Tricks of the Trade: Why Now is the Time to Choose Trade School Over University

Trade schools are continually perceived with an unjustified stigma. Often times those individuals that disclose their decision to attend a technical school are met with strong disapproving opinions, but why is that? Why should someone be immediately discouraged for wanting to pursue a rewarding and specialized career? For good reason, times are changing, and these unwarranted criticisms will soon turn to admiration for those who beckon to the call of duty.  

A trade school, or technical school, is a form of post-secondary institution devised to discover the necessary talents needed for a chosen career path. Careers in welding, electrical, plumbing, the automotive industry, web development, construction and even healthcare. These career paths can be challenging, hazardous and sometimes result in loss of life. These professions require hard-work, determination, and grit every single day. These trades are unique. Trades that require those committed individuals to obtain and develop hands-on experience in order to do the job right. A career in construction is one that would benefit from the hands-on instruction attained through technical school. Technical school is especially important for individuals who seek a management position within the construction industry as it provides the essential credentials in addition to the required work experience. While many of these construction careers can begin without technical school, the time and dedication to a technical program within this field can significantly increase ones earning potential. These jobs are not the type of jobs that just anyone can do with zero experience, which is the importance of acquiring technical schooling. The tailored training programs offered by these technical schools produce experts in their specific field of study. Upon completion of this invaluable training, these experts are prepared for what is to come in joining the workforce. 

There are numerous benefits to signing up for trade school as opposed to attending a traditional four-year university. One benefit that is most often considered would be the financial outcome of this post-secondary decision. How financially invested are students in their destined career path compared to the possible salary upon graduation from their chosen school? In other words, how much will it initially cost to fund their career choice, and will this cost easily be paid back once they get to where they want to be?  Unless they are one of the fortunate few who receive a full ride scholarship to a university, chances are these students will find themselves with a hefty burden of debt to pay off upon acceptance of that treasured degree. Even with the opportunity to receive scholarships or grants to ease this burden, many students are unfortunately unable to fund their education without taking out a loan or borrowing money from another source. 

As you may know, lenders are able to provide this form of economic assistance because ultimately, they profit on the interest accrued on the money people borrow. Those students that end up needing to take out a loan often feel the crushing impact of this decision for years after graduation. While some college hopefuls receive scholarships for their academic accomplishments, these scholarships do not add up to the total amount needed to fund their college careers. Little do they realize at the time how long they will be paying back the money they borrowed, or the taxing interest that comes along with it. When they are in that moment, it feels like the only opportunity they have to be successful is to take out an enormous amount of money just to begin this collegiate journey. Nowadays these students have a significant amount of pressure to be the first in their family to receive a college education. While these students may realize the average cost of attending a four-year college is $26,820 per year, not including books, room and board or supplies, they likely fail to recognize how inexpensive trade school is in comparison. The cost of trade school is significantly less than that of earning a bachelor’s degree. Completion of technical school within the United States often averages around $33,000. This number might even be significantly less depending on the specific program they choose. The extreme difference in price tags for each option is definitely one to consider before making this educational decision. 

This failure to realize the benefits of trade school is a problem faced by many who often regrettably decide to go to college without being informed of another prospective educational path. Had there been more proponents broadcasting the numerous benefits of trade school and the number of programs available, these students might have chosen an entirely different career and completed their schooling at a much faster rate. This is one of the other major advantages of electing trade school as your post-secondary candidate. Trade schools are typically a much shorter commitment to education. While each program is distinctive, most trades take only a few months to a year to learn.  Less time spent learning a specific skill set does not make achieving this commitment any less rewarding. The concentration of trade school on one skill in particular enables students to gain the knowledge necessary for their careers in order to begin working immediately. While many college students may find themselves working while going to school, often times the jobs they hold during this time are irrelevant to what they are going to school for. For those that choose to attend trade school, it is a very different scenario. All the material covered within each program will directly correlate with the required duties of the job. If that’s not enough incentive to turn to a trade, the sheer size and dynamic of the class might. A typical trade school class might have a total of thirty people compared to the hundreds of students crowding a lecture hall. Many people enjoy the closeness of a smaller classroom setting as it feels more personal and is easier to receive the crucial support necessary to be successful in that particular course. 

Trade schools have traditionally received a bad reputation for no fault of their own but rather the opinion of society. These negative outlooks often come from individuals in an entirely different industry who have no comprehension of what trade school actually is.  If you are considering a career that requires some form of trade school, keep in mind that the choice is ultimately yours to make. Making this choice should come from your innermost beliefs and what feels best for you. If like Aristotle you believe that, for the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, you should consider a road paved by the foundations established in trade school.