High school seniors choosing between traditional college or trade schools
As tuition and other costs for a four-year college degree soar, many Gen Zers are staying away from traditional colleges and joining trade schools and apprenticeships.
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This isn't a bad thing. A trade school is a good idea.
no one disagrees with that. But pretending that trade school is better then college and vice versa is just false. It all depends
You really can learn the 3B's of college (beer, botany and beowulf) at your local library and bar. You don't need to spend 125K to do that. You don't even need Professor Plum for those.
@@cstuartdcwho tf is paying 125k for undergraduate education
@@Wongseifu548 L take.
@@Mein_KampfyChair lucky for me and Military pays for my college😎
Education is important but it’s not the only path to success. To all those who didn’t attend college remember that your determination, hard work, and passion will take you far!
Facts
And work experience as well
@@beanbon666 facts
But can I protest the next big thing?
Yeah. Let's all become common laborers.
If I had kids in highschool and they want to become plumbers or carpenter and has the physical hard working mindset, then I fully support them to go trade school.
We have two kids both with 4 year college degrees and yet they still struggling to find a job in their field.
Welcome to the new world college is a scam lol
What majors?
What did they do in their field before graduating? Internships? Co-ops? The key here is NOT to be fresh in their field after the graduate: they should have been past entry level by then. It's a competitive market out there and they got to do whatever they need to do to stand out
This is why STEM is on top
What did they major in?
My babiest sister, she’s thirty now. She did four years of college. Then after a gap year she did graduate school, all at Fordham University…she’s still underemployed.
I’m 32 and been knew college was a scam. Now own a family owned plumbing business
@@ShimmySha you and your family stay blessed 🙂👍
What degree?
If you're not going into fields such as education, business, technology, medicine, or finance, you've wasted your time and money because all other degrees are useless.
@@antoniodiego9357what is your baby sister's degree exactly?
i went to a 4 year university, i would highly recommend for students to not rush and try to graduate as soon as you can. Instead go for internships, co-ops, volunteer to gain experience in their field of study. i was so set on graduating in 4 years, that instead of taking internships over the summers, i would take summer classes, then i graduated and applied for "entry level jobs" and i had no experience in the field. All employers were like ok, you need 1-2 years experience along with your degree...
@akui88 it's easier while you're in school but I wonder if there's internship opportunities for graduates that might've missed out on them. A lot of people hate it but if there were any point a diversity hire position would be useful, I'd imagine it's that. Folks that had to finish college ASAP to avoid incurring excessive debt and come from underprivileged backgrounds. Obviously aptitude should be looked at as well but there's a lot of internships and experience poor students have to miss out on due to external factors that companies might be overlooking.
really good point
No joke. Trade school is cheaper. And there's less gatekeeping in the job market.
That depends especially if you go to become a electrician. You don't instantly make 6 figures plus you have union dues
@@Wongseifu548 You don't make tall money for a number of years. It takes four years just to complete your apprenticeship to get your actual license. Anyone who thinks they're going to make bank after a few months in a trade school is delusional.
It’s not about cost though, it’s about the first r successes.
There’s tons of gatekeeping on the trades. Lot of hacks
“Less gatekeeping”.. LIES!
Automotive repair might not be the best example. There’s the current shortage of mechanics for a reason
Plus with the rise in EVs might need less of them
@Wongseifu548 what rise?
I have clumsy, shaky hands though
@@qatarworldcupwinnermessi yet you still manage to pleasure yourself
younger generation is dumber and thats too hard and challanging of a job for them
I've noticed a common thread with the people telling kids to forget college and go into the trades: They are virtually all college boys themselves who wouldn't be caught dead doing manual labor. If we get massive new waves of people into the trades, guess what's going to happen? Wages will go down, down, down. It will be the new fast food job. In a lot of areas, the trades already make dirt wages with zero job security and few if any benefits. If you're in a good union state, it can be good money, but it can take many years to get to that point, and a physical job that seems great at age 22 becomes a whole lot less fun at 52. Most guys I've ever known in the trades were functionally crippled by the time they were 60. Shot hips, knees, shoulders. You'd think they were 87 if you saw them trying to get around.
Just remember, during the lockdowns it was primarily blue collar workers deemed as essential, not smug and arrogant Ivy Leaguers.
@@barryhahn6419 Right. Nobody needed doctors during Covid.
@@barryhahn6419 Doctors were plenty essential.
