Life After High School

1. Life After High School PART II – the Nitty gritty

2. Options After High School • Military • Career/Technical Training • On the Job Training • Apprenticeship Training • College Keep in mind, a high school education without marketable skills prepares you only for the lowest paying jobs! You need to continue your education after high school in order to get a good paying job!

3. Military Training • The military trains people in more than 150 career paths. • Many military occupations involve skills and training that can be useful in civilian jobs. • Service members receive basic pay, allowances, and benefits, including tuition assistance at colleges and universities. • Branches – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard

4. Military Options • Military Academies • Very competitive • Some require a congressional nomination • All expense paid education • Post graduation military commitment • United States Military Academy – West Point, New York • United States Naval Academy – Annapolis, Maryland • United States Coast Guard Academy - New London, Connecticut • United States Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point, New York • United States Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs, Colorado • Direct Enlistment • Active duty vs reserves • Variable lengths of commitment • Develop personal discipline • Learn a skill • ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corp) • Scholarships available 1-4 years • Graduate as a Second Lieutenant • Postgraduate military commitment • Program available on many college campuses

5. Career/Technical Training • Community colleges, technical schools, and private career schools offer 6 month to 1 year certificate programs that show you are certified to do specialized work. • Some programs are longer (2 years) and may allow you to receive an Associates Degree. • State Licensure may be required after program completion.

6. Examples of Careers that Require Certificate Training • Pharmacy Technician • Dental Assistant • Legal Assistant • Computer Repair • Floral Designers • Medical Assistants • Fire Fighter • Cosmetologist • Heating and Air Conditioning Repair • Automotive Repair

7. On the Job Training • Some careers require completion of a formal, on the job training program. • You may have to pass an aptitude test, then receive formal training provided by an employer.

8. Examples of Careers that Require Formal On the Job Training • Flight Attendants • Bank Tellers • Emergency Dispatchers • Mail Carriers • Reservation and Ticket Agents • Retail • Food Service

9. Apprenticeship Training • An apprenticeship may last one to five years, depending on the career. • Apprentices work with experienced workers and complete some classroom training. • Apprentices earn wages while learning, but the wages are less that what he/she will make once the apprenticeship is completed.

10. Examples of Careers that Require Apprenticeship Training • Dental Laboratory Technicians • Mechanics • Heavy Equipment Operators • Carpenters • Welders • Electricians • Plumbers

11. College Options • Associates Degree (2 years) • Bachelor’s Degree (4 years) • Master’s Degree (2 years) • Doctoral Degree (2+ years)

12. Community College • Community colleges offer two year associates degrees that can be transferred to a four year college or university OR that can prepare you for a specific career without continuing your education. • Many students start at community colleges and then transfer to four year colleges/universities before receiving an associates degree.

13. Examples of Careers that Require Associates Degree Training • Physical Therapy Assistants • Nurses • Respiratory Therapists • Forestry Technicians • Interior Designers • Forensic Science Technicians • Engineering Technicians • Computer Networking Specialists • Dental Hygienist

14. Bachelor’s Degree Programs • Four year degree programs are offered through state and private colleges and universities. • Individuals with bachelor’s degrees typically receive higher wages and are in higher demand even in a career field that will accept an associates degree. • It is important for you to have a plan for what you want to study in college in order to increase the chances that this degree will be completed successfully.

15. Examples of Careers that Require A Bachelor’s Degree • Dietitians • Graphic Designers • Social Workers • Technical Writers • Financial Counselors • Meeting and Convention Planners • Teachers (EC-12th grade) • Game Warden • Engineers

16. Master’s and Doctorate Degrees • Master’s degrees are two year programs that take place after one has received a bachelor’s degree. • Master’s degrees often require a thesis. • Doctorate degrees either take place after a Master’s or are combined programs. • Doctorate degrees typically require a dissertation. • Doctorate degrees are called terminal degrees meaning they are the most advanced degree offered.

17. Careers that Require a Master’s or Doctorate Degree • Architects • Lawyers • Physicians • Pharmacists • Psychologists • Professors • College Administrators • Counselors • Librarians

18. After Narrowing Your Choices • Research programs/schools that have your career goal. Things to consider: • Cost/financial aid • Admissions requirements • Location • Reviews/Reputation • Time to Completion • Size • If you plan to get an master’s or doctorate degree, what is the acceptance rate into these programs? • If your career requires a certificate, what is the passing rate?

19. What Matters to You? • Small class sizes? • Personal atmosphere? • Opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities? • Having a greater number of facilities to choose from? • Larger, more sophisticated facilities…libraries, labs, etc? • Having more course offerings to choose form? • Going to a school that is well known? • Gaining specific skills? • Living on campus? • Admissions selectivity? • Church or religious affiliations? • Urban, rural, or suburban settings? • In state or out of state? • Cost?

20. Did you know? Adults with a degree are less likely to be unemployed and in general make more money than adults without a degree?

21. Deciding what to do after high school is a big job, but there are tools to help you! • Visit college and career fairs • Talk to people who go to the school, work in the career, or are in the branch of the military you are considering. • Volunteer or work part time in the area you are interested in. • Use online resources to find information • Seek information from your counselors, the College and Career Center staff, your family, your friends, and your teachers.