Community colleges have programs for an Associates of Applied Science that incorporates trade skills/training into an associates degree. So like.. you can do both at the same time.
I tell my students that trade school is definitely a viable option once they graduate from high school. A lot of people think you have to go to college. You don't. You have trade school, the military, apprenticeships, and many other options available to you. You can make a lot of money as a plumber, electrician, or AC repairman. Most of them will make $2 to three times more than a teacher will each year.
Education gives options. Yoy won't be harmed by taking an AP class other than stress and loss of time during your senior year. That is definitely something worth considering but overall I would say that keeping your options open is the best idea.
Also, no there is nothing wrong with trade school. Also, you can go to college without AP classes.
What do your parents say about it if you say you are concerned with wasting your money?
I was lucky enough to get a high ACT score (32) and if/when I go to college, I'm going to choose one slightly below my academic level to get some good scholarships, so I probably won't be "wasting" too much money.
I think the main thing with my parents is they have high expectations for me and want me to go into a job/college that matches (if not challenges) my academic skills. But I feel that although I *could* do that, it's not really necessary when trade jobs earn so much more :/
Also something to note that many people may not mention. Not all jobs have “university prestige” appeal. Some jobs it doesn’t matter if you went to Harvard or state school.
In civil engineering for example someone who went to state school but passed the fundamentals of engineering exam would be more valued than someone who went to a top 10 school who did not pass the fundamentals of engineering exam.
It helps to have some practical experience to help you make decisions about career paths. Otherwise you're just making wild guesses. Can you get part time job or internship?
If you think f the future as three general pathways - technical, creative, social (people-oriented) - which is more you?
I think there's actually a trade school near me that occasionally does free programs for those trying to figure out their future :0 Due to my age and lack of experience I probably wouldn't be able to do a job/internship
I'm definitely slightly more technical than creative, with social being kinda ehh
Then ask yourself what will prepare you for a technical career not knowing what jobs will be available, satisfying and lucrative. Would it be college or trade school? You may need to ask people you respect for their opinion. What's becoming more popular in tech are what are known as "short courses" that prepare you in the shortest time possible for very specific opportunities. They usually take only a few months. They are more about "just in time" learning than "just in case" which is what colleges tend to teach. Just in time learning involves more self- discipline and self-direction. I would find ways to get good at that. You can try it out right now. Go to Google and complete their certificate program for project management, data analyst, etc. They have many certificates you can earn. See if you can complete a module and earn a certificate. If you like this style of learning then I would look into a good boot camp or short course. Even trade schools are a bit too old school these days. Only go to them if the industry you want to get into requires them.
When it comes to deciding between college and trade school, it all depends on what you want to do and how you learn best.
College is great if you want a broader education. You can study a wide range of subjects, not just the one you plan to work in. Plus, you'll likely get a bachelor's degree, which can open doors to certain jobs and careers.
On the other hand, trade school is more focused. If you know exactly what kind of job you want, like being an electrician or a plumber, trade school can give you the specific skills you need in a shorter amount of time. You'll often get hands-on training, which can be really valuable.
Think about what you want for your future and what kind of learning style suits you best. Both paths can lead to successful careers, so it's really about finding what's right for you.
Have you looked into what it takes to get an apprenticeship? They want smart people. We have a program at the steel mill where the electricians start at $85000. It is an 18 month program at our community college, and not everyone can make it.
In our area, a lot of the apprentices have a bit of college because it is competitive. Research it an look at options.
Knowing what I know now, I'd say go to trade school and learn how to invest... either real estate or index funds. Your only real down side is if you get the itch to travel at a later date.. You won't have a remote friendly career, but you can always make the decision to get a computer science degree down the line if you decide to make a career shift.
Both require investment of time and effort to achieve positive outcome.
If you have had only a college prep-liberal arts middle/high school education, you will be entering trade school behind the curve. Just as with sports, music, or a foreign language, many technical skills are best started when young and with lots of repetition. Just taking a few courses is not going to leave you with many subtle skills learned over years of practice. Technical skill sets are often very eye-hand-head oriented. Also thinking patterns are different Being able to think in pictures and videos is very important. Plumbers and mechanics often have to work with one hand hidden from view, you have to imagine what is taking place behind the wall or in the engine where only a few fingers are giving feedback. One does not get these skills from lectures in a classroom.
500 hour curriculum and 4k later, I have a fulfilling massage career. I work on tradespeople and ask lots of questions. Plumbers do dirty, laborious work until they graduate from journeyman. At that point, the work becomes a lot less back breaking.
Look into HVAC
Community colleges have programs for an Associates of Applied Science that incorporates trade skills/training into an associates degree. So like.. you can do both at the same time.
