Depending on your career goals, educational level, college budget, and personal responsibilities, a career school or community college may be suiting your needs even better than any 4-year college would do. So let’s take a closer look at career training solutions and your community college.
If you’re not sure in what way these types of schools differ, read on, and you’ll understand. A community college (also referred to as junior college, city college, or technical college) is typically offering 2-year college degree courses and programs in a number of majors.
On top of these 2-year degrees (called associate’s degrees), some community colleges are also offering vocational training and professional certificates.
Community Colleges are offering their students usually lots of flexibility, both when it comes to the choice of majors and whether you want to attend a part-time, full-time, evening, or weekend program.
To make sure you can make it into the school you want to attend, be sure the school has received your application well before the application deadline!
Bear in mind, though, that schools are usually pretty strict regarding their application deadline policies. However, even when you’re too late with your application, not everything has to be lost.
Career training schools
Career Training Schools, on the other hand, generally only offer job training and certificate programs. These schools are also referred to as trade schools or vocational schools, as they provide specialized training courses for specific occupations or careers.
Students are choosing community colleges and career schools for a number of reasons, both professional and personal, and vocational.
For example, if you’re looking to learn specialized job skills or if you think about a transfer to a 4-year Texas college or university after you’ve earned your associate’s degree, this may be your ticket.
Maybe you want to explore career options and majors while deciding on what you’d like to do without having to relocate to a new address and home.
On the other hand, if you want to attend a 4-year college to university, before you’ll start out in the first year at your college, you’ll probably go through a freshman orientation session in the summer to get familiar with what living at your new Texas college is all about. You will have to move to your new school!
Affordability of career education & community college
Earning your associate’s degree, or completing a good job training program, has many advantages, and if you’re looking for an affordable college experience in Texas, you couldn’t do much better than attending a school of this type.
Tuition for a community college is usually much cheaper than the tuition fees you’d have to pay at a 4-year university. Many parents have set up a Texas College Savings Plan for their children, but there are also many other ways to get financial support or a scholarship to pay for school.
Many community colleges additionally provide significant degree programs online, which will ensure additional savings both in money and time. If you want to go to a physical school. check here to see what you can expect in an orientation session.
Regardless of whether you want to earn a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree, getting educated at a community college or career training school offers many and affordable ways to make your first steps toward a great career.
Transferring from a 2-year school to a 4-year college or university is very easily done, and a great economical option as well. But indeed, choosing the right college in Texas can get complicated. It’s all about the Art of Education and what programs and schools will fit you best.
Community college & career education flexibility
Community Colleges, as well as Career Training Schools, are offering students lots of flexibility, both when it comes to the available majors and whether you wish to attend school part-time or full-time. Keep also in mind that having a solid study plan in place is crucial to be successful, no matter what school you sign up for.
While most 4-year colleges and universities require their students to attend the programs on a full-time basis (though we also can see some changes here), most community colleges are welcoming part-time students as well.
For even more flexibility and comfort, community colleges and career school students may find a lot of online courses or at different schools. If you want to transfer to a 4-year college or university, you may want to learn more about Texas college and university ranking as well.
Plus, you’ll often see that these schools are located close to your home, which makes them very convenient if you want to save on commuting costs or wish to live at home.
Check here for an overview of all Texas Community colleges and an education at a community college or career training school may be just what you want.
Enhance your academics at community college
When you’re not enthusiastic about your high school grades, bear in mind that usually, admission requirements for a community college or career training school are lower and that many are not requiring standardized test scores (like SAT scores or ACT scores) for their acceptance procedures.
You may complete an associate’s degree at a community college and start a career, or use your degree when you want to transfer to a 4-year university or college to earn a bachelor’s degree and possibly more.
You’ll not only advance your academics, but you’ll also become more culturally literate. That’s another advantage of developing your educational level and experience.
Many students at community colleges later go on to a 4-year school to earn a higher degree. But make sure to get those higher grades. If you’ll maintain a GPA of 3.0 or even higher while you’re working towards an associate’s degree, you’ll have far better chances to be able to transfer to your favored four-year college or university.