Trade School or College?
It seems now a days trade schools cost a lot and do not guarantee you a job in your field of choice. Yet, going to college is also expensive and so long term. What are your opinions on this. Which are the best trade schools in California and are computer courses valuable for future financial gain? Looking to get better job skills for short term due to my current obligations. Any advice?
Comments
There are unfortunately quite a few trade schools that are expensive nowadays. The county vo-tech school should be more affordable than the private $$ technical school. The community college may offer certificate programs and courses as well, perhaps even the non-credit courses.
Please steer clear of those online, for-profit schools such as everest, penn foster, ITT tech, stratford career, US career, capella, university of phoenix, strayer and others as they are merely out to 'make a profit': http://www.capellauniversitysucks.us/
http://www.ripoffreport.com/ and can type into search.
For general career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'computer support specialists' or whatever other career that piques one's interest.
If you're interested in a trade, but are wary of trade schools (and rightly so, in my opinion), then study a trade at your local community college. Community colleges are far, far, far cheaper than trade schools, and yet they offer many of the same trades. They are also 100% reputable. Studying for a trade, at a cc or a trade school, usually takes a year or less. Depends on the course. And some trades are in very high demand, and once you complete your training and an apprenticeship or equivalent, you can make more than most college grads do.
In terms of college as well, community colleges are usually your least expensive option, and an associates degree takes just two years. In fact, there are some in-demand careers where an associates degree is all the education you need to enter the field, and they pay quite well. These include nurse, dental hygienist, funeral director (mortuary science), computer help desk, and administrative assistant. Note that nurse, dental and mortuary science, you'll go through on-the-job training programs either during your studies or right after, depending on the field. For computer help desk and admin asst., I'd want you to seek out an internship, or a related part-time job, or do related work for clubs or non-profits while you study -something to give you related work experience for your resume for when you graduate, as that will really help you get your first job.
College certainly doesn't guarantee you a job either, there are many getting degrees that won't put them on the path for a good job.
In my opinion, too many people go to colleges without thinking through the real value of the degree. In today's global economy, most need graduate degrees beyond a 4 year college for a good job.
There's a lot of merit to considering trades. You may not even have to go to a trade school, many employers will train you. There are many plumbers and electricians out there making far more than college grads.
The trick with trade schools is to carefully look at what jobs their grads get. The schools should give you this info and some phone numbers for grads who can confirm their jobs and salaries.
Which trade school is the best depends on what trade you want to go into!
Some of the for-profit outfits are pretty poor, and you cannot go by what it says at ripoffreports.com or XXYuniversitysucks.com. People who complain are the unhappy campers and from my review of some of theposts, it is quite clear that the complainer heard something they wanted to hear, which was not always what was said. I used to work for one of those, and I can personally state that some admissions folks will tell tall tales, but the faculty are generally more honest about the realities.
Bottom line: let the buyer beware.
Some computer firms are interested that you have an AAS or BS in computers, but they also look for Certifications (Cisco, MCT, etc) some colleges and trade schools help you pass the tests by modeling their curriculum after the test. Pretty helpful in my mind.
Trade schools to me are the "Cosmetology" and "auto repair" schools, so maybe i am jaded.
Today they usually refer to "trade" school as "vocational" training! A trade/skills based program is referring to a "fast-track" type program to enter into the "hands-on" type professions. Today, almost every profession has these type of programs. In addition to "hand-on" training, they prepared students for "certification and/or licensing". Also, depending on the type of program, for example Computer IT, you may find college graduates attending to rapidly acquire "equivalent experience". It's the quickest way for gaining employment in the shortest amount of time. The focus of college curriculum is not "skills based". I'll try to simplify what college is. Look at it as "finishing school" that takes much longer and you're required to take a broader range of subjects and courses. The vocational school is very focused on just the "skills/technical" aspects of a "trade". Having said that, there are also folks that have been in trade for several years that go back to college to earn their degrees. They are generally looking to either change professions or move into another aspect of their trade/business. Another example, would be the Military, they send their people to training schools based on their specialties. They have the equivalent (if not better vocational schools) than anything you'll find on the outside.