What are the options?

So it’s senior year. Senior year can be the best part of high school. You’ve been around, you have your friends, you know who you are. And, in a few short months, you’re graduating. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel.

But what the heck are you going to do with yourself after high school?

It’s a question every teen has to ask himself or herself. In Illinois, as of 2006, roughly 60% of high school graduates chose to go directly to a four year college. But what if you aren’t that crazy about school? Or can’t afford it (which is true for just about everyone these days)? What if you aren’t sure what you want to do? Or are feeling the need to do something different? Are there other options? Of course.

You really have four options open to you. Obviously, there’s college. But college does not have to be a 4 year endeavor that puts you $120,000 in debt. Many students these days are choosing to attend a local 2 year community college and then transfer in to a four year program. Some schools in the area even offer financial reimbursements for good grades. Check out our link to “Community Colleges” under the “Resources” tab to find out about the schools in the Chicago area.

Second, there are non college options: vocational school, the military, or a “Gap Year” Program.

Vocational Schools: There are tons of vocational schools in the Chicagoland area. If you are the type of person who likes creating things or working with your hands, or at least has a strong interest in a career that doesn’t require you to sit through a 300 level Bio or Western Civ class, vocational school might be a good choice for you. It’s “schooling” in all different sorts of careers – design, construction, electrical, beauty – whatever piques your curiosity.

Military: This option is for people who may feel the need for more direction and structure in their future. Perhaps you aren’t an academic type – you feel like you “survived” high school. The military might be an option for you. After you serve, the military has programs that will help you pay for any future schooling or career plans. Perhaps you feel like you need some kind of life experience. Or perhaps you really do have a desire to serve our country. Check out the link under our “Resources” tab and find out about the branches of the military, if you meet basic requirements, and what you need to do to enlist.

Gap Year: This option is becoming more and more popular for teens today.  A gap year is defined as a year away from academics, taken after high school and before college. To truly be a ‘gap year’ students ought to be doing more than vacationing. It’s a time to travel, explore, get an unusual job, or serve another part of the globe, in order to gain life experience and real learning. The publisher of the Lonely Planet guidebook series, Tony Wheeler, wrote ‘even in America, a blank year or two on your [resume], once looked upon as a sure sign of unreliability and lack of application, is now starting to be seen as a sign of adventurousness and a wider understanding of the outside world.’ Check out our Resources page for more information on opportunities.

So, if you are set on going to college and fulfilling that vision of campus life that’s been rattling around your brain the past four years, go for it. But if you aren’t so sure, know that there are plenty other paths you can take.