Straight Talk About Going To College, Career Schools, and Vocational Training

by: Michael Kabel

College can be the best four years of life, but it's not the only path that's open to you. However, if you're looking to have a professional career and make lots of money, a college education is pretty much absolutely necessary. It's a proven fact that college graduates are most often in a whole other income bracket than those who didn't attend.

As your fifteenth birthday celebration draws to its happy conclusion, it's not too soon to start planning your academic career after high school. There are lots of opportunities open to you. In fact, many schools will actively pursue your attendance, offering all kinds of incentives to get your tuition money.

The truth about you and your grades.

You've probably heard that good grades are important a hundred times. The truth is, they're the biggest part of a larger picture that colleges and other kinds of schools use to determine admittance. Schools look at your extracurricular activities, letters of reference from teachers and community leaders, and your standardized test scores.

But for all that, grades are still at the top of the heap when it comes to whether or not you'll get into a good college, career school, or other learning facility. And if that doesn't convince you, consider this: good grades can save you money. Because the better your grades stay, the more likely you become to get a scholarship or grant. That can literally save you thousands of dollars in tuition and other expenses that you won't have to pay or pay back as student loans.

Standardized tests are for everyone, whether they like it or not.

Standardized tests are exams taken at a certain level of education. Because they're administered worldwide, they let universities see your performance compared to everyone else, no matter where they go to school.

Typically, standardized tests consist of reading comprehension, vocabulary, and arithmetic questions. Recently, they've added a writing composition test as well.

The most basic kind of standardized examination is the Scholastic Aptitude Test, otherwise known as the SAT. There is an earlier, easier version sometimes taken by 10^th graders called the PSAT, which is a kind of preparation for the later test.

You must register for standardized tests, and pay a registration fee months in advance. The tests are not covered or provided by your school. On the bright side, there are hundreds of books available to help you prepare for the test.

How to decide what kind of school is right for you.

We won't lie to you: this is a giant decision in your life. Fortunately, you've got at least two years to think about it.

The best school for you is the one that best provides the education for your chosen career. If you haven't decided on your career path yet, the best school is the one that will let you take courses while making up your mind but won't cost thousands in tuition costs.

Take your time visiting colleges and career training schools. Their recruitment offices will probably let you sit in on a few classes and tour their facilities, to let you know what to expect. Of course, you can also browse their Web sites to learn about their teachers, individual departments and special features.