GED Alternative

There are many different reasons why students don’t complete high school. All agree a high school diploma opens up job opportunities and will enhance lifetime learning potential, and yet the high school dropout rate continues to grow.

Rather than look at national or state statistics, let’s narrow our focus to one student at a time and divide reasons for dropping out into two categories:

Category A

• Don’t care whether I graduate

or

Category B

• No transportation
• Need to work
• Focus problems in class
• Family issues
• Don’t understand enough
• Boring

If you identify with Category B, consider starting again, this time at a community college. Your local community college has great resources for helping you to choose classes that interest you in addition to many other support services such as:

• Daycare
• Financial aid
• Free tutoring
• Learning disabled help
• Fun programs
• International student assistance
• Great Veterans programs
• Test taking help
• Work experience credit

If you’re 18 or older, a high school diploma or GED are not required. You will find your community college to be a respectful environment where you are treated as an adult; college faculty have much more freedom in developing ways to help you learn than did your high school teachers.

In a community college you can attend class as few as two days a week or as many (typically) as four, in hours that work best with your work and sleep schedule. Some students prefer mornings, some evenings. A common schedule might be Tues, Thurs 10-2 and one evening from 6-10pm. It’s up to you.

Community colleges offer A.A. and A.A. degrees that transfer to four-year universities. In addition, community colleges offer Career Programs that focus on both transfer to a university or direct entry to a great job. Community colleges also offer certificates toward careers.

If you know you need to get back to school, but the GED is to big, difficult, or intimidating a test for you, consider your community college instead.