Four Year University or College

You can opt for a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in a subject of your choice and may declare an “undecided” major. In this way you can take general classes for a few semesters until you are sure of what you would like to major in. Colleges usually provide academic advisors to each student to guide them in the right direction. It takes four years to complete your degree and you study a variety of courses. This allows you exposure to a number of different fields and sectors of industry which may assist you in making the final decision.

Two Year Community or Technical College

A community or technical college offers an Associate’s Degree (A.A. or A.S.) which takes two years to complete. It is usually less expensive than the four-year college and university degrees.  An Associate’s degree is usually easily transferred to a larger university where one can continue to earn a Bachelor’s degree if so desired. There are flexible schedules and are usually easier to get admission into as long as one has a high school or GED degree.

Distance Learning

For those opting to start a job right after high school, distance learning offers a way to continue with college from the comfort of one’s home. Many noted colleges and universities now have an e-campus branch that is taught by equally qualified professionals offering quality education online. E-learning programs allow immense flexibility. One can structure their schedule to perfectly suit their busy lives.

Noted universities offer 24hour support for these classes and conduct classes through online discussions with other students, videoconferencing, and assigned homework assignments and tests. Proctored exams are taken to ensure accurate test taking. They are usually priced in an equal manner as a traditional university course.

Joining the Military

A safe option is to enroll in the military after high school. It gives you exposure to life and helps you learn more about yourself and you strengths. The U.S. Armed Forces offers full financial support for your entire college when you enroll.
Even though you may be deployed when needed, your education is provided at no cost to you.

Work and Study After High School

With the economy in its current state, many individuals are seeking jobs right after high school. Gaining work experience immediately after school can benefit one in the future. However, it is most beneficial when this is a short term goal to earn enough money to go to college later or to study while working. Internships are another way to delay after school college and yet advance your career. Employment in the field in which you are considering a career in will be most beneficial.

There are a number of options are available to high school graduates and even though college an education is teh best option, there are many ways to approach it. It is essential to explore the different options and pick one that is best suited for your lifestyle, finances and career goals.

High School Diploma Requirements

People who want or need basic high-school-level reading, writing and mathematical skills can benefit from online high school education. In our modern, high-technology and information-based society, workers must possess at least some basic educational skills in order to enter the workplace and successfully find rewarding jobs in the manufacturing and service industries.

This diploma is also the mandatory foundation for further education, such as college or university studies, leading to professional careers in health care, business, finance and other high-paying professions. Institutions of higher learning almost always require that students who apply must have a high school diploma before being admitted to college.

How to get an online high school diploma

The first step toward success is to recognize the potential benefits and rewards of having a diploma, the second step is to decide which online school to attend, and the third step is to enroll and complete the course work satisfactorily. Fortunately, online schools let you complete the courses without pressure, by working at your own pace. If you have the discipline and the desire to gain valuable education, then an online high school diploma can be the key to a better future.

After researching your available options, you should enroll in the online school that offers the best match for your needs. Adults who approach the course work with disciplined, consistent study habits should be able to complete the course requirements within six months in most cases. The challenge of completing the course will be outweighed by the feeling that comes when you have your diploma.

Why is a high school diploma important?

Confidence is the key to success in the workplace and in the business world. Although the “paper” diploma is worthy of framing and display, the best reason for completing an online high school course is that you will have additional confidence in knowing your own level of knowledge allows you to be competitive when seeking a job.

During times of economic difficulty, as when the economy is beginning to recover from recession, employers choose their new employees very carefully, and they typically prefer job candidates who have at least a diploma. When you have it, a prospective employer can see that you have the necessary basic skills to help build his or her business and they will be more likely to hire you.

If you are considering your options to pursue a brighter future, and especially if you seek a better life through education, an online high school diploma is a very good choice.

The value of this diploma will quickly repay your investment of time and money to achieve it. If you are thinking about a better future with a high school diploma, you should contact an education counselor today.

This view has been changing for quite some time now. Even though a college education is still as important as it has been for many years, the prohibitive costs of tertiary schooling have made people more amenable to other options after the high school diploma. Though online high schools have made it easier for more people to finish high school and the GED had helped provide more opportunities for a college education, many individuals are considering other alternatives to college degrees. Others cite the fact that since there are many other career paths that don’t require a college degree, then why waste time and money going through the college system. Let’s discuss the 4 options open to a high school graduate and how each option could affect one’s life after high school.

