The majority of students attend college directly after graduating high school. In fact, 62.5 percent follow this path.
While college is an excellent option for many high-school students, it’s not the only option you have.
In fact, it would be helpful to take your time when deciding what to do after high school, as you can choose from many paths.
As you prepare to graduate, you might want to consider doing the following five things.
1. Avoid Being Pressured To Do What Everyone Else Does
One of the top things to do after graduation is to choose the path you want. Unfortunately, many high school students feel pressured to do what people expect them to do.
For example, all of your friends might decide to attend college right after graduating. Your parents might encourage you to do this, too. You might even feel pressure from your guidance counselors or teachers.
Feeling pressured to attend college doesn’t mean that you should comply. Yes, college is a great option for many students, but it’s not the ideal choice for everyone.
Doing something because everyone else is doing it is not necessarily the right choice, especially if it’s not what you want. Deciding what to do after high school is a big decision, and you should do what you want to do.
If you’re currently a senior and still tossing around ideas, you might want to start by focusing on enjoying the rest of high school. After all, high school is a special time of life.
For example, you may want to attend prom, buy a highschool class ring, and spend time with friends. Then, as you enjoy your remaining time there, you can evaluate all your options.
2. Find A Job And Save Money
One option you have is to look for high school jobs. High school students or those graduating from high school can find a lot of jobs, and some are good ones.
If you have the option of living at home for a while, you could find a job and start saving money. Also, if you live at home, you won’t have a lot of bills to pay, leaving you with more money to save.
What kinds of jobs can high school graduates get, though? The good news is that you can get all kinds of jobs. You might want to consider what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at.
Here are some potential options to consider with a high school diploma:
- Restaurant work
- Office work
- Construction
- Janitorial work
- Babysitting and child care
- Home health
- Retail
You can get jobs in these fields without a college degree. If you aren’t sure what you want to do with your life, working for a while and saving money might be the best move for you.
3. Learn A Trade
Most college programs require four years to get a degree. Some college programs require more than four years. For example, if you want a master’s degree, you might have to attend school for six years.
If you aren’t ready to invest this much time in your education, you could consider a great alternative – attending a trade school.
A trade school is a school that teaches specific trades. You must generally have a high school diploma to enroll in a trade school, though.
When you attend a trade school, you can learn the skills you need for a specific career. Here are some programs you can choose from:
- Welding
- Legal assistant
- Dental assistant
- Construction
- Web design or development
- Home inspector
- Medical technicians
- Real estate services
Attending a trade school offers a specific career in just one or two years in most cases. The benefit of this is that you can develop skills for a career in a short time, and you might earn more money through these job types.
4. Sign Up For An Apprenticeship, Military, Or Job Corps
Another great choice for some students is signing up for one of the following programs:
Apprenticeships
Enrolling in an apprenticeship program is a wonderful opportunity to develop a career without attending college. For example, you can sign up for a plumber apprenticeship.
During this time, you’ll work with plumbers learning the trade. After completing your apprenticeship, you can become a licensed plumber and earn a great wage.
Plumbing is just one of many apprenticeship options you can consider.
Military
Signing up for the military is a great choice for many graduating seniors. The military teaches you resilience, hard work, and loyalty to our country.
Being part of the military also provides opportunities to learn new skills for a career, and it might provide financial assistance for college.
Job Corps
Job Corps is also a great option for many high school students. It provides work experience, assistance with schooling, and many other perks.
5. Start Working On Your Finances
Finally, when you graduate from high school, it’s the ideal time to start working on your finances. In fact, this is one of the best things you can do after high school.
Here are several aspects of financial management you can start working on when you graduate:
- Building your credit
- Getting a credit card
- Developing a budget
- Open a bank account
- Learning how to manage money
- Saving money from your earnings (if you decide to get a job)
Developing healthy financial habits early on can carry you through your adult years. You might even want to take a personal finance course at a community college to learn more.
Take Your Time When Deciding What To Do After High School
You can do many things after high school, and you should aim to find the best route for you. You might decide to follow some ideas here, or you might decide that college is the best choice for your situation.
Remember: your life is your own, and you should choose the path that’s right for you!
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