Without community colleges, millions of students and adult learners would not be able to access the education they need to be prepared for further education or the workplace. Community colleges are often the access point for education in a town and a real catalyst for economic development.  

 

There are over 300 vocational schools in the US. There are some important factors to help you choose the right one:

·       Placement Rate:

·       Student Completion   
Rate/Graduation Rate

·       Facilities

·       Services

·       Tuition/Fees

 

Most vocational schools award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Many highly skilled trades will require certification before you can take up work in your field. There are a large variety of programs to choose from. The career center on campus can help assist you in determining which program suits you best. Some of the most common and successful vocational school programs are computer-aided drafting, criminal justice, culinary, HVAC, and information technology. 

 

·       Tuition Assistance: provides service members the opportunity to enroll in courses at accredited colleges, universities, junior colleges, and vocational-technical schools. It can pay for up to 100% of the cost of tuition or expenses, up to a maximum of $250 per credit and a maximum of $4,500 per fiscal year per student

·       Post-9/11 GI Bill: gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same benefits as their active-duty counterparts. As of August 1, 2011, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school in-state tuition and fees. The actual benefit amount will vary based on an individual’s total length of service. 

·       College Fund Programs: offered to service members when joining the Military. You must have a high school diploma and you must be enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill

·       Loan Repayment Programs: The Army and Navy offer loan repayment programs that help enlisted personnel pay off college loans accrued prior to service. Each program offers incentives designed to help recent college graduates manage education debt. 

·       Community College of the Air Force: CCAF is an accredited two-year college open to enlisted Air Force men and women. There are nearly 70 different associate degree programs in many scientific and technical fields including computer science technology, avionics systems technology, air and space operations technology, allied health science, paralegal studies, information management, and more.

·       Testing Programs: there are thousands of academic exams to service members offered each year. These tests can earn service members credit for skills acquired during military training and operations and are available to all active-duty, Reserve and Guard personnel. 

 

Many domestic and international programs charge little to no fees for a gap year. You should look for programs that offer free housing and food in return for volunteer work. However, you will still most likely need to work. Look into AmeriCorps programs, which provide health care benefits, a living stipend, and $5,350 from the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award at the end to use towards college. 

 

Gap year experiences make students more mature, confident, and career driven. It is unlike any experience that students could gain in a college classroom. most college admission officials are accepting of the gap year, and may even encourage students to take one. Students who come back to college after a gap year are going into college more mature and better prepared than other students. It is often a great opportunity, and something to consider before entering into a four-year college. 

 

By working full-time at a fast-food joint, barista, or doing landscaping, you will learn invaluable life lessons. You’ll learn about customer service, bucking up and working even when you don’t want to, budgeting income, and balancing life and work. Many individuals don’t learn these things until they are out of college. If after a couple of years of working you decide to go back to college, you will be two years more mature and will have money in the bank to help pay for tuition.