What Are Your Post-Secondary Options?

In this guide, the word college will be used in a general way to describe a degree-granting, post-secondary institution, having either two or four-year programs, or both. The assumption is made that a college has been accredited by a regional association and meets at least minimal standards for educating students according to its stated purpose.

There are thousands of post-secondary schools of varying quality which educate for such a specific purpose that they cannot grant degrees. In this guide, the terms used for those schools will refer to their specific purposes, such as business/secretarial schools or trade/technical schools. Most of the information given here for colleges will apply to these schools also. Schools which specialize in music, drams, modeling, nursing, art and beauty culture, among others, belong in this category. Normally such schools grant a certificate upon completion of a prescribed course, which may last from three months to three years.

TYPES OF COLLEGES

Junior or Two-year Colleges:  An Associates Degree is granted upon successful completion of prescribed courses. Junior colleges accept the vast majority of high school graduates, but the program to which the student is accepted depends on the courses taken in high school. Students may continue their education by transferring to the last two years of a four-year college provided they have the requisite courses and grades. In most cases, high school achievement will not be considered at the time of transfer.

If transfer is not the goal, junior colleges offer specific training for many careers in business, health, technology, and public service fields. They may very well suit the needs of students who wish specialized training in a college setting along with some general courses.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities award a bachelor's degree or an advanced professional degree.

    Universities are distinguished from colleges in that they are organized in a different manner, having divisions called colleges (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Schools of Business, Education, etc.). Often they are larger than colleges.

    Liberal Arts Colleges offer majors in the fields which have led to the development of civilization, such as literature, history, mathematics, science, foreign language, fine arts, etc. Since a "pure" liberal arts college offers no career training, many graduates continue their education on a graduate level.

    Technological Schools or institutes specialize in mathematics, computer science, the physical sciences, and specific programs of engineering. Many have recently added majors in business and some other liberal arts majors, as well.

    Fine Arts Colleges offer degrees in a single art, such as music or graphic arts, dance or drama. There are a few colleges of "the arts" which award degrees in several disciplines.

   Theological Colleges or Seminaries provide major programs for those intending to enter the clergy along with programs that are associated with religious settings, such as counseling and religious education.

    Business Colleges offer majors who train students to enter a specific area of business, such as administration, accounting or real estate.

    The United States of America operates five Academies: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO, and the U.S. Coast Academy at New London, CT. All but the Coast Guard Academy require a nomination from at U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator or the Vice President of the United States. The Coast Guard Academy uses a point system for admission.

Applications to the Academies should be made during the spring of your junior year by contacting both your U.S. Senators and the District Representative. It is not necessary to know the official personally. The nominations are in addition to the scholastic requirements of the individual academies. More information about the academies may be obtained from your counselor.

Click here for other Post-Secondary Options (vocational/technical schools, apprenticeships, military, work, alternative education.