@@kenofken9458the doctors that told the truth or the ones that kept the lie going?
@@chrisscott3030 The doctors who actually saved lives and not the kook conspiracy ones.
It’s not a one size fits all. Just be honest with yourself. The path that motivates you is the one to take.
Exactly pretending that one is better then the other is a false assumption
And the path you can afford without relying on your parents money. Parents are not obligated to pay for higher education.
@@jenniferhansen3622 huh? What do you mean
@@scotthearts9634 College students need to pay for it themselves and make sure they can do it without parents' funds.
@@scotthearts9634 For example, community college would be more affordable than a University. College students can also get scholarship money and they can also work while they go to college to pay for it and take out loans on their own. It is not the parents responsibility to pay for college, it is the college students responsibility.
We need welders in the US. The old machines that no longer can order parts needs a skilled tradesmen to make parts. You do need to have a good aptitude for mathematics.
Ummmm, machinists make parts, not welders.
I joined the service, went to A AND C school. Got out with my VA loan status. Used my military experience to land a good job and bought my house. I never set foot in college and made 150k last year. FACTS
What do you do?
the army has removed the education benefits.
AI will take over everything, it is futile.
I wasted so much of my life doing college work. I hate this world.
You should feel proud to have academic foundations. Scientific framework, and understanding of social/industrial standards place you far ahead of all who oppose academic authority.
I have two kids, both went to a special school for gifted children. One got selected for full scholarship to do rocket science, the other did a trade. Guess which one's making the most money
Lol. No such thing as a field in rocket science
@@leonblack2651 Degree in Aerospace engineering all paid for by the Airforce
I was going down the rocket science path but my school made it quickly into a very unfeasible option. Multiple issues from semester limbos, to direct enrollment I didn't get, to my already understanding I was limited by where I lived and what job I did. My new major at least gave me the option between satellites or cars or crock pots, in essentially every country and place. Still a long road and a lot of the college buzz is gone, so I can't just rush things like many of the other people in my major are doing. Beats them when the option of sustaining the education without debt is possible.
@leonblack2651 Wouldn't aerospace engineering count?
@@djhero0071 That is exactly what she did. A 4-year honors degree in aerospace engineering, all paid for by the Air force.
Just a tidbit. Plumbers make more than most college graduate degrees. Dentists make even more. Don't get me started on landscapers. The work might not be as desirable but the pay is better and it's more of a sure bet. It's also not likely to be replaced by AI.
Not quite true, there's a prototype robot that runs on ChatGPT that was shown to wash dishes without programmed instructions. It also handed someone an apple when they said they were hungry. It's coming close to the time that no job may be safe from AI.
@@EChan-eu2co Washing dishes is something that can be automated without AI. There's dishwashers that were created in the 80's that can do that. Going into someone's house and retooling and rerouting their plumbing lines and accessing what the cause of a leak is and digging out dirt is different than what you're saying. Handing an apple is not the same as this.
@@shipwreck8847 It was doing by hand, a humanoid robot. They're gearing to make it so that it can solve a problem by word instructions. If you say you are hungry, it solves the problem without prompting and hands you a fruit. There are dirty dishes, solves the problem by washing them. If there are books or online instructions on how to do something it can learn it. That is the ultimate goal.
Plumbers make more true but there hours tend to be worse and the job is more stressful on the body from what my friend tells me who is also a plumber
I just paid my plumber 200 bucks cash for 30 minutes work. You can't get a plumber from 'india'.
I got a feeling that WRX is modded. Red horn swaps are common on those lol. As far as trade schools go, it's not bad gen z is choosing to go that route but they have to understand that what they're trading for student debt is hard labor, long hours, and a heavy stigma. Coming from a family that's worked in trades, there's a lot good about them but you have to understand the downsides too.
They need to be careful which trade school they pick, some will charge you a lot for those few years in school. I went through a medical assistant program back in 2013 and was charged as much as a regular 4 year bachelor degree 🤦🏻♀️ I was very naive back then, so it's my fault I know, but beware.
Trade schools best
That's always a it depends
Kids in high school need some internships/apprenticeships so they can get some exposure to a college type or trade type career.
I went to a University of California school, I'm always glad I did but I'm actually also enrolling into a trade school. That degree will always help someday. But I think a trade school will definitely give me a level up financially.
I agree that college is still important.
Best trade to get into is Commercial Electrician for pay, quality of workplace, and business startup opportunities, but to be honest most trades are good.
