Are you currently preparing for trade school or university but can’t decide on which one is better for you? Well, this article will aim at giving you the answer to which one of these options you should go for. The main difference between a trade school and a university is that a trade school prepares you for in-demand jobs that require practical and handy skills, whereas universities will equip you with the knowledge to excel at the course that you have chosen to study. So if you’re the type of person who desires a job on the spot, that trade school is better for you. But if you’re someone that wants to study and learn more than college will be a better option for you. Let’s start with Which Is Better: Trade School Or College?
Let’s look up to some other factors:
What are the differences between trade schools and universities?
Attending trade school will educate you on current skills that are in demand and short supply. These include skills such as being a plumber or a dental hygienist. Trade schools are mainly if you want to have a career in a skilled trade where your knowledge and how-to of that skill will be tested upon. In addition, trade schools only offer diplomas or certificates upon completion due to the short length of the program as well as the reduced fees.
On the contrary, going to a university will enable you to gain a lot more knowledge in terms of theory written by famous authors in your field, as well as present you with either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree after your completion. Normally, a university course will have more lectures to attend than a trade school course and will cost more in the long run.
What are the benefits of a trade school versus a university?
The first advantage of attending a trade school is that you will be given a hands-on approach to how to conduct your profession. Secondly, because trade schools have a shorter duration than normal college degrees, you’ll finish your course much faster than someone attending university.
This means that you’ll be able to earn money quickly and possibly pay back that education loan faster. Studying a shorter course also means that you’ll be saving more money for your transportation and purchasing of textbooks costs.
In addition, studies show almost a quarter of students attending full-time university in America drop out of their courses even before they have completed them. There are several factors to a dropout, these include fatigue from studying too hard, lack of motivation to finish the course or some students drop out because they think they have excellent business ideas and would like to focus on that more.
Therefore, attending a trade school would seem like a no-brainer for a lot of people, but it depends on what your goal in life is and what kind of skills you would like to learn to earn a living.
What are the admission requirements and credentials?
As trade schools would normally last between 1 to 2 years, their admission process is relaxing as compared with that of the college admission process. A trade would only require a high school diploma as the primary requirement, however, the universities require a lot of documents from you as the primary application for your preferred course.
A college would ask you for documents such as your high school transcripts, SAT scores, two letters of recommendation, as well as relevant essays that the college would like you to write for the application. Therefore, as you can tell, college admissions are a rigorous process and require you to submit multiple documents and take tests.
Furthermore, even though the trade schools have a shorter duration for completion, the highest award you can earn from the trade school is a diploma. Therefore, the reason why college courses are much longer is that they go in-depth into what you are required to learn, and after three to four years, you are awarded a bachelor’s degree.
You can also choose to further your studies and be awarded a master’s degree for an additional one to two years, and if you got a first-class degree from your bachelor’s, then you may be eligible to qualify for a doctorate which will award you with a PHD for an additional four to five years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice you need to make about whether to attend a trade school or a college will depend on what kind of career path you would like to get into. If you choose a more hands-on career such as plumbing or carpentry, the best choice for you would be to attend a trade school because the duration is shorter, and you’ll be equipped with the right skills for less money.
On the other hand, if you decide to pursue a career that is more regulatory and laws related such as a bachelor’s degree in LLB law then you certainly should decide to pick going to a college as this will enhance your learning ability over three to four years and it will be well worth the money paid, in the long run too.
The following section of this article will feature any FAQs that you may have regarding trade schools and colleges.
FAQs:
- What are the similarities between a trade school and a college?
There are a few similarities between the two options, firstly is that of financial aid. If you are residing in Europe or America, then you may be eligible to qualify for financial aid for the course of your choosing. In addition, both learning institutions will have improved job opportunities for you once you complete the course. Lastly, both require you to submit a high school diploma as part of the application process.
- How much does it cost to attend a trade school and college?
Depending on the course you decide to study at trade school, the fees could range from $4,000 to $30,000. Obviously, if you study a more technically skilled job such as an aviation mechanic, then you will be expected to pay a higher fee. For colleges, the fees could range from $30,000 to $90,000 depending on the college you choose.
- Are there specific starting dates for either colleges or trade schools?
Colleges usually begin during summer or fall, but you can find trade schools that offer programs throughout the year.