Is Career School Right for You? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself

Whether you’re coming straight out of high school or have been working for a while, you might have considered a career or trade school. Is a career school for you? Will it help you change up your life for the better? Before you make any big decision, ask yourself some important questions:

1. What Career Do I Want to Pursue?

Go back in time. What did you want to be when you grew up? While you may not actually have what it takes to be an elite soccer star, you probably know what you like and what you’re good at. Now attach those personal insights to a career. Industries like healthcare, IT, business, and specific trades can all be accessed by training at a trade school.

2. Do I Need a Four-Year Degree?

Not everyone fits into four-year, bachelor’s degree programs. It can be difficult to gain entry to the school you want, and costs can be exorbitant. Plus, there’s the time it takes to complete a degree. If four years sounds like a long time, you might be surprised to learn that most students don’t actually graduate in four years; it takes longer. But does the career you’re interested in even require a bachelor’s degree? Trades careers often do not and those that do may require only an associate degree.

3. What Kind of School Learning Environment is Best for Me?

Do you like sitting in a classroom and listening to your teacher speak about principles and theories? Or do you prefer hands-on training from instructors who have worked in the field? In a traditional four-year degree program, most of the courses directly related to your career often occur in the last two years. If you’re lucky, some of those courses might include lab work or real-world assignments. But trade schools flip that script. From the start, you work in shops and labs, performing the hands-on tasks of your future career. Some programs offer externships or clinical rotations, so you can gain experience with real professionals at real facilities.

4. What Kind of Work Environment Would I Like?

Right along with how you learn is the question of how you will earn. Do you picture yourself working at a computer? A career in business or IT might work for you. Or does a healthcare setting sound more like you and the kind of work you’d like to do. Or maybe, you want to work with your hands on construction sites or in homes doing work like installing, fixing, and maintaining heating systems. Whichever environment you choose, you can make a living and build a career working where and how you want.

5. How Much Time Can I Invest in Training for My Career?

Career school programs are much shorter than four-year programs. Traditional degree programs include a lot of general education courses and electives that don’t apply to your major or to the career you want to pursue. In trade school, you can skip all of that and start taking courses in the subjects you need to learn. Programs vary, but some can be completed in as few 10 months or if you want to pursue an associate degree, you can be done in as little 2 years. Either way, you’ll be ready to get to work while your peers in four-year degrees are still in the classroom.

6. What Type of School Can I Afford?

Traditional four-year college is costly. Even public institution tuition averages more than $11,000 per year for residents and $30,780 for nonresidents; private school tuition is more than $40,000. Time is another factor in affordability. Can you afford to wait four or more years before you begin your career? If the investment of time and money sounds too much to you, then career school might offer a good alternative. Because you take fewer classes, over less time, the programs can be more affordable than a four-year degree. But like traditional colleges, accredited career schools can still offer financial aid packages or scholarships to qualified students.

7. Do Career Schools Offer Any Flexibility for Working Adults?

If you’re a busy working adult with family obligations, you probably can’t just quit work and pull away from all your responsibilities to attend school. But career schools often offer blended learning programs which combine the hands-on learning that many people seek with online instruction that is more convenient and flexible.

8. Will There Be Career Services?

Most career schools do indeed offer career services to help you get ready for life after training. They teach professionalism in the classroom and their career services departments often provide extensive resources to prepare you to look for and find a job. From help with resumes and cover letters to mock interviews and job search, school officials can help get you ready to enter your new career.

9. Is There a Good Future for My Chosen Career?

Before you enroll in trade school, check out the careers that appeal to you and do some research. You might be surprised to find how many careers are in high demand. For example, in health care, the demand for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers , Radiologic Technicians, Medical Assistants, and Dental Assistants is higher than average. And construction booms across the country have led to much higher than average demand for professionals like HVAC Technicians.

10. Am I Ready to Commit to the Career School Journey?

To be successful in school or in your career, you need to be ready to commit to your future. Are you ready?

If you think career school is a good fit for you, contact Charter College today. We offer a variety of career training programs in healthcare, business, IT and the trades that can prepare you for a rewarding career. Many of our programs are offered in online or a blended learning format for flexibility and convenience, and our instructors bring their years of industry experience to the classroom. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.