1. Go to work right after finishing high school

Some consider working as a rite of passage. Working right after high school means that you’re taking your place in society as an adult. Holding down your own job not only requires you to be more responsible, it also places you into a position that demands experience rather than book smarts. Yes, a mailroom job may not be much at first, but an entry-level job inside a big company can be an opportunity for you to move up. Some of the most successful individuals worked their way up this way and they have never looked back since.

2. Enroll in a trade or vocational course after high school

Learning a trade can be an illuminating once you understand the benefits. For one, being skilled at a trade can be a starting point for consulting jobs around your community; there’s always a need in skilled trades. You could also save on expenses if you happen to be handy around the house. Now you wouldn’t need to hire someone to tinker with those small jobs. Lastly, there are high-paying jobs in the skilled category. These jobs even rival careers that require a college education.

3. Enroll in a 2-year Associate degree after high school

A compromise between learning a new trade and a 4-6year college education is obtaining an associate degree. This type of education compresses academic units in such a way that you’ll be able to work in the field within a shorter duration. You will only need 2 years to finish the program. After completion you will have a good mix of academic knowledge and experience that can be impressive to employers early on. For example, a Pre-Kindergarten Associate degree can be taken by those who want to enter the field of early childhood education and later obtaining a teaching degree after.

4. Enroll in a 4-year College degree after high school

Of course, going to college is still a good choice. The 4-years of study can bring you a better return because you’ll be able to get jobs of a higher pay scale after you graduate. This is the trade off you get with the time and money you spend on a college education. It is a benefit that most will still see valuable even in these changing times.

Of course, online high schools wouldn’t be able to work smoothly without help. In this case, it is the parents who have a crucial role in successful home schooling. It’s an investment that shifts the attention from just paying the premium of a tuition fee to exerting active efforts to cultivate a culture of thinking at home. We can even be bold enough to say that online high schools wouldn’t have progressed without the cumulative efforts made by parents.

How could a parent then help out? There are essential matters that parents need to remember with online high schools; here are five of the most important.

1. At least one parent has to stay at home for online high schools to work

The value of a traditional tuition fee lies in the expectation that the school would be taking care of most of the child’s education. It’s the price we pay for renting the schools premises, the teachers’ expertise, the opportunities for socialization, and everything that is needed in the high school experience.

Online high schools take these things differently primarily because of its online learning format. In lieu of the traditional school services, it is the stay-at-home parent that would provide most of what’s needed. In exchange for a lowered tuition, he or she would be coordinating the education of the online high school-enrolled child. In the case of special needs children or working children, the value having a parent stay at home becomes even more evident. This also ensures that the child still has or experiences something akin to normal schooling, with schedules, homework, projects and such.

2. Virtual schools are not just about online activities

Though most of the work would be done online, enrolling in an online high school does not really mean that it will just be all about online activities. Home-schooled children should be able to apply the principles they’ve learned from their classes to practical or real-life situations. This means that though a child may not be required to pass a diorama online (and it would be impossible to do so), we should provide extra learning activities to facilitate the child’s learning.

3. Socialization is still important with online study

Given that there is little to no actual socialization involved in an online high school program, it makes sense for parents to create their own ways of providing socialization opportunities for their children. For example, given guidance, parents could allow children to work their way with social network sites and enable their children to cultivate friendships online. Parents may also become more active in their respective communities, and it is with this that they could integrate their child’s daily living activities.

4. Children in online high schools need stricter home schedules

Since studying in an online high school really means studying at home, it really is easy to confuse it with the freedom to do “whatever one wants”. Though an online education provides this form of flexibility, it also means that stricter home schedules are needed for a child to be able to finish his classes and do his extra activities. In a way, more learning actually occurs because of the time involved in the study, but for the most part, actual learning could only occur if the schedules were stricter.

5. Online high schools require children to be responsible

Parents should also need to be mindful that they should cultivate responsibility in their children. Though parents could coordinate and online high schools could provide content, a child’s online study is dependent on his ability to learn by himself. It is the child who earns the diploma anyway, so we have to make the child realize how important that he learn how to regulate and motivate himself for learning.

For those who are quick on the uptake, they would tend to think of one additional benefit of the GED: one doesn’t need to go to high school anymore! Provided that one could pass the GED tests, one might think that this could translate to a whole lot of savings (e.g. tuition fees, school materials, gas, etc.), not to mention the degree of freedom and flexibility that this could bring to an adolescent kid. Is a traditional high school worth it?

The Benefits of GED

Developed by the American Council on Education, the GED tests were designed to evaluate the competencies of individuals in five subjects: Language Arts: Writing, Language Arts: Reading, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. Test takers pass the exam if they get a result which is higher than the 60^th percentile of scores of the seniors for that year. It was first developed to cater to the needs of World War II veterans, and has expanded to accommodate the needs of any individual who didn’t get to finish high school.

