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| Power Style Wellness Connections |
what’s your college profile?
by tiffany white
If you are a junior or high school senior who is planning to pursue a degree, you’ve
probably been inundated with those eye-catching recruitment packets from colleges and
universities. The choices are plentiful: from four-year universities to online programs,
students have multiple ways of earning a degree. How do you know which type of school is
the best choice for you?
Ellen Shapira, educational and career counselor for Jewish Family and Vocational
Services, tries to help kids figure it out before they graduate. Shapira says the staff starts
advising students in their junior year of high school.
Two-Year Colleges
HOW IT WORKS: Students, says Shapira, can attend one of two types of two-year
programs. Jefferson Community College (JCC) enables students to take the same classes
they would have at a four-year university. Credit hours from these classes could be
transferred to a four-year university. The second type, also offered at JCC, is a program
that leads to an associate degree in a specific area such as computers or physical
therapy. In the first year, according to Shapira, students may take the same coursework
offered in a four-year program, but in the second year, the classes are geared toward the
occupation you are planning to pursue. However if you decide to enroll in a four-year
university after earning your associate degree, some of the credit hours you earn in the
second year may not be transferred to the university.
WHO IT FITS: Shapira says a two-year college is an option for students who may not want
to go to school full-time, have marginal financial resources, and a lower grade point
average.
Four-Year Colleges
HOW IT WORKS: Generally, students who enroll in a university complete their
undergraduate degree in four years and have the option of pursuing a higher level of
education such as a masters or PhD. in their designated field of study. All universities
require students to score a certain number of points on their SAT or ACT before they can
be accepted into the school.
WHO IT FITS: Motivated students who have maintained a B average or higher throughout
high school usually adjust well to four-year universities, says Shapira. “But maturity keeps
some students from doing well (in a university) even if they made good grades in high
school.” Shapira says students must be willing to stay focused on their studies if they want
to succeed at a university. If you are extremely independent, attending school out of state
is a wise choice, but if you desire the comforts of home, Shapira suggests enrolling in a
smaller local school like Bellarmine University or Spalding University.
Online Universities
HOW IT WORKS: Online programs give students the convenience of earning a degree
without being in a formal class setting. Sally Ingle, guidance counselor for the Education
Center at Fort Knox, says there are different delivery modes of online learning. Self-paced
classes, says Ingle, have specific beginning and ending dates. Some classes are taught
using a CD-rom while others require students to participate in live discussion boards on
the Internet.
WHO IT FITS:¬ Ingle says, “If you are a person who is easily distracted, online (learning)
isn’t a good choice for you, but if you can keep up with your homework, it can be a
tremendous opportunity.” Shapira agrees, “In order to do an online program, you need to
a certain level of maturity, self-discipline and self-motivation.“Regardless of which route
you choose, you can always advance your educational and career opportunities.
Parminder Jassal, director of workforce solutions, Greater Louisville Inc., is working with
the HIRE Education Forum, a consortium of colleges and universities, to make sure it
happens. The group’s focus is based on aligning postsecondary education with
businesses.
They are particularly interested in finding ways of increasing the percentage of bachelor’s
degree holders. “We need students going to college and graduating from college. This is
one of the key indicators that businesses use to assess whether a community will be a
good place for conducting business.” She adds, “There is nothing wrong with having a two-
year degree and building it out to a four-year degree. You can start at smaller places and
make yourself employable at a higher level. Education equals choice.”
Trade & Technical Programs
HOW IT WORKS: Trade and Technical programs allow students to complete their
education in three months to two years, depending on their area of interest. Students can
pursue a myriad of careers, from a surgical technical assistant, to a mechanic, to a nail
technician.