Getting a degree, does not guarantee a job or career. Since 2021, 20% of all college graduates never get a job in their field and eventually have to go into the workforce or go back to school for a different career path. Skills is experience. Better to get a career going at 18 than waiting out your 20's hoping you made the right choice, deciding to go back to school because of unforeseen difficulties; while the trade schooler buys a house, is years set on a career and capping off debt left, right and center. A piece of paper on the wall never defines you. Its what you do with yourself.
My child was going to go to college and major in forensic science/criminology and decided in her senior year to go to a community college to become a welder. With the high cost of tuition at a 4 year university, she thought going to a community college and working part time is more realistic. She will graduate with a specific skill and if she decides to change her career, she can take college courses online and pay for it herself while working as a welder (her current goal).
Thats sounds like an awesome plan to me! All the best in her endeavors! 👌
It's so crazy how Dragon Ball and Toonami generation got screwed over. KZhead launched in 2005 when I was in high school. None of the kids back then knew youtube and social media platforms would become websites where kids could make thousands and millions of dollars.
biko you need storyboards sha?
It doesn't have to be either or. I was a Registered Vet Tech for 15 years before going back for my BA and entering another field.
I always tell the kids try looking into trade school or the military
Yeah went to community college then held healthcare job for 20 years making more what new nurses are making…now in my 40s finishing up bachelors online knowing I’m done with healthcare into different career path plans no need traditional college path cause you don’t don’t know what you want to be which becomes factor.
All students need to do this
College is a waste of time and money. I wasted ten years going to school and graduated in 2018. Most of the top and most talented artists in film and animation industry are self taught or they had mentors. They didn't even go to school for it. Also, kids are making so much money on social media platforms, it's ridiculous. Especially the females who are given websites such as OnlySimps. They make thousands or millions now.
Yeah, but how much are those women going to be making on those sites when they're 47? And how many people who go to Hollywood with big dreams ever see them realized? That town and industry chews up and spits out a thousand young dreamers for every one it elevates to success.
those women don't make millions. very few make a living. But yes hollowood does not care about our creative degrees. If only parents listened to that advice decades ago many people could have avoided this debt trap. For a fraction of the cost of college one could fly out to LA, get a cheap apt for awhile and try to get in the business. I say could, because today thats no longer possible. You MUST have a letter proving 3x the rent in stable income even to rent a room in any major city.
lets just forget the fact that FAFSA messed up
Why get in dept $250 thousand dollars. This is the case at Vanderbilt in Nashville. I did the math 4 years = $775 month for 30 years! Crazy
That is fantastic program.
I think this is good! WE need well apprenticed people 🙂 wish UK would have better apprenticeships.
Yessss. Bring trades back!
100,000 usd a year?! Wow
If you are a quiet person, then do not consider a trade.
Why?
This is terrible advice. I'm an introvert and became an A&P. Being reserved or quiet has nothing to do with your success.
@@randucci 9 hours later, and no one agrees with your comment.
Honestly, for engineers (and especially for people going into industry), it should almost be a requirement to have a certificate in a trade. Auto repair for mechanical engineers going into auto industry or A&P certification for engineers going into aerospace for example.
Skills first makes sense
After watching the movie 2012 a dozen times ..I remember the welders and am sure they had plumbing experts too on those Arks 😂
My Dad always said a trade school was best! I chose a simple 2 year technical school, got hired immediately out of college and retired 10 years ago after a great 25 year career. Not sure that’s even possible these days so I feel LUCKY 🍀
The myth here is that a college education is only for a job. It's not. And you can do both: you can be college educated AND work in a trade. It's not either or. Kids are leaving high school today without basic reading comprehension. And college is the last stop for becoming a literate adult. When automation and AI comes for these trade jobs (and it will), most of these kids will be on the unemployment line because they lack the intellectual tools to adapt.
I wish I had good hands-on practical skills but it’s something I’ve always lacked in, I’ve always been better at abstract subjects and if it weren’t for that I’d definitely have gone to trade school Much easier to get a job and a quick start in life from what I’ve seen from friends who went to trade school
the saying about on average college grads make a million more in their life is misleading cause 25% make several million more as doctors, bankers, traders, dentists, business owners. the rest dont make any more with the degree or barely enough more to pay the $100k tuition loans and interest. So be sure you can afford to gamble and know what you will be doing and making after college if you go.
