High school seniors across America are being asked to make the hardest decision of their lives: choosing their entire life’s path. The five most commonly chosen options are college, military, trade school, travel, or going straight into the workforce. How does one know what is best for them, though?
Every person has their own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s a matter of weighing them to choose their own best option. Some people are better with their hands, others are better with traditional learning, some prefer to gain real life experience, and some are able to enter a working environment right off the bat.
Many students who are in Windsor High School are college bound. If students have already chosen their college, or college options, then their next step is the application process. There are three tools that are extremely helpful to have when applying: filing a FAFSA, the Common App, and references.
A FAFSA is financial aid–essentially a government grant for a certain amount of money depending on a student’s family’s income. Common App is a website that easily allows students to explore college options and send applications. References are the trickiest part. Students need to discern what teachers have the highest power in their school, with enough credibility to improve the chance of being accepted. Somebody like a freshman history teacher will not have the same amount of sway as a AP Calculus teacher or a dual credit English teacher.
“November 1 is a big one for your early decision deadlines,” college counselor Andrea Reed said. “And December 1 for the state of Missouri is a big one for those scholarship parts. …Basically your firsts and fifteenths of each month [from October to December] are important deadlines.”
Deadlines are essential for students to know when they apply to colleges. Most college websites should have a page for application deadlines. Students who already know what they want may prefer early decision, which binds a student to a school if they are accepted. If a student is planning on early decision, their deadline will most likely be in early November. The regular enrollment students are students who have not yet decided. For most schools, this deadline is sometime in December or January.
Some students prefer to take gap years, which they choose to work or travel before attending college. The good side of gap years is that students have time to grow and explore. They also have time to earn more money to help them afford tuition fees. The bad side is that some students feel that they have fallen behind after taking a gap year, and some students who focused on traveling before they start college may have financial struggles.
“It’s advantageous to students who just need a little bit of time,” Reed said.
She explained that students who may not be ready for college yet could lose financial aid and scholarships if they are not able to hold up their grades.
Trade school is another option for students who prefer hands-on learning and jobs that include more physical work. Trade jobs are in high demand, and as such many jobs pay very well. Ozark Technical Community College reported that the average welder salary in Missouri is $45,190. Midwest Technical Institute reported that trade school takes around a year depending on the program choice, and the price ranges from $3,600-$16,000 total.
“College is sitting in a classroom for four years writing essays and doing science, and math, and social studies. I don’t think students correlate that enough with college,” explains Reed. “If that is not appealing to you, and you prefer to work more hands-on, then technical trade schools have an array of opportunities.”
Every student has their own path to take that can lead them to new and exciting lives, but preparation never hurts. Reed’s door is always open for discussions on future plans, and you can contact her at [email protected] to set up an appointment.
“You don’t have to go to college to be successful, and you don’t have to go to trade school to be successful. You just have to find your niche and what you’re good at, and the world’s open to you,” Reed said.