Given this, one can actually go the route of home schooling to finish all the educational requirements prior to higher education. This in turn, leads to a dozen different opportunities for children to expand their knowledge without being restricted by a traditional high school. Kids could choose what to learn and how to learn it, although mindful that they should tackle the topics that would require them to pass the GED tests. Parents also save more, and given the economic recession, this idea is not that far-fetched.

Why a High School Diploma Matters

On the other side of the coin, high school is the default level of schooling for adolescents and is designed to prepare them for higher learning. Secondary education differs from country to country, but all are similar in the sense that high school education takes time. This has lots of benefits though, one of which is the cultivation of social networks, i.e. friends, and the actual act of socializing with other people. Though there are ways to do that in a home school situation, it’s still easier to forge friendships within a traditional high school. Another benefit is that you pay the premium of having experts teach your kids with the basic foundations of different fields of study. Though there will be variations in the standards of each school, the principle is still the same. Lastly, the years of high school education becomes valuable to those who went through it, a time in which many still cherish in their old age.

High School Diploma, GED, and Everything in Between

To answer the question, we could only say that the high school diploma and the GED are meant for different things and addresses different concerns – both have their uses. If, for example, you’re a 45-year old business owner who didn’t finish high school, one wouldn’t even recommend that he enroll in a high school. (An online high school may be different matter though) For a child who has no special learning needs or can otherwise study in a normal school environment, then taking the GED might not be always the best choice. Our take on this is, just be mindful on the benefits of each and decide from that point on.

Why go to an online high school?

There are lots of reasons why families would opt to send their children to an online high school. For one, it benefits children who for some reason wouldn’t be able to go to a traditional high school. Child athletes, celebrities, and performers are part of an online high school’s student body, but it isn’t rare to have other home-schooled children to enroll. Children with special learning needs, including those who are ill and need to be bed-ridden, who are otherwise able to benefit from online study also have a lot to gain from this kind of education.

How do you choose an online high school?

If you or your child has decided to enroll in a virtual high school, there are two viable options available: private online schools, and university-sponsored schools. Private online schools are much like their traditional counterparts, in a sense that each school will vary in terms of cost, educational philosophy, and distance-learning format. On the other hand, university-sponsored schools were created to complement their university counterparts, also varying its characteristics depending on the online university it is affiliated with. Both kinds of schools bestow a state-approved high school diploma, so the choice of one or the other would depend only on your preferences.

Online high schools also vary in terms of the quality of education they provide. One could usually determine this by first investigating the school’s cohort survival rate, i.e. the number of students that graduated from the school, and the percentage of students that had gone to college. Simply said, the more graduates a school has, the better the quality of its teaching. Other measures of quality include the educational qualifications of the faculty, and the type of services that the school offers its students.

How could you prepare your child for an online high school?

There are many ways in which one could prepare for an online education. For children who would do most of their studying at home, it is best that at least one parent stay with them to supervise their learning. Remember, a home education doesn’t necessarily mean a lax education; sometimes, one even needs to be more strict about its implementation. Establish a personalized study space for your child, and establish study schedules in which the child would need to follow. Though it is quite tempting to intersperse a child’s educational activities with that of the families, a fixed schedule would still be recommended. Also, remember to provide opportunities for your child to socialize.

For children who would do most of their work on the road, be sure to reserve whole days in which the child would just devote their time to school work. If a busy schedule does not permit such an approach, a compromise could be done by just establishing study periods whenever there is time.

Online high schools are the future

Online high schools provide opportunities that are unparalleled by traditional schools. Though there will still be some misunderstandings about online education, its very existence provides hope and gives individuals a sense of belonging when it seems that there is none. One cannot over-emphasize the importance of this, and with that, no child really is left behind.

Go to college without finishing high school by getting a GED certificate

The GED or General Education Development certificate was made specifically for people who haven’t had the benefit of finishing high school. Obtained by taking a test, the GED certificate can be used in lieu of a high school diploma. The GED test serves to evaluate a person’s competencies in standard high school topics, summarily divided into the Language Arts, Reading, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics. Review classes are given for GED but are not mandatory; the students are only required pass a pre-test that would allow them to take the actual GED test. International students who plan to enroll in an online program based in the US are also suggested to take the test so that instant equivalencies could be used for their subjects. This route also allows international students to earn their online degrees faster so it’s something to keep in mind.

