Choices after High School - Apprenticeship

But crucially, the apprenticeship schemes benefit apprentices themselves, who get a good foundation for a
career, and it helps to open doors and break down barriers that some people face.
Matt Hancock

May 2, 2023 by April Klazema Leave a Comment

If you had not attended college, what would you do to make money?

Everyone you know thinks college is the gateway to a well-paying job and financial stability. But what if college wasn’t an option for you?

Or what if, for whatever reason, you chose not to attend?

If you had not attended college, what would you do to make money?

You may feel your options are limited or that success is unattainable without higher education, but fear not – there are many ways to make money and build a successful career outside of traditional academia.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the many paths available to those without a college degree. From skilled trades to entrepreneurship and beyond, we’ll give you the critical information you need to build your future today. So whether you’re considering skipping college altogether or looking for alternative ways to make money, read on!

[Read more…]

March 27, 2023 by April Klazema Leave a Comment

Is the Predetermined Path to the ‘Right’ College Worth It for Our Kids?

As parents, we are always viewing the lives of our children as a succession of stepping stones or building blocks. We’ve been told that we should play our kids music when they are babies so that they get a head start on mental development. We’re told that we need to enroll them in the best pre-schools, to give them a head start on education. We’re told that we need to push them harder throughout elementary school so that they can get into academically “talented and gifted” programs. We’re told that we need to make sure our kids are taking accelerated courses and SAT and ACT prep courses in high school so that they can get good grades, score high on standardized tests, and get into the “right college.” We’re even told that our kids need to fill their schedules with extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, special clubs, and societies, and more—not because our kids are passionate about those things, but because this stuff looks good on college applications.

In theory, this long series of stepping stones—and the general wisdom that recommends them—are supposed to lead our children to higher-paying, more fulfilling, and all around better jobs. We figure that, if all our pushing and nagging can point our kids toward big professional opportunities, everything will have been worth it.

[Read more…]

March 3, 2023 by April Klazema 1 Comment

Should Our Focus Move Back to Skills-Based Training Instead of a College Education?

There’s a common perception that a college education results in a high salary and quality of life, but dropout rates and crippling debt often go unconsidered. Nowadays, a significant portion of college graduates struggle to find work, and high university fees and loan interest rates can affect a person’s income for many years after graduation. Skills-based training, on the other hand, costs significantly less than a bachelor’s degree and takes two years to complete rather than four. Could skills-based training be more beneficial for today’s high school students? Or, should people still believe that they must aim for university?

[Read more…]

February 21, 2023 by April Klazema Leave a Comment

What a Changing World Will Need from Its Workers

For many, many years, most colleges and universities around the country have emphasized the importance of “a well-rounded liberal arts education.” It’s this kind of educational path that requires students to take courses and accumulate credits from a wide range of disciplines—including humanities, communication, math, science and technology, social science, and more. These credit requirements—usually referred to as “General Education” requirements, or Gen-Eds—form the backbone of a student’s college education at many U.S. institutions of higher learning. The question is, are these schools that preach versatility and “well-rounded” education giving students the tools they need to succeed in the modern workplace?

[Read more…]

January 5, 2023 by Jodie King 3 Comments

Jump off the college academic treadmill

Should you consider jumping off the college academic treadmill?

The future becomes instantly complicated once you reach leaving school age. There is the safe decision that takes you to college or you can select the unknown. Colleges address those choices in a way that makes students believe the bold and brave decision is to continue on in higher education. That is the decision that most make. It is a very well-rehearsed, almost ordained path that educational establishments and parents alike tend to feel is the right way for every student to go. These days learning is a very different experience. Let’s just step off the college academic treadmill for a moment and consider what other options students have at their disposal.

[Read more…]