.</p>
<p>S2 is a college grad. but knew by middle of senior year that he didn’t want to work in the field he had majored in (B.S. Criminal Justice). </p>
<p>He now works for a small company that does contract work for nuclear power plants. He learned the skills needed on the job. He is the only person in the company who has a 4 year degree. He prob. won’t do this job forever but hopes this job will help him get a different job within the same industry. We are happy that he’s doing well. We do not regret sending him to college. That four year degree might come in handy somewhere down the road. </p>
<p>I just attended an event this week with a similar message. The important thing for all our DC is to have a plan. How are they going to obtain skills at which they can support themselves? Some will need a 2 year degree while some will need grad school but it needs to be their plan. Some are not mature enough to plan beyond that 2 year degree at age 17. Forcing a 4 year degree on a kid “just in case” is a waste of money. However, going to college “undecided” is fine if the issue is not being able to choose an exact field of study yet being committed to studying. </p>
<p>Many people with bachelor’s or even master’s are going to community college or doing other vocational training once they have a specific career goal to work toward, but I still read the article with an eye toward those who have not done or finished college (so many kids), even if the guy in the article had a BA. </p>
<p>Of course a 4 year college degree is a wonderful thing. But I know several young people for whom that is not an option. The parents won’t pay at all and the kids working long hours at low paying jobs are not able to pay themselves. And it is impossible to go to school while working at a fast food place enough hours to pay rent.</p>
<p>I also know many kids for whom academic study is just not their thing, and even harms them in terms of self-esteem.</p>
<p>It would be great if everyone could afford college or manage to perform in college in a way that ensures both learning and a feeling of success, but it is just not reality.</p>
<p>The welding program did not require a BA: that was the important thing about it for me.</p>
<p>p.s. the field of dance has been greatly affected by the pressure for college and it is not always a good thing…</p>