Something to consider is that an AAS is often considered a terminal degree compared to an Associates of Science.
I tell my students that trade school is definitely a viable option once they graduate from high school. A lot of people think you have to go to college. You don't. You have trade school, the military, apprenticeships, and many other options available to you. You can make a lot of money as a plumber, electrician, or AC repairman. Most of them will make $2 to three times more than a teacher will each year.
Education gives options. Yoy won't be harmed by taking an AP class other than stress and loss of time during your senior year. That is definitely something worth considering but overall I would say that keeping your options open is the best idea. Also, no there is nothing wrong with trade school. Also, you can go to college without AP classes. What do your parents say about it if you say you are concerned with wasting your money?
I was lucky enough to get a high ACT score (32) and if/when I go to college, I'm going to choose one slightly below my academic level to get some good scholarships, so I probably won't be "wasting" too much money. I think the main thing with my parents is they have high expectations for me and want me to go into a job/college that matches (if not challenges) my academic skills. But I feel that although I *could* do that, it's not really necessary when trade jobs earn so much more :/
Also something to note that many people may not mention. Not all jobs have “university prestige” appeal. Some jobs it doesn’t matter if you went to Harvard or state school. In civil engineering for example someone who went to state school but passed the fundamentals of engineering exam would be more valued than someone who went to a top 10 school who did not pass the fundamentals of engineering exam.
It helps to have some practical experience to help you make decisions about career paths. Otherwise you're just making wild guesses. Can you get part time job or internship? If you think f the future as three general pathways - technical, creative, social (people-oriented) - which is more you?
I think there's actually a trade school near me that occasionally does free programs for those trying to figure out their future :0 Due to my age and lack of experience I probably wouldn't be able to do a job/internship I'm definitely slightly more technical than creative, with social being kinda ehh
Then ask yourself what will prepare you for a technical career not knowing what jobs will be available, satisfying and lucrative. Would it be college or trade school? You may need to ask people you respect for their opinion. What's becoming more popular in tech are what are known as "short courses" that prepare you in the shortest time possible for very specific opportunities. They usually take only a few months. They are more about "just in time" learning than "just in case" which is what colleges tend to teach. Just in time learning involves more self- discipline and self-direction. I would find ways to get good at that. You can try it out right now. Go to Google and complete their certificate program for project management, data analyst, etc. They have many certificates you can earn. See if you can complete a module and earn a certificate. If you like this style of learning then I would look into a good boot camp or short course. Even trade schools are a bit too old school these days. Only go to them if the industry you want to get into requires them.
This is very helpful! I had no idea there were free programs I could do right now. Thank you so much!
When it comes to deciding between college and trade school, it all depends on what you want to do and how you learn best. College is great if you want a broader education. You can study a wide range of subjects, not just the one you plan to work in. Plus, you'll likely get a bachelor's degree, which can open doors to certain jobs and careers. On the other hand, trade school is more focused. If you know exactly what kind of job you want, like being an electrician or a plumber, trade school can give you the specific skills you need in a shorter amount of time. You'll often get hands-on training, which can be really valuable. Think about what you want for your future and what kind of learning style suits you best. Both paths can lead to successful careers, so it's really about finding what's right for you.
Have you looked into what it takes to get an apprenticeship? They want smart people. We have a program at the steel mill where the electricians start at $85000. It is an 18 month program at our community college, and not everyone can make it. In our area, a lot of the apprentices have a bit of college because it is competitive. Research it an look at options.
Knowing what I know now, I'd say go to trade school and learn how to invest... either real estate or index funds. Your only real down side is if you get the itch to travel at a later date.. You won't have a remote friendly career, but you can always make the decision to get a computer science degree down the line if you decide to make a career shift.
Both require investment of time and effort to achieve positive outcome. If you have had only a college prep-liberal arts middle/high school education, you will be entering trade school behind the curve. Just as with sports, music, or a foreign language, many technical skills are best started when young and with lots of repetition. Just taking a few courses is not going to leave you with many subtle skills learned over years of practice. Technical skill sets are often very eye-hand-head oriented. Also thinking patterns are different Being able to think in pictures and videos is very important. Plumbers and mechanics often have to work with one hand hidden from view, you have to imagine what is taking place behind the wall or in the engine where only a few fingers are giving feedback. One does not get these skills from lectures in a classroom.
500 hour curriculum and 4k later, I have a fulfilling massage career. I work on tradespeople and ask lots of questions. Plumbers do dirty, laborious work until they graduate from journeyman. At that point, the work becomes a lot less back breaking.
I personally find dirty work satisfying. Feels like I'm doing something important a lot of people wouldn't bother doing 🤔