Although all children must attend secondary school (often called high school in the U.S.) until a certain age, your options after high school are much more varied.
- Note: see this article for more information about primary and secondary school.
There are many professional, training, and educational opportunities that can help you start your journey to your dream future. But it can be hard to know how to plan for those opportunities, what steps you need to take to make them happen, and what kind of support exists.
In this article, we answer three important questions to help you explore your options after high school:
- I’m still in high school; what can I do now to start planning for the future?
- I’m interested in going to college/university. What are my options?
- What are some alternative options to college/university?
Note! Remember that you will need a high school diploma in order to apply for post-secondary education. A high school diploma is also a requirement for many jobs. If you did not finish high school and you are interested in more education or a job that requires a diploma, there is another option called a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE). To learn more about what an HSE is and how to get one, check out this article.
1. I’m still in high school; what can I do now to start planning for the future?
It’s never too early to start thinking about your future. In fact, the earlier that you can start planning and organizing, the easier it will be to make your dreams happen.
📆 A great place to start is to schedule a meeting with your school counselor. Many schools have a counselor whose job is to help you prepare for life after high school. They can answer questions that you might have about your options, and they’ll tell you what you need to be doing now to make sure that those doors stay open.
🧑🏫 For example, your school counselor can:
- share information with you about different colleges, universities, technical programs, etc., so that you are aware of all of your options.
- help you decide which schools or programs are the best fit for you.
- recommend certain classes that you could take to help you prepare for college or technical school.
- give you information about the tests that you may need to take for your college applications, how to study and prepare for the tests, registration deadlines, and testing dates.
- advise you about your options for financial aid, and important deadlines in the financial aid application process.
📝 Keep in mind that many colleges and universities have a complicated application process, and they will look at your grades, the classes that you took in high school, test scores, awards, and extracurriculars that you took part in, among other things. Finding out what the requirements are early will give you extra time to become the best applicant that you can be, and have a higher chance of being accepted into the school/program of your choice.
⏳ Although you can apply for college any time after you graduate, if you would like to start attending college immediately after high school, then you will need to apply during your last year (12th grade).
⚠️ Remember that there may be a lot more resources available to you as a current student to help you apply to college; once you graduate you will lose access to school advice, like advice from the school counselor. You may also have less support on parts of the application process, like writing an admissions essay, and reaching back out to teachers for recommendation letters could be more challenging.
🪖 If you’re interested in technical school options or going into the military, it’s common for recruiters go to different high schools to share information. Pay attention to job fairs and recruitment presentations if you would like the opportunity to talk to someone about what their program/the military would be like, what the requirements are, and what you could gain by taking that path.
- Note: You must be over 18 and a legal permanent resident (ie. have a green card) in order to enter the military.
2. I’m interested in going to college/university. What are my options?
🎓 Education after high school in the U.S. is called post-secondary education. Post-secondary options for education include two-year colleges, four-year colleges, universities, and trade schools. All of these schools offer different types of degrees, and the type of degree that you need depends on what career you are interested in pursuing.
- Note: Colleges and universities both offer some of the same degrees. The difference is that colleges are usually smaller and only offer associate and bachelor’s degrees (which are both types of undergraduate degrees). Universities are usually larger and have undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs. Check out the chart below to learn more about the different types of degrees that exist in the U.S.
A good place to start is to think about what careers interest you, and to do some research on what kind of degree you would need.
📚 Types of post-secondary degrees in the U.S.:
💸 The cost of post-secondary education can be intimidating. But options for financial aid or part-time study (so that you can work at the same time) exist. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- There are public and private colleges and universities. Many public colleges and universities offer discounted tuition for students who live in that state.
- There are federal and private options for financial aid. Financial aid can be need-based or merit-based. It can come in the form of loans (which you have to pay back) or grants and scholarships (which you do not have to pay back).
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- Tip: A good place to get information about financial aid is to talk with the counselor at your school (if you are still in high school).
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- If you aren’t in school anymore, there are many resources that exist to help you navigate the journey of applying to college and options for financial aid. If you need help finding resources near you, contact us. Here are some other resources that might be helpful:
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- Informed Immigrant has an entire library of articles for undocumented students. Find information on options after high school, how to apply for college as an undocumented student, how to pay for college, and more.
- Hispanic Federation has a mentorship program in several cities in the U.S. to help LATINX students succeed and navigate university. Check out the program here or check out their high school support programs to learn more about the transition from high school to college.
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3. What are some alternative options to college/university?
If education after high school doesn’t interest you, or isn’t available to you, there are other options!
👩🏭 Work:
- You may decide to start working immediately, or to continue working a job that you already have. A college degree makes some things easier, but it is possible to build a successful career for yourself without one. Tip: Look for jobs with employers that value growth and provide support to help you keep learning and working your way up.
🛠️ Find an apprenticeship:
- With some trades (usually hands-on trades, like car mechanics or repair), it may be possible to work with and learn from a professional. Apprenticeships don’t usually pay very much, but in return for your labor, you’ll learn a skill that can turn you into a skilled tradesman/employee.
👩💻 Self-paced education:
- More and more options for alternative, online, and free education is becoming available. If studying for a formal degree isn’t an option for you, you may be able to find free online classes, affordable online courses, workshops in your local community, etc. that can help you build skills on your own time.
🪖 Join the military:
- This path isn’t for everyone, and it’s important to understand all of the details of what it means to join the U.S. military before you make this decision. However, there are some programs within the military that will pay for your education, healthcare, training, and other benefits in return for your service.
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- Note: Keep in mind that in order to join the U.S. military, you must be 18 years old, and you must have permanent legal status in the U.S. (for example, have a green card).
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SOURCES:
MyFuture. (Accessed 10, January 2025). College Planning Timeline. https://myfuture.com/college/planning/college-planning-timeline
TeenLife. (July 2022). Alternatives to College: 10 Options for Teens to Consider. https://www.teenlife.com/blog/alternatives-to-college/
MyFuture. (Accessed 10 January, 2025). Paying for College. https://myfuture.com/college/paying-for-college