Discover Career Opportunities

How to Succeed in Your Next Job Interview

We may receive compensation when you click on product links from our partners. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

One of the most important decisions that every adult has to make is whether to graduate or start working right after school. In this article, we will look into the alternatives to higher education and the things you can do before seeking employment. 

Going to university or college might seem intimidating: all those essays, classes, sleepless nights, and demanding tutors can turn one to look for a job right after high school. 

University is a huge commitment of effort, money, and time. So before taking such a big step, you should figure out if it is the right path for you.

Tweet This

We are here to tell you that it doesn’t really have to be like this. Still, sooner or later, you’ll have to deal with the second part as well. Let’s discuss it in detail.

Formal and Informal Education

If you are having doubts about pursuing higher education right after school, better take a gap year. Have a whole year just for you. 

Take your time to get to know yourself, and understand your desires and passions. You can change several jobs to see which one fits you the best, or you can do nothing at all. Do whatever feels right.

There are many pros to informal education, i.e., learning through experience. Some universities like Harvard strongly recommend students do that. 

Taking a gap year is a great opportunity to raise a sense of self-independence and freedom without school. You can go traveling and explore the world.

Although there is one thing that you should be warned about. Some people get stuck at work after the gap year, turning the year into two and more.

After all, it seems convenient. Earning money feels good, and right after school, the minimum wage might seem like a lot. But don’t get fooled, in the worst-case scenario, if you don’t pursue that higher education, you can stay on the minimum wage for the rest of your life. 

Alternative Education

You might think that the occupation that you have chosen does not require higher education. In this case, it is still a good idea to take courses. Up-to-date knowledge will never hurt.

There are plenty of education opportunities apart from the conventional ones that we are used to. Instead of enrolling in the university, you could take a few months of business courses.

And who knows, maybe you can start a successful business immediately after school.

Vocational & Technical Schools - East: More Than 2,600 Vocational Schools East of the Mississippi River (Peterson's Vocational & Technical Schools & Programs: East)
$44.95 $17.61
Learn More
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
12/09/2024 04:03 am GMT

Vocational Training

If you are one of the few lucky people who know what they want to do while still in school, you can join a vocational training program. It is a job-specific, technical education that provides you with the most important skills and information.

Vocational training will allow you to skip the conventional formal education but still obtain the required knowledge in a shorter period of time. You can join the program while still in high school, or during the gap year. 

University or College

Enough is said about the alternative means of education. Studying in college or university is still an option worth considering. Although a college education might seem expensive, it will pay off later.

The more you stall, the harder it gets. With time, the human brain loses its ability to capture, remember, and analyze information. It is much harder for older adults to acquire new knowledge because their brains tend to “forget” how it’s done. 

When you have recently graduated from school, you feel fresh and aspiring, you are good at studying, and you know how it’s done. So, it is best to pursue higher education right after high school because it will be much harder when you are 30 and later.

Final Remarks

University is a huge commitment of effort, money, and time. So before taking such a big step, you should figure out if it is the right path for you. 

Consider all the alternative options above, and maybe one of them will fit you like a glove.

Paying for College, 2022: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College (2021) (College Admissions Guides)
$22.99


Buy on Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
12/09/2024 04:39 am GMT

What's next?

home popular resources subscribe search

You cannot copy content of this page