WHO IT FITS:¬ Scott Kochenrath, adult lead counselor with the Kentuckiana College
Access Center, says these programs are ideal for students who want to enter the job
market quickly without attending a college or university. “This gives them something to
market themselves with and it gives them a skill in a needed area,” he says.
by tiffany white
If you are a junior or high school senior who is planning to pursue a degree, you’ve
probably been inundated with those eye-catching recruitment packets from colleges and
universities. The choices are plentiful: from four-year universities to online programs,
students have multiple ways of earning a degree. How do you know which type of school is
the best choice for you?
Ellen Shapira, educational and career counselor for Jewish Family and Vocational
Services, tries to help kids figure it out before they graduate. Shapira says the staff starts
advising students in their junior year of high school.
Two-Year Colleges
HOW IT WORKS: Students, says Shapira, can attend one of two types of two-year
programs. Jefferson Community College (JCC) enables students to take the same classes
they would have at a four-year university. Credit hours from these classes could be
transferred to a four-year university. The second type, also offered at JCC, is a program
that leads to an associate degree in a specific area such as computers or physical
therapy. In the first year, according to Shapira, students may take the same coursework
offered in a four-year program, but in the second year, the classes are geared toward the
occupation you are planning to pursue. However if you decide to enroll in a four-year
university after earning your associate degree, some of the credit hours you earn in the
second year may not be transferred to the university.
WHO IT FITS: Shapira says a two-year college is an option for students who may not want
to go to school full-time, have marginal financial resources, and a lower grade point
average.
Four-Year Colleges
HOW IT WORKS: Generally, students who enroll in a university complete their
undergraduate degree in four years and have the option of pursuing a higher level of
education such as a masters or PhD. in their designated field of study. All universities
require students to score a certain number of points on their SAT or ACT before they can
be accepted into the school.
WHO IT FITS: Motivated students who have maintained a B average or higher throughout
high school usually adjust well to four-year universities, says Shapira. “But maturity keeps
some students from doing well (in a university) even if they made good grades in high
school.” Shapira says students must be willing to stay focused on their studies if they want
to succeed at a university. If you are extremely independent, attending school out of state
is a wise choice, but if you desire the comforts of home, Shapira suggests enrolling in a
smaller local school like Bellarmine University or Spalding University.
Online Universities
HOW IT WORKS: Online programs give students the convenience of earning a degree
without being in a formal class setting. Sally Ingle, guidance counselor for the Education
Center at Fort Knox, says there are different delivery modes of online learning. Self-paced
classes, says Ingle, have specific beginning and ending dates. Some classes are taught
using a CD-rom while others require students to participate in live discussion boards on
the Internet.
WHO IT FITS:¬ Ingle says, “If you are a person who is easily distracted, online (learning)
isn’t a good choice for you, but if you can keep up with your homework, it can be a
tremendous opportunity.” Shapira agrees, “In order to do an online program, you need to
a certain level of maturity, self-discipline and self-motivation.“Regardless of which route
you choose, you can always advance your educational and career opportunities.
Parminder Jassal, director of workforce solutions, Greater Louisville Inc., is working with
the HIRE Education Forum, a consortium of colleges and universities, to make sure it
happens. The group’s focus is based on aligning postsecondary education with
businesses.
They are particularly interested in finding ways of increasing the percentage of bachelor’s
degree holders. “We need students going to college and graduating from college. This is
one of the key indicators that businesses use to assess whether a community will be a
good place for conducting business.” She adds, “There is nothing wrong with having a two-
year degree and building it out to a four-year degree. You can start at smaller places and
make yourself employable at a higher level. Education equals choice.”
Trade & Technical Programs
HOW IT WORKS: Trade and Technical programs allow students to complete their
education in three months to two years, depending on their area of interest. Students can
pursue a myriad of careers, from a surgical technical assistant, to a mechanic, to a nail
technician.
WHO IT FITS:¬ Scott Kochenrath, adult lead counselor with the Kentuckiana College
Access Center, says these programs are ideal for students who want to enter the job
market quickly without attending a college or university. “This gives them something to
market themselves with and it gives them a skill in a needed area,” he says.