High School

You’re on the education interstate! Remember, you’re driving this car and your safe and successful arrival at your destination is in your hands.

Why go to college?

Everyone is different, so their motivation for attending college is different. If you are wondering if college is right for you, here are some reasons to go:

• College graduates earn more money throughout their lifetimes than people who attain only a high school diploma.
• More and more jobs require education beyond high school, so higher education increases your chances of finding, and maintaining, employment.

What school is right for you?

Different types of colleges suit different types of people. Consider your long-term goals when exploring your college options, and from there, decide which one best fits your needs.

There are many factors to consider. First and foremost, understand what you want to do with your life. You may find it hard to narrow your options to a specific occupation, like nursing, and instead choose to look at health sciences. Choosing a field, like health sciences, allows you to explore many options within the field before preparing for a specific occupation. A broad field of education might also help you navigate challenging economic times because you’ll have the background to work in multiple occupations in your field.

Once you know what you want to do, look at all the college options that can help you prepare. The following information may help you narrow your choices and find the college that is perfect for you!

• Programs of Study and Degree Options — Does the school offer the education and credential(s) you’ll need? If your chosen field requires an advanced degree, you’ll eventually attend a university. Colleges generally offer two-year and/or four-year programs, and some colleges specialize in two-year programs. Two-year colleges may be part of a larger system, such as a college of technology, or they may be independent, like community colleges and tribal colleges.
• Location, location, location — Compare characteristics for both in-state and out-of-state schools. Depending on your situation, you may find that certain schools offer more generous scholarships for your field of study. In-state schools generally offer reduced tuition for state residents – the savings can be significant.
  Also, whether you choose to attend school in state or out of state, think about the type of community in which you’ll be most comfortable and have access to recreational activities you enjoy. If you enjoy the energy of a city, you might feel right at home on a large campus. If the thought of being surrounded by strangers bothers you, a college in a small town may be a better fit.
• Cost — Make sure you have all the facts when evaluating the cost of college. Myths abound when it comes to this subject. You may have heard that private schools are always more expensive than public schools, but that’s not necessarily the case. You might be thinking you won’t be eligible for financial aid, but unless you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you won’t know for sure.

Factors to consider in choosing a college

Parents and students should consider a wide variety of factors when identifying prospective colleges. Free online services, high school counselors, family and friends can be good resources when narrowing down the field of higher education institutions. Some items to consider include:

• Curriculum/majors
• Quality of education
• Admission requirements
• Cost
• Accreditation (Visit www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ for more information about U.S. Secretary of Education regional and national accrediting agencies.)
• Facilities
• Campus life/recreation
• Location
• Retention and graduation rates

Types of degrees

If you decide to attend college, it’s wise to decide what type of degree you are interested in pursuing before beginning the application process. Five recognized types of degree programs exist:

• Certificate of Completion — These typically take anywhere from eight weeks to a year to complete. Careers including criminal justice, food service and financial planning, are examples of occupations that may require a certificate of completion.
• Associate’s Degree — This type of degree requires about 60 credit hours of study. Some examples of careers that require an associate’s degree are surgical technology and drafting technology. Many students who complete an associate’s degree program often transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.
• Bachelor’s Degree — Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete between 120 and 128 credit hours. Students pursuing professions such as public administration, computer systems development, human resources and more take this study path.
• Master’s Degree — In order to obtain a master’s degree, students must have already obtained a bachelor’s degree. Usually, students are required to write a thesis or be able to apply work experience to the degree program in order to obtain a degree.
• Doctoral Degree — It takes about five years for the average student to complete a doctoral degree. In order to obtain this degree, students must write a publishable thesis, complete their own original research and complete a course of study.