Have you previously attended a four-year college or community college and found out the experience definitely wasn’t for you?
If so, you aren’t alone. Many high school graduates take the popular path and attend a university – or a less expensive option like a community college – and end up dropping out.
FAST FACT: The Institute of Education Statistics estimates 40% of students attending a four-year college drop out before they even finish their degree.
Take some time to think about the reasons you didn’t enjoy your time at college.
- Were the classes too big?
- What were the instructors like?
- Could they relate to you or were they boring?
- Did you feel like you fit in with the other students?
- Did the college lifestyle suit YOUR lifestyle?
Very often high school students are encouraged to attend traditional universities and community colleges immediately after graduation. This career path isn’t the right choice for everyone.
You might find that you can be more successful at getting a short-term, hands-on, career-specific education instead. For many people, going to a trade school (also known as a vocational school or a technical college) is better suited to their learning styles, skill sets, and goals at this point in their lives.
Graduates with two-year college degrees (or less) are earning similar wages to graduates with Bachelors degrees.
FAST FACT: According American Institutes for Research (Air.org), people with Associate degrees and Certificates in Colorado are earning close to, and sometimes even more than, people with Bachelors Degrees:
- Colorado per-capita median income in 2013: $31,000
- Median wages earned by those with:
- An associates degree: $42,000
- A long-term certificate: $49,000
- A short-term certificate: $54,000
- A bachelor’s degree: $55,000
Vocational schools are drastically different than traditional four-year colleges or community colleges in many ways.
7 major benefits of going to a trade school – versus a traditional college – include:
- Less time to graduation
- Hands-on learning by doing
- Minimal general education classes
- Smaller class sizes and personalized instruction
- Instructors have real-world experience in the courses they teach.
- Externships are included in many programs.
- Career services to help you find a job in your field of study
Answered: 5 Common Questions About What Campus Life is Like at Trade Schools
You probably have a lot of questions about what it’s like to actually go to a technical college.
At IntelliTec College we have asked our staff the 5 most popular questions that prospective students have about schools like ours. We hope their answers give you a better idea about what our student life is like.
- What is the campus life like at IntelliTec?
- What are the instructors like?
- Is the classroom experience stimulating and enjoyable?
- How is the technical college experience better than the typical community college or university experience?
- Who goes to IntelliTec? What are the students like?
QUESTION 1 – What is the campus life like IntelliTec College?
IntelliTec Staff Answers:
- “The campus is a busy but friendly place. People smile and say hello to you in the halls, even if they don’t know you.”
- “It is a very busy campus with students arriving for class and working hard for a few hours in classrooms and labs, then going home for the day.”
- “IntelliTec is very student centered; there are many employees in support roles to assist students.”
- “There are a number of student oriented activities available to students, including Welcome Backs, Student Appreciation, Holiday Events for Families, and Program Specific Activities…We have friendly spirit day competitions and events to promote a positive fun environment.”
QUESTION 2 – What are the instructors like?
IntelliTec Staff Answers:
- “We couldn’t ask for better instructors. They bond with the students and have the students’ best interests at heart.”
- “Instructors here have a tremendous love for their specific career fields, and they are intently invested in seeing you succeed.”
- “I feel like I know all the students and have a relationship with them. Because our campus isn’t too big, it’s like we have an IntelliTec family.”
QUESTION 3 – Is the classroom experience at a trade school stimulating and enjoyable?
IntelliTec Staff Answers:
- “Absolutely; it is a rich blend of hands-on activities, guided discussions, and lecture; the student is always engaged.”
- “Yes, the labs provide hands-on, real-life training.”
- “IntelliTec instructors work hard daily to find ways to deliver information to you in a way that is easy for you to understand and learn. They share their real-world experience with you.”
- “The classroom experience is stimulating and professional, preparing our graduates to enter the workforce strong and competitive.”
QUESTION 4 – How is the trade school experience better than the typical community college or university experience?
IntelliTec Staff Answers:
- “IntelliTec’s classes are smaller and much more hands-on than traditional universities.”
- “IntelliTec works hard to keep you from getting lost in the crowd. We notice when you are not in school and reach out when you miss class. Traditional environments don’t typically notice when you have missed class. We want to know what we can do to help you get back on track and we will do everything we can to assist you so you can be successful in school.”
- “Vocational schools differ than traditional colleges; in the certificate program, there are no General Education courses such as History, Math, English – it is strictly program-specific courses with many hours of hands-on experiences.”
QUESTION 5 – Who goes to IntelliTec College? What are the students like?
IntelliTec Staff Answers:
- “Many students are people making a career change, others did not fit into a traditional four-year college or university. The students are driven to succeed in a chosen career, which is why they chose IntelliTec.”
- “The students that attend IntelliTec are generally students that don’t want to take Gen Ed classes, they want/need a different method of learning and they want a smaller campus and classrooms.”
- “Current and former members of the military, parents, working moms and dads, young students out of high school and those returning for new careers are all at IntelliTec College.”
- “We have students that range in age of 18 – 60 years old. Students at IntelliTec come from a wide background, straight out of high school all the way to retired individuals looking for something new.”
- “Our students have dreams and hopes of having better than minimum wage jobs and wanting a career instead of a dead-end job. Our students work hard to balance life, work, and school so they can reach their dreams…and many of them do!”
Ready to Enroll in Trade School? Let’s Get Started.
If you didn’t like the community college or university experience that you had, there’s a valid reason why. Some people just learn and perform better in hands-on, active environments. There is nothing wrong with that. Knowing how you learn is important so you can be successful.
Could career training at a trade school be a better fit for you? Find out for yourself! Contact us to request to take a campus tour.
Sources Used
- Associate’s Degrees and Certificates Can Be a Path to the Middle-Class, New Report on Colorado Graduates Finds – http://www.air.org/news/press-release/associate-s-degrees-and-certificates-can-be-path-middle-class-new-report-colorado
- Hamm, Trent. “Why You Should Consider Trade School Instead of College.” The Simple Dollar. – http://www.thesimpledollar.com/why-you-should-consider-trade-school-instead-of-college/
Additional Resources
- When a Two-Year College Degree Pays Off – http://time.com/money/collection-post/3829131/two-year-college-degrees-payoff/
- How to Choose Between a Community College and a Technical College in Colorado – https://intellitec.eduhow-to-choose-between-a-community-college-and-a-technical-college-in-colorado/
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition – https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
- The Advantages & Disadvantages of Vocational & Technical Colleges – http://classroom.synonym.com/advantages-disadvantages-vocational-technical-colleges-1414.html
- Difference Between Career Schools & Universities – http://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-career-schools-universities-2075.html
- Grayson, Lee. “Technical School vs. Community College.” Synonym. – http://classroom.synonym.com/technical-schools-vs-community-college-1323.html