A technical school in the United States is a two-year college that covers diverse fields like finance, business, tourism, hospitality, engineering, construction, information technology, visual arts, and community work.
College, Tech School, and Grad School. What’re the Differences?
If you are in the last stage of high school, you must now make up your mind about what path you want to opt for. You must have your own dreams, and you have a lot of career options available, and choices are endless. To achieve your goals, you should first decide what type of education you should go for. Here are some of the options:
College
If you want to prepare for a variety of career choices, then college is where you can get a general academic education. This education consists of a four-year degree which, as the name implies, takes four years to complete. You need to choose a “major,” which is the path you need to concentrate on during your Four-year college time. Thus, in a traditional college, you will get a path to choose your career.
Technical School
Technical or Tech School or Vocational school is totally the opposite of traditional colleges. In Tech school, you enroll for a specific course and take specific classes, which make you prepare for a specific job related to the course you enrolled for. For Instance, fashion design, massage therapy, culinary arts, cosmetology, office management, information technology, etc.
Graduate School
In Grad institute, you get advanced academic degrees, like a Masters’s degree or Ph.D. In case you want to apply for this, you need an undergraduate degree or college degree; thus, the Grad institute falls under “Post-graduate education.” Grad schools are attached to undergraduate institutions and are part of larger universities.
Read More: Are Community Colleges Easier?
How Can These Options Help You?
Albeit all the options are different, for different students, each option is beneficial. You need to consider what career path you want so that you can sort out which option is good for you. Keep these things under consideration if you want to know what you should do to get there.
- If you are not sure which career to opt for, then college is the best option for you because it gives you an idea about various disciplines. It gives you enough time to know which career suits you.
- If you are sure what you want to do, then the right option for you might be a technical institute. It will be a good option if the path you are interested in needs you to have hands-on experience and technical knowledge.
- If you are interested in teaching, counseling, or academia, graduate school is your future. These career options need at least a Master’s degree, if not Ph.D.
- If you want to be a nurse, doctor, veterinarian, attorney, dentist, etc., then professional school is the best option for you because these professions need particularly advanced degrees.
What if You’re Not Sure About What You Want to Do?
If you are not sure which career path you are interested in, then don’t worry about it; Relax; you’re not the only one to face this confusion. The universe is still open to you; talk with your friends, parents, counselors, and teachers. Take some time off after high school and before taking your next academic step, as this stage could set the platform for the rest of your life. Thus, take your time and decide what suits you the best.
What is a Technical School?
As per the UN, it will be tough to adapt technical education to future technology. Various UN bodies have said that the purpose behind Technical and Vocational Education And Training (TVET) is for the development of transversal, literacy, and citizenship skills around the globe.
A Technical school is made for those students who know what profession they want and for those who want to start working earlier. Tutees can opt for Technical institutes in high school or before pursuing bachelor’s degrees.
What is a Trade School?
Trade schools are referred to as two types of schools, i.e., Vocational schools or technical schools. Both of these institutes employ formal, informal, and non-formal methods of learning. Trade schools provide coursework related to a chain of skills specific to a technical career. Trade institutes have narrowed their curriculum to a particular profession.
What Are Technical Schools?
Technical schools or technical colleges offer students an education that prepares them for a specific profession or career. The span depends on the program you choose; it may be less than 2 to 4 years. After completion, students are provided with a certificate, degree, or diploma.
At a tech school, you can:
- Earn an associate bachelor’s pre-graduate technical certificate or degree.
- You can learn the scientific method and theoretical basis behind a certain trade.
- You can receive foundational degrees.
What Are Vocational Schools?
In the US, vocational schools are 2-years colleges that prepare students to enter the workplace directly after getting an associate degree. For Instance, cosmetology, medical coding, billing, electrical work, etc.
In these schools, the programs:
- Aim at teaching practical work.
- Offer complete education and courses with certificates of completion.
What Is A Technical High School?
Technical high school is similar to technical school and offers a curriculum structured to teach students of high school a particular career path or skilled trade before getting an education in college. Technical high schools teach science, math, geography, and other core subjects. They also teach students how to execute a specific trade.
What Can I Do After Technical School?
There are various career paths that you can pursue after Technical institutes:
HVAC technology
If you are interested in a technology-related career and enjoy talking to people, then you are going to enjoy a career in HVAC. In the HVAC course, you are trained in many Installation methods, sales skills, basic customer service, troubleshooting, and technical aspects. For an HVAC technician, the salary, on average, would be $46,126 per annum.
Auto Mechanics
If you are interested in cars and want to learn more about electronics, mechanics, and additional systems related to car functioning, then you should learn about automotive technicians. Once you graduate, your responsibilities will include operating, designing, and servicing automobiles. The median annual salary may be $40,710.
Electrical installation and maintenance
In electrical technology, career options include being a commercial/industrial electrician, a construct/maintenance electrician, or an electro-mechanical/ power system technician. An electrical maintenance technician’s annual salary is $46,385.
Culinary arts
If you love food and then you may find a career in culinary arts fun and lucrative. You will be able to learn advanced methods of cooking, preparation, and presentation of food. Your average salary is maybe $54,215 per annum.
Welding or plumbing
In plumbing, one has to study basic tools, identify the fitting and usage, drainage, fabrication methods, waste and venting, and much more. The average salary may be around $53,910.
In welding, various career opportunities are present, like a sub-arc welder, aluminum welder, or fitter. Graduates who have less than 12-month experience can earn $40,318 per annum.
What are the Advantages of Pursuing a Degree From a Technical School?
Yes, there are many advantages of pursuing a degree by attending a tech school instead of the degree pursued by an academic University:
- The courses focus on specialized programs with specific skills to your profession.
- It takes very less time to complete these classes.
- The instructors are highly skilled professionals.
- They provide you with ample networking opportunities.
- Many technical institutes offer you, flexible hour classes.
- Tech institutes have smaller classroom strengths; thus who prefer a personalized learning experience may appreciate it.