Go to college without finishing high school by crediting life experience

Some online universities give credit to the work and life experience of a student recognizing the fact that these could serve to substitute for an online education. A lifetime of achievement and work could well serve to show a competency that’s more than what’s needed for high school. Other schools might also consider the extra-curricular activities of a high school student, enabling him to go to college without completing all his subjects. For the latter example, a student should have a higher-than-average competency in the subject to be able to ask for credit; be sure to inquire upon its details.

Go to college without finishing high school by enrolling in both at the same time

Since it is a known fact that some students who want to college didn’t finish high school in time, some online colleges allow concurrent enrollment – the student attends both high school and college at the same time. This happens on instances where the student only needs to complete a few credits worth of high school courses to get his diploma and is the suggested approach for such a situation. Just ask both schools it they could allow such an arrangement, and you’re well on your way to finishing your Bachelor’s degree.

Go to college without finishing high school by enrolling in a ladderized program

Some colleges have preparation programs in place specifically designed for people who don’t have a high school diploma. Instead of making the student take a GED test, he is placed in an intensive high school-oriented course run by the school. This program ensures that he will be able to develop all the required competencies for the tertiary courses of the school, and usually takes from 6-months to a year to finish. This is also the route that could be considered by international students if they are set on enrolling in a specific online college that fits their goals..

That is why organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who can afford to score a big fat “0″ on a paper, just because we got lazy and didn’t pay attention to the due date? Who wants to get an “F” because we forgot to put our completed project in our book bag the night before it was due?

Poor organization skills can reduce your final scores by a whole letter grade. That’s why you should learn to use a day planner the right way.

Tips for Using a Planner

1. Pick the right planner. Take your time when choosing a pocket planner. Find one that fits inside a special pocket or pouch in your book bag if you can. Avoid planners with locks or zippers that will only annoy you. Little things like that will become a hassle and create bad habits.
2. Name your planner.Yes, give it a name. Why? You’re less likely to neglect something with a name and a strong identity. When you name an object you give it more of a presence in your life. Call it something goofy or something sentimental—it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to tell anybody if you don’t want to!
3. Make the planner a part of your daily routine. Carry it with you at all times and remember to check it every morning and every night.
4. Fill in your assignment due dates as soon as you learn them. Get in the habit of writing in your planner while you’re still in the classroom. Don’t put it off!
5. Learn to use backward planning. When you write a due date in your planner, go back a day or a week and give yourself a reminder that the due date is approaching.
6. Use a color-coding system. Keep some colored stickers on hand and use those for reminders that a due date or other important event is approaching. For instance, use a yellow caution sticker to serve as a warning two days before your research paper is due.
7. Put everything in your planner. You must remember that anything that takes up time, like a date or a ball game, will keep you from working on an assignment. If you don’t put these things in your planner as time out, you may not realize how limited your homework time really is. This leads to cramming and all-nighters.
8. Use flags. You can buy sticky-note flags and use them as tabs to indicate the end of a term or the due date of a large project. This is a great visual tool that serves as a constant reminder of a imminent due date.
9. Don’t discard old pages. You will always have important information in your planner that you’ll need to see again at a later date. Old phone numbers, reading assignments—you’ll want to remember those things later on.
10. Go ahead and congratulate yourself ahead of time. On the day after a big project is due, put in a reward appointment, like a trip to the mall or a meal out with friends. This can serve as positive reinforcement.

Things to Include in Your Planner

It is important to block off anything that consumes your time, in order to avoid conflict and crisis. Don’t forget:

• Regular blocks of homework time
• Assignment due dates
• Test dates
• Dances, parties, dates, celebrations
• Family gatherings, vacations, excursions
• SAT, ACT test dates
• Sign-up deadlines for standardized tests
• Fees—due dates
• Holidays
• College application due dates
• College visitation days
• It’s a good idea to include college dates even if you’re a freshman and you’re not applying or visiting colleges yet. You will become familiar with how rapidly test dates, application deadlines, and college visitation dates come and go.

Students should speak with parents and counselors and think carefully before deciding which type of diploma is best for them. Ideally, students should decide on a curriculum before starting their freshman year, although it is sometimes possible to “switch.”

Switching Diploma Tracks

In most cases, students are not “locked in” to a certain diploma track once they start on one. Students may start out on a track that becomes too demanding and switch to a new track at some point. But be warned! Switching tracks can be dangerous so choose subjects smartly.

Students who switch tracks often run the risk of overlooking a class requirement until late in their curriculum. This can lead to (yikes) summer school or (worse) late graduation.

