College, Trade School, and the Military

Young people have many options after they graduate from high school.

Young adults can go the direct-employment option and find a job after high school. For example, some people are hired at a supercenter in an entry-level position and work their way up to a high-paying management role or higher.

Other options include colleges (two-year or four-year), trade schools, and the military. If you cannot afford college, many funding options are available, such as scholarships, grants, federal financial aid, and loans from financial institutions you must pay back.

For example, people can learn to be a plumber or an electrician through a trade school. Many young people do not consider learning a trade because they focus on earning a college degree. Some trades, like plumbing, are currently in demand in many parts of the United States, and many plumbers make good money.

Another option is a career in the military, or signing up for two, four, or more years. In the military, people can learn a plethora (a lot) of things, including learning a language at military language school, where people learn to be professionally certified linguist specialists in a language, like Arabic, Chinese, or Korean, which can be used for employment after leaving the military.

If you are considering a career in the military, it might be wise to speak to your school counselor and a military branch recruiter. The military has programs that help members pay for college. The U.S. Coast Guard is also recruiting.