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Why is going to community college a smart choice?
http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-community-college/
1) Affordable - save money while you prepare for a job or work towards a 4-year degree.
2) Focused Teaching - more personalized, small classes, gain real-world perceptions.
3) Hundreds of Programs
4) Credits can transfer to a 4-year college or university
Watch the video below for more information on the benefits of choosing a community college:

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This is our area's community college.
Many students chose to go here to start and then transfer to another college.
Programs they offer:
- Dual enrollment for high school students
- Shared programs with other colleges
- Transfer agreements with 20 Pennsylvania schools
- Over 100 degree programs, some are 4-year degrees

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At Montgomery County Community College, you can get a top-notch education at an affordable price. With over 100 degree, certificate & workforce training programs, why not start your educational journey here?

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These schools allow you to get direct training for a  job and earn the certification you need to go right into the career afterward.
Benefits:
1) Fast track to the career of your dreams.
2) Options to apply to a 2 or 4 year college afterward.
3) Any age can apply.
Visit http://www.gocollege.com/options/vocational-trade-schools/ to learn more and to find tips for finding the trade school that fits you.
Also view the video below for the pros and cons of technical or vocational schools:

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Pros and Cons Movie Pros N Cons Pros and Cons About Zoos Streaming TV Pros and Cons Pros and Cons of Education Jimmy Fallon Pros and Cons Pros and Cons Women Combat Pros and Cons List Keystone Pipeline Pros and Cons Pros and Cons of 2 and 1 Laptops Pros and Cons of Online and Hybrid Classes Pros and Cons Living in Summerville SC

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Lincoln Tech is just one of the technical schools you can attend in our area.
They offer 18 different programs, the Philadelphia location specializes in automotive technology.
They offer financial aid packages and help match you with a company upon completion of their program.

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Career Training Programs Across America | Lincoln Tech

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Find a Lincoln Tech campus near you and explore which career technical training programs are available in your area.

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Taking a year off to discover what you really want to do, may be a good option for you.
What is a gap year?
- a period of time that people use to explore areas of interest (Kern, 2010).
- a time to learn things that you didn't in high school
What are the benefits of a gap year?
- confirm or change the major you've been considering but are still not 100%             about.
How will you afford it?
- look into a program that offers free housing & food for volunteer work           (Examples include: AmeriCorps (see below), Habitat for Humanity).
Visit this site for more information: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/right-school/timeline/articles/2010/05/19/7-questions-to-ask-when-considering-a-gap-year
Also view this video for benefits of the gap year:

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Benefits Of The College ‘Gap Year’ | MSNBC

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Interested in applying to a local trade school? Please visit the website below for an extensive list of different trades and schools that offer them. Research is key here, find the right school for you.

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Finding college, university, and trade school programs has never been easier.

Navigating your educational options may seem like a daunting task. That's why we want to make your search as simple as possible. Because finding a school that could help you follow your dreams should not be a stressful process.

Maybe you don't know where to start. Or maybe you're interested in a general career area like healthcare or the skilled trades and want to explore the training possibilities. Or perhaps you have a specific type of program in mind and simply need to find a school that offers it. Well, don't worry. You're in the right place.

Explore the following programs or enter your zip code into the search tool below to discover programs being offered near you. Your path to a brighter future and better life could be one search away!
What Is a Vocational School? And What Does It Offer?

What Is a Vocational School? And What Does It Offer?

A vocational school is any educational institution that is specifically geared toward helping students get employment-ready skills and knowledge for particular occupations. Vocational schools are also known by other terms. For example, a technical or vocational school is generally the same thing as a trade school or career college; the terms are usually interchangeable.

So a vocational program is any course of study or practical training offered by a trade school, technical institute, or vocational college that is designed to lead directly to career opportunities in a particular field. Traditionally, vocational programs focused on areas like construction, manufacturing, automotive service, or cosmetology, but today's vocational schools offer a much wider range of training options, as you can see from the extensive list of programs above.

At a trade school, you learn a combination of hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge directly related to the occupation you want to have. Depending on your intended vocation, you'll learn a range of very specific techniques using industry-relevant equipment in facilities that simulate real-world work settings. You'll also learn about any legal regulations or requirements that apply to your field. You may even get to practice your skills in an actual work setting as part of an included internship or externship.

