After graduating high school, you may be faced with the decision of attending either a college or a vocational school. Colleges and vocational schools generally have different educational objectives. This article provides some advice on how to make the right choice between going to college or attending vocational school.
In the classrooms
Four-year college courses are often based on a foundation of the sciences and the humanities, including literature, math and logic, philosophy, history, and the arts. Liberal arts education is based on the notion that education should develop and help perfect the human being. This academic training gives students a well-rounded education. The “liberal arts” education offered in colleges has the objective of educating and developing students in a broad spectrum of studies exploring the humanity of man. Four-year courses that focus on the sciences, on the other hand, expose students to different approaches, trends, and investigations in the pure sciences (such as chemistry, biology, and physics) and the applied sciences (such as engineering).
Vocational schools, on the other hand, have the goal of educating and training students on a profession-related specialization. Vocational school graduates will gain the education and training needed to do well in a certain trade or technical area. These trades include cosmetics, tourism, travel, funeral services, cottage industries, and retail.
A restaurant manager who is looking to hire kitchen staff will definite prefer a vocational school graduate who specialized in cooking and becoming a chef to a college graduate. College graduates, though, will have better chances of getting into other fields such as corporate entities. This is because of the type of education one receives in college.
Going beyond the lessons
If you feel that you have an inclination for the trade sciences and other technical areas, you should consider taking a course in a vocational school. These vocational schools provide you with the knowledge, training, and experience you need to become successful in the specialization that you choose. On the other hand, if you think that you might want to explore a career path with variety, you should consider going to college. Regardless of where you end up, you will probably have to write a personal statement. Be sure to read some examples of personal statements so you can perfect your own and get into your college or vocational school of choice.
Photo Credit : Daniel Williams