Your comment is misleading. Not all tradesmen will own their own business and doctors, lawyers, and dentists who own their own practices can make over a million dollars per years. I knew a surgeon that built his own practice who then invested $40M into a hospital. I've never heard of plumbers having businesses worth that kind of money
@Eric-xh9ee maybe not plumbers but America's largest landscape company did $2.7 billion last year. And yes that's what I was saying. 1 doctor making $1 million a year and 19 other college grads making min wage and can't afford to pay their college loans averages out to a million dollars more in their life. Even though 19 out of 20 didn't make more.
@@SgtJoeSmithyeah.. ur completely right. they pull these statistics out of their ass and dont take everything into account. i feel like they do it just to increase their word counts and seem more interesting to watch
@@dylanssssss They need to redo stats. How many actually make more with college. How many make enough more to pay for college and how many made more but was a wash cause college costs. and how many didnt graduate and got stuck in debt. Also those that go to college are usually smarter and more motivated and dont quit over little things and probably wouldve made the same without college unless their field like doctor or lawyer required college. Something else they dont tell you is 40% of americans that work, work for a drop out. Either HS or college. Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Oracle, Virgin (records/airlines/mobile), Dell computers, Ford, Disney, Google, Twitter, Zara, Whatsapp. All started by drop outs. To name a few. Almost sounds like dropping out is better than going to college.
I very much support people who go to trade school, since it's an easy and convenient decision for people with different situations. However, as an example for myself, I would preferably go for a college that gives either an associate's degree or even a bachelor's degree, since hands-on skills are completely not my forte.
Have you ever considered becoming a friar?
Do an online bachelors degree while working a job that you wouldn’t be able to do if you were going traditional grounded campus. Hopefully you will also find a company that pays for a huge part of the tuition. If students did this they would be fine.
Everyone is for the trade route until it’s an engineer or architect telling you what to do
I thought this was the Onion by the title lmao
Since the 40’s
there are machines attached to computers that can do these jobs as well. Or has no one seen an auto manufacturing AI. There are autonomous trucks as well that will replaced truck driving. 3D printed homes will replace construction workers so only a foreman is needed. That would be the home resident.
I’d say join the army, national guard, marines even though we’ve heard bad things about it but whatever it takes to avoid being put in minimum wage after graduating.
If had to do it all over again it would be trade school. My two college degrees were a waste of money. Electricians, Plumbers and HVAC makes more money than both college degrees combined. Also contractors and landscapers.
what did you study exactly? When you say what your degrees are you are being vague.
Work smarter not harder
That would be the intellectual pre-requisite for college.
Good, because labor is actually quite pricey right now. Plumbing, electricians, carpentry, etc. are all vital jobs that keep our infrastructure intact.
This is nothing new.
4 year degree is a good option if you want to do things like IT, business, nursing etc. But trade school are good if you want to do construction, pluming etc. you don’t need a degree to do labor jobs. You still have to come out of a program to gain a career it just doesn’t come to you directly. College is still a good value.
Trades ftw. Aircraft inspector here @125k.
Okay look I've never been to college I became a truck driver
OK what's your point?
@@Wongseifu548 His point is his knees gone bad along his back lmao
I'm sorry
This is just from my classmates and other people I know. Almost all of the people with deemed useless majors were doing just fine and had relevant jobs. No unemployment besides a few people short term due to covid lockdown. The stem side had a bunch of people without relevant work and some people struggling. Business majors are subjective as being useful. I had a very few classmates who did choose trade school but not all of them work in their trade due to inability to find work.
This is just like a currency. When you print too much money it becomes worthless. Degrees are the same thing. When too many have it it becomes less value.
Charlie Kirk is smiling😁
No, Kirk isn't so happy right now because the Falcons drafted a QB in the 1st round.
More people in trades means more value for my degree, and a fairer trade market. Thank God!
Good decision. AI will probably replace a lot of office jobs in the future. Can't see that happening to trade jobs like plumbing.
Turning Point USA is finally making an impact.
you can become a self taught tech professsional and make ovr 100k as a self taught soft ware engineer
lot of jobs in the medical field. $20 hr buffing floors
The degree requirement not taking away, it’s just hidden..
A trade is not for everyone. Seem to many people jump in thinking it’s what they wanted to do and then decide they weren’t built for a trade. Takes a special SOB to stick to a trade.
