What's Right for You?

You probably hear a lot about going to college once you finish high school, but there are more options than you realize to help you kick-start your career.

So, how do you figure out what kind of school or training would be best for you?

First, it helps to know what jobs you might want and the training you'll need to learn skills for each job. Check out different types of careers and required training.

Next, learn about the different types of training you can get:

Colleges and Universities

What's the difference between a college and a university? Overall, not that much. Both are four-year programs you attend after high school — universities are much larger, and are usually really just a collection of a number of different colleges. A college offers a specific program in an area of education — for instance, teaching, engineering, mathematics or communications.

There are colleges that cost a lot, and those that don't cost nearly as much. You can choose from a state college or a private college. State colleges are operated by the government, and private colleges are not. Private colleges often cost quite a bit more than state schools. If you stay in the state of Texas for your schooling, you can save yourself a lot of money by attending a state college — you'll be paying what's referred to as "in-state tuition." That means you're already a resident of Texas, attending a Texas school.

At college, you'll probably spend two years on "general" subjects — math, science, foreign languages, literature. Then you'll spend two years on what is referred to as your "major" — the area you've chosen for your career. When you're done, you graduate with what's referred to as a Bachelor's Degree in your major.

To check out colleges you might like, try the Texas College Match-Up tool — you can search by size, location, major, cost, or a number of other factors. For colleges across the U.S., use the CollegeBoard MatchMaker tool.

Community Colleges and Junior Colleges

Community colleges and junior colleges are two-year programs offering job training. Rather than a Bachelor's Degree, you graduate from one of these schools with what's known as an Associate Degree. Community and junior colleges generally cost less than a traditional four-year college program, and admission is somewhat easier.

Many students who feel they're not ready to tackle a full-time college program start out at community college. There are a huge number of subjects you can study at community college, including technology, nursing, art, science, math, history, literature... you name it. If you do well in a community college and decide you want to pursue a college degree, it is usually easy to transfer your course credits and apply them toward a Bachelor's Degree.

For a list of community colleges in Texas, check out the Texas Association of Community Colleges Web site.

Trade and Technical Schools

Trade and technical schools are yet another path to a good career. A trade or technical school will provide you with the most direct education for a specific, hands-on career. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, welders, truck drivers, administrative assistants, hairdressers, IT specialists and medical assistants can all get job training at a trade or technical school. And they all make pretty good money — working with your hands can be pretty profitable!

Programs at trade and technical schools are generally two years or less. The most important thing is to choose a school that's accredited by the state — that means it's on the up-and-up. To find licensed trade and technical schools in your area, check out the Texas College Match-Up tool (check Technical Colleges and Career/Proprietary Schools under Type of College). Also, try the National Center for Education Statistics Web site — their College Navigator allows you to search for Associate's and Certificate programs by state.

Higher Education for People with Disabilities

If you have a developmental disability, this shouldn't discourage you from attending college or a trade program. The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities Web site offers resources to help people with disabilities explore educational and career choices. They've also produced a video called "The Next Step," which tells the story of five Texans who enrolled in colleges, universities or technical schools.