High School Diploma Types

The type of diploma a student chooses will affect his or her future choices. For instance, students who choose to complete a vocational or technical prep diploma will be somewhat limited in their options after high school. In most cases, this type of degree prepares students for entering the workplace or enrolling in a technical college.

Many colleges require the completion of a college prep diploma as an admission requirement. If you have your heart set on a big university from your home state, be sure to check the minimum admission requirement and plan your diploma track accordingly.

More selective colleges like to see that students have completed a more rigorous curriculum than the one required in a general college prep diploma, and those colleges may require an honors diploma (or seal), an advanced college prep diploma, or an International Baccalaureate diploma.

Similar types of diplomas may have different names from state to state. For instance, some high schools offer a general diploma. Other school systems may call the same diploma type an academic diploma, a standard diploma, or a local diploma.

This type of diploma gives students greater flexibility in choosing courses, but it might limit the student’s choices for post-secondary options. Unless the student chooses courses very carefully, the general diploma probably won’t meet the minimum requirements of many selective colleges.

But there is an exception to every rule! Not all colleges use diplomas as a deciding factor when they consider students for acceptance. Many private colleges will accept general diplomas and even technical diplomas. Private colleges can set their own standards, since they do not have to follow state mandates.

• Technical/Vocational
  Students must complete a combination of academic courses and vocational or technical courses.
• General
  Student must complete a certain number of credits and maintain a minimum GPA.
• College Prep
  Students must complete a state-mandated curriculum and maintain a certain GPA.
• Honors College Prep
  Students must complete a state-mandated curriculum that is complemented by additional rigorous coursework. Students must achieve a high academic level and maintain a certain GPA.
• International Baccalaureate
  Students must complete a specific two-year international curriculum to meet standards set by The International Baccalaureate Organization. This challenging curriculum is normally completed in the final two years of high school by qualified students who have completed a highly academic pre-baccalaureate curriculum.

• Small Classes

The main reason many parents begin to consider a private high school is because the classes are small. Teacher to student ratios are typically 1:8. Class sizes are 10-15 students. Why are small class sizes and low student to teacher ratios important? Because they mean that your child will not get lost in the shuffle. Your child will get the personal attention she needs and craves. Most public schools have classes numbering 25 students or more.

Another point to consider is that most private high schools are fairly small, usually 300-400 students. That’s much smaller than the typical public high school which will have 1,000 students or more. It’s very difficult to hide or just be a number in a private high school.

• Highly Qualified Teachers

Private high school teachers usually have a first degree in their subject. A high percentage – 70-80% – will also have a masters degree and/or a terminal degree. When a private school dean of faculty and head of school hire teachers, they look for competence in and passion for the subject a candidate will teach. Then they review how the teacher actually teaches. Finally, they check out the three or more references from the candidate’s previous teaching jobs to ensure that they are hiring the best candidate.

Private school teachers rarely have to worry about discipline. Students know that if they cause problems they will be dealt with swiftly and without recourse. A teacher who doesn’t have to be a traffic cop can teach.

• Superb Facilities

Libraries, which are now called media centers, are a focal point of the very best private high schools such as Andover, Exeter, St. Paul’s and Hotchkiss. Money has never been an object at those and similar older schools when it comes to books and research materials of every conceivable kind. But media or learning centers are also the center piece of just about every private high school, large or small.

Private schools also have first rate athletic facilities. Many schools offer horseback riding, hockey, racquet sports, basketball, football, crew, swimming, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, archery as well as dozens of other sports. They also have the facilities to house and support all these activities. Besides professional staff to manage these athletic programs, private schools expect their teaching staff to coach a team.

Extracurricular activities are a major part of private high school programs as well. Choirs, orchestras, bands and drama clubs can be found in most schools. Participation, while optional, is expected. Again, the teachers guide or coach extracurricular activities as part of their job requirements.

In tough economic times the first programs to be cut in public schools are the extras such as sports, arts programs and extracurricular activities.

• Focus on Personal Development

While the major focus at most private high schools is getting you ready for college, your personal maturation and personal development go hand in hand with that academic preparation. That way, hopefully, you emerge from your high school with both a degree and some great purpose for your life and understanding of who you are.

• It’s Cool to Be Smart

In a private school it’s cool to be smart. That’s why you go to private school. In many public schools the kids who want to learn and who are smart are branded as nerds and become the objects of social ridicule. In private school it’s cool to be smart. The smarter you are, the more the school will do its best to stretch your intellect to its limits. That’s one of the things private schools do rather well.

There you have it. Five solid reasons why you should go to a private high school. There are many other good reasons, of course. But these will get you thinking about some of the possibilities which await you at private school.