Hey this is what South park predicted
This was Netanyahu's response to the AMERICAN lawmaker (Chuksumer) : "IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, and we are not a banana country that is dictated to by anyone, EVEN AMERICA"... and yet the taxes of American citizens paid with sweat and tears gone to Israel😂😂😂 AIPAC lobbyist money is a haven for lawmaker and officials. Are you going to just watch them have fun with their lobbyists and your taxes, while you have trouble paying your taxes??
Coast guard while attending CC.
How is it? The coast i mean
If the working house were 8 even people like me who love tech and. Science would go into trade..😅
Anyone turning to trade schools was not getting in those private universities anyway 🤣🤣
Melbourne (Australia) psychologist Victoria Heywood-Smith is actually autistic… (she will be using this as her excuse in advising the incorrect advice . This is why it is the only well paid job she can do. She just has to sit there and be quiet & nobody picks up on it. Shouldn’t a psychologist have the perfect relationship with their partner also? Who are they to give anyone advice…
The only way to "forego college" is to study industry and scientific methodology independently, which is impossible if you don't have secure foundations, and access to formally-educated communities. The "particle physics is your opinion" crowd can't solve basic problems without tutorials and continuous consultation.
sure, but 99% of people going to college ARENT studying particle physics.
@@megsley They don't need to, all work/study contributes to development of the same model, unless they're unfriendly.
I should have gone to trade school.
If someone is qualified, I recommend at least 4 years of active duty in the military. Learn a trade, get paid, take free college courses on the side, then get honorably discharged and use the Post 9/11 GI Bill for university now that you're a little bit older and have some things figured out.
Dei wokism me2 equality has made education worthless but don't expect the trades to put up with your feelings & emotions
The core principle is just got obtain a SKILL If your are not going to major in STEM then college should not be your #1 option TRUST Even then, all that debt is not worth it. Stack your bread and go obtain a SKILL by self learning or make a lower investment by picking up a certification(s) or trade(s)
high schoolers forced to try trade school because they cannot afford colleges. No one wants to work in the blistering heat putting together metal sheds and pig pens. Or welding ships hulls in 100 degree summers...... But try to sell it anyways,
And many "Gen Zers" still decide to go to college, despite threats of arrests for sitting on lawns holding antiwar signs.
It’s surprising that people pick a degree over experience for hiring. This is why everything is messed up
Better chances with trade schools, but either way... it's the lesser of two longshots. 🙄 True success and prosperity hail from LUCK and connections. No exceptions.
Protip: Attend university in europe.
It is a White collar VS Blue collar... It is a complete different path.
In my opinion I feel like college is great but also a trade as well, but I will not agree on is the military, it is completely not worth it (money wise, time wise, and overall health wise)
Your a good Patriot
GI BILL and VA loan status = PRICELESS. try again
@@justmee9441gawd bless Murica 🤓🖕
it was worth it to me even though i hated it the benefits speak volumes
As a FRESH GRADUATE with my BA, if you’re a High Schooler. Please don’t go to traditional college go to a trade school, traditional universities are a scam now a days, no one is hiring, or require 30+ years of experience (sarcastically) but like 5+ yrs of experience.
nice try troll
@@Wongseifu548 I wish I was, but thanks!
Just stay OUT of the Soft Majors - Fun Conversations but lousy return on investment ( Unless You’re Connected) ? Where I live in New Hampshire it’s Harder to find a Good Plumber than a Surgeon ? Not Lying and the Quality of Life is Much Better ( including Great Pay ). 👍
Only issue without college is dating. Yeah you’ll earn six figures as a plumber but dating sites got stats that blue collar workers have a much harder time getting matches
That will change
Lmaoooooooooooo we are all going to die anyways ! Bahahahahaha
San La Muerte
Anyone who chooses social sciences in 2024 is a fool.
Takes one to know one 🤓 🖕
@@firstlast8258 And you prove my point for me, I thank you.
College is a waste of time for some of us
Trade school had more benefits
Not really
This isn’t anything new This been happening since the 60s Gosh create something new
California jobs👉 10 chickens available for 10,000 crocs 🫡
Trade schools baby
For most degrees, it’s not about learning a skill. It’s about showing your future employer that you showed and up and did your work for 4 years and had determination
Skills are better than that college degree that’s a scam
Then why are recent college grads earning a median salary of $60,000 while those with just a high school degree have a median of $36,000?
@@kenofken9458 where’s your source? Also $60000 a median still isn’t enough for the amount of debt you inherit after you come out of school
Maybe choose to make money or military… and make money 🎉😂😂😂😊