Do you have all the facts about your schooling options? If you are interested in becoming a doctor, lawyer, dentist, or other professional that requires a degree from a 4-year college then you have your path set. But, if you don’t want to spend 4 years or more preparing for a profession, consider attending a technical school.
College Level Options
There are several types of schools you can choose to attend at a career-development level. There are community colleges, technical schools, or 4-year colleges. Each has its own pros and cons, and for those of us with other responsibilities, we may not be able to commit to a 4-year college. So, should you pick a technical school or a community college?
Technical School Vs Community College
If you are looking to land a job in your given field, you may consider technical school. Although many community colleges will offer associate degrees or prepare you for a 4-year college, technical schools offer a complete education in a quicker turnaround. So, you must ask yourself what is important for you at this point in your life; a 4-year degree or a job.
What is a Community College?
Community colleges offer many different disciplines. They do offer AA degrees in many vocations but most students that attend community college have a goal of transferring to a 4-year college to finish out their degree program. This makes them a popular choice for students that want to save money and commute from the local community before they go off to a 4-year college. There are some disadvantages of attending a community college vs technical school.
A Minimum Commitment of Two Years
Since you are preparing for a degree program at a community college, you must take a set number of credits so you can transfer to a 4-year college. Most students must commit to at least two years, if not more to complete these preliminary courses. This means, it will likely take you a minimum of two years to get your AA degree at a community college.
Most Classes are Electives
Since community college is where many students will complete elective and prerequisite classes, these classes tend to be more generalized, teaching the basics that are fundamental to many different degree programs. From business, math and English to humanities and science, to elective courses like Astronomy, art history and foreign languages.
Focus on Graduation Instead of Job Market
You may find that not all students at a community college have the same passion and interest in preparing for a job after graduation as you do. If you roam the halls of many community colleges, you will notice that the students here may be less focused on preparing for their career and more focused on getting through the classes to find a job that provides additional training.
What is a Technical School?
A technical school, or vocational school, offers classes that prepare you for a specific job. They offer the technical knowledge and skills needed to start earning right out of school. The technical school teaches you only what you need to start working after graduation, with no elective courses or other superfluous classes on poetry, astronomy, art history or one of the other general education courses that are fun to take but may not translate directly to your new career.
What are the Benefits of Attending a Technical School?
There are many benefits to attending a technical school. From graduating sooner, getting a complete education in a specific job role, to having industry experienced instructors, smaller class sizes and career services. These benefits are what make a technical school more advantageous to many students that are looking to start a career rather than get a degree that doesn’t always translate to a specific job.
A Quick Start
Most technical schools offer programs that allow you to start a new career in less than one year. Some specialized professions can take a little longer, however almost all technical school programs take less time to complete than a traditional 4-year college. Getting a technical school diploma allows you to learn everything you need to start working and start earning on day one after graduation.
Classes that Are Key to Success
Technical schools work with the community within individual fields to understand what students need to be prepared and succeed after graduation. From medical assisting and computers to nursing and massage, the industry-experiences instructors at technical schools create a specific curriculum that will prepare you for your new career. And the best part is that many employers will look for technical school graduates to fill roles because they are already trained and need much less on-the-job training, saving the business time and money.
Industry Experienced Instructors
Most technical schools will look to hire instructors with industry experience, that have been in your shoes, started from an entry-level position and know exactly what you need to succeed. Plus, some instructors will be more than a teacher, but a mentor for you to thrive in your chosen field, offering networking opportunities and additional guidance throughout your career.
Smaller Class Sizes
Most technical schools believe that students learn in an environment that offers smaller class sizes. You won’t get lost in a sea of students with an instructor that may not even know you by name. At a technical school, you will get attention from instructors and have the ability to ask questions in an environment where no one is left behind.
Networking Opportunities
During a technical school program, you will meet and build relationships with different instructors and classmates. They will be a great network to share opportunities through your career. Down the road, you may be able to reach out to one of your technical school classmates and find out about an opportunity that can help you further your career. Networking is an important part of career success and technical schools can facilitate this for you.
Career Services
One of the best parts of graduating from a technical school is the career services they offer. Those community ties they create will enable them to be privy to many available jobs, even before the public hears about them. Not only can the career services department help match you with opportunities in your field, but they also help with resume preparation and interview skills. Although a job is not guaranteed after graduation, technical schools take every opportunity to match you with a job that fits your skill set so you succeed in your career.
Final Thoughts
Now that it is time to choose a career path, do you have the time to set out on a path that ends in a degree from a 4-year college, or do you want to start a new career in less than 12 months? Most technical college educations will take less time and offer hands-on experience in your chosen field. Take the path toward a new career in less time than traditional college and start your future today.
Want to Learn More?
Our professional, career-focused technical school programs, developed with industry input and adapted to the 21st century workplace, will provide technical school students on Long Island with the technical skills and abilities they need in the health care, business, and technical professions. See the Top Ten Reasons for choosing Hunter Business School.
Contact us today to find out more on how to become a technical school graduate on Long Island.