Another defining characteristic of many vocational colleges and trade schools is the attention paid to the reality of students' everyday lives and diverse backgrounds. For example, unlike a lot of traditional academic institutions, career-driven schools tend to incorporate features like:

Courses offered in the evening, on weekends, or even online

Campuses that are more accessible and closer to where students live or work

Easier admission processes

Smaller class sizes

Shorter, more streamlined programs

Personalized, hands-on instruction in well-equipped training facilities that simulate real-world work settings

Externships with actual employers

Job search assistance

Simply put, vocational schools can often be defined by how they approach training busy adults who want to enter fast-growing industries in the quickest and most pragmatic way possible.

And there are clear advantages to a vocational education. Research has shown that post-secondary students who earn degrees in vocational fields of study are more likely to be employed full-time six years after beginning their education. In fact, one study showed that 85 percent of former students who earned a technical or career-based associate's degree had full-time jobs compared to only 73.3 percent of those who earned a more general academic one. And the percentage was also higher for students who attained a career-focused bachelor's degree (88.3 percent vs. 82.6 percent). ¹

As you can see, there are definite benefits to receiving vocational training: You can choose from more vocations than you might expect. You may have better employment outcomes. And you'll learn in a way that targets your real-world needs. (Check out this article about the value of vocational education to discover even more advantages.) So if you are already thinking, "I'm ready to find colleges near me," then you're ahead of the game. You just need to find the right program from among many possible colleges, universities, and trade schools. Programs that fit your aspirations might be offered at a school near you.

Unlock Your Potential

Now that you know what a vocational (or technical or trade) school is and what you can learn from one, take this opportunity to discover convenient career-focused programs that are available in your area. Just enter your current zip code to get started!

¹ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, website last visited on July 27, 2017.

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Want to Kick-Start Your Career? Try One of These Programs

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Quickly pinpoint vocational and trade school programs that can help prepare you for the career that's right for you. When you see this amazing list of careers, you'll know you're getting much closer to the future you imagine. Learn what sets a vocational education apart from other college options!

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AmeriCorps is a network national service programs to help improve people's lives across the country.  You can select from one of three programs and start doing something meaningful today while you decide on your future career.
Benefits of AmeriCorps:
- Serve your country in another way than military.
- Student loan deferment
- Skills and training
- Living Allowance
- Limited health benefit options
- Education award after completing a program
- career opportunities
Please visit the link below for more information:

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On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom.

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On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom.

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If you are thinking about enlisting in one of the military's branches, here are some things to consider:
1) Enlisting includes a test, called the ASFAB, which helps decide which branch is best for you, as well as the best career choices for you.  You will also need to pass a physical exam.
2) Military Academy - if you choose to enroll in this, you will be making a 5-year commitment, and it can be difficult to get in.
3) Paid education - If you go through a specific college program, ROTC, or an academy you can receive college aid.
4) Job Opportunities - learn a specific trade while being enlisted and you will open the door to many job opportunities.
Read this article for more information: http://www.militaryspot.com/news/pros-and-cons-about-going-military-after-high-school
You can also watch this video:

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"Nothing helps more with that transition to adulthood than holding down a full-time job," (Hansen, 2018).  If you are striving to earn a solid living, look for employers that offer growth.  You can still go back to school after working, but with a better idea of what you want to do as a career.
This is similar to a gap year, but you are making money.
Remember, no decision is forever, you can go back to school or pursue one of the options above even if you decide to work after high school.
Photo taken from: http://careermarketingonline.com/

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BenefitsOf. (2014, December 31). Benefits of community college. Retrieved from:      http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-community-college/
GoCollege. (2017). Vocational & trade schools: A growing trend. Retrieved from:        http://www.gocollege.com/options/vocational-trade-schools/
Hansen, R. (2018). Next step after high school? Some alternatives to college.              Retrieved from: https://www.livecareer.com/career/advice/jobs/college-                alternatives
Kern, R. (2010, May 19). 7 Questions to Ask When Considering a Gap Year.                 Retrieved from: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/right-               school/timeline/articles/2010/05/19/7-questions-to-ask-when-considering-a-       gap- year
MilitarySpot. (2018). Pros and cons about going military after high school.                  Retrieved from: http://www.militaryspot.com/news/pros-and-cons-about-going-    military-after-high-school