Newbee’s
Page: What is the definition of a newbee? A
student, parent or family member who has no recent college
experience or training after high school graduation. People who
want answers to questions like . . .
1.
Why should a student consider training after high school
graduation?
2.
Are there specific high school classes required by colleges?
3.
What is the difference between a two and four year college?
4.
How many credits (college hours) does it take to graduate from
college?
5.
What is the difference between a college and a technical or trade
school?
6.
How can I pay for college and or other training after graduation?
WELL,
HERE ARE SOME ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
1.
Why should a student consider training after high school
graduation? Education and training are not of themselves
a guarantee of success in life. Past performance and life
style habits are, however, strong indicators of future
performance. This means that a student’s high school
years are current practice for the
future.
Understanding,
practicing, and improving this concept is one of the most
valuable lessons that a student can learn in any school or
training situation. One good example of this is school attendance
records. Students may not be aware that employers often call and
ask about a student’s attendance more often than they ask
about grades. All employers want to know if a student will show
up for that new job position they are trying out for, and many
times the school attendance record is the only source available.
2.
Are there specific high school classes required by colleges?
Yes.
The main reason the university or college graduation path is in
the high school plan is to get students who chose this direction
to be prepared for the challenge and demands in the college study
world. Most colleges expect their enrolling students to have
completed a minimum class load
of:
§
4 – credits of English standard or honors level
§
3 – credits of math algebra I, algebra II, and geometry
§
3 – credits of science that include two laboratory
experiences
§
3 – credits of social science that include U.S. history,
geography, economics and government
§
2 – credits of the same foreign language
§
1 – credit of fine art
A fourth math and lab
science are strongly recommended by college advisors as
additional elective credits. The ACT/SAT test score results
are proven predictors of college success. High
school students may, if ACT/SAT sub-test scores are low, be
required to complete and pass a developmental course in math,
English, or basic study skills area. In general, any ACT
score or sub-score lower than 19 will require a developmental
class prior to entering specific freshman level college courses.
Another
interesting factoid about college courses is that each one has an
assigned number. Example: Freshman College English 1010 is a
basic 1000 level freshman class and is required before moving to
the next level English 1020 class. Many times classes have a
required pre-requisite before registration is allowed; these
classes may need extra planning in your schedule as they are not
offered every semester. PLANNING AHEAD is the best course of
action. Courses that are 2000 levels are considered sophomore
year, 3000 levels are junior year, 4000 levels are senior year
and those 5000 and above are postgraduate level classes.
3. What is the
difference between a two and four year college?
Four-year
colleges and universities are fairly strict on entrance
requirements. Four-year colleges usually have higher entrance
standards for ACT/SAT scores, high school grade point averages,
previous course levels and subjects studied in high school.
Two-year
colleges are generally not as rigid on entrance requirements, and
usually a minimum ACT composite score of 19 with the same score
in English and math sub-scores will allow entrance. Two-year
colleges often offer specialty study programs that focus on
minimum training for employment entrance. Example: a C.N.A.
nursing certificate can be earned in less than a year. The L.P.N.
nursing program is most often a two-year study and the R.P.N.
nursing program is a four-year program of study. Probably the
most important issue for any student is to plot out the college
path they intend to follow and make sure that previous college
credits are transferable from the two-year college to the
four-year college.
4.
How many credits (college hours) does it take to graduate from
college?
In
general, one college year consists of approximately 32 to 34
credit hours of study. This can be broken down into two college
semesters of 16 to 17 credit hours each. A student normally earns
three credit hours for one college class. Colleges consider 12
credit hours as full time, which is only four classes at three
credits each. Quick calculation shows that a 12-credit schedule
does not allow for graduation on a two or four year schedule.
5.
What is the difference between a college and a technical or trade
school?
In
the standard college situation, programs of study are earned in
credit hours. A common three credit hour class will be in session
for three hours a week. A two-year degree is about 64 credit
hours of study. A conventional four-year program is about 128
credit hours of study. Classes are different at the technical or
trade school; here students earn credit based on the number of
clock hours attended in class. Certificates are earned for six to
eighteen month programs that prepare students for entry into an
employment area such as air conditioning repair, welding,
nursing, business systems, industrial maintenance, and many other
specific business trades.
Tennessee
has twenty-seven different technical school locations and each
one offers training specific for its local area. Four of these
schools are within a forty-mile distance of Rhea County. These
centers are located in Athens, Crossville, Harriman and
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Remember,
technical training programs are based on attended class clock
hours and each program requires a student to attend class for a
minimum number of hours to graduate. This is why a
student’s current attendance and habits in high school are
important.
6. How can I pay
for college and/or other training after graduation?
There
are five basic types of funding sources for college and/or
technical training schools:
1.
GRANTS are free money
funds. These funds are awarded based on the family unit income
and number of members in a family. This funding source is also
known as the “Pell Grant” or the FASFA information that
all colleges require students to complete prior to any other type
of scholarship or loan. This source must be processed for each
student attending college.
2. SCHOLARSHIPS
can be divided into three categories: Academic
scholarships, which are based on the student’s grade
point average; Athletic scholarships, which are based on
students’ physical abilities in an area such as golf,
tennis, swimming or football. Another recent addition to the
scholarship area is the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship, which
again is tied in with a student’s grade point average and
ACT test result. The Tennessee HOPE Scholarship requirements
will change from year to year and are based on competitive ACT
scores and grade point averages.
3.
LOANS are processed for each student after the
above fund sources have been exhausted. Loans require a repayment
to the fund source and may be taken at special student rates,
again, depending on the family situation and income.
4. WORK
STUDY PROGRAMS are specially designed
programs that allow a student to work at the college or
university in return for the payment of a portion of the college
cost. These programs are almost always related to the
student’s grade point average or class rank and are often
transferable from a two year to a four year college. This is an
investment type program where a college will sponsor a certain
number of students each year as long as the student keeps up the
approved program grade point average and attendance requirements.
5. MILITARY
SPONSORSED PROGRAMS are sponsorship programs
that students can obtain through the different military branches.
Each branch has a separate program that is available for agreeing
to serve the country. (The ASVAB is offered to all Rhea County
junior students in the early fall of junior year.
Whether
your choice is college, university, technical or trade school, it
is very important to know if the institution is an accredited
school. This means that the school meets certain minimum
standards and is accepted as a valid learning institution. (A
good test is if the training institution works with the federal
FASFA program.) Most schools will have a scholarship that
is specific for its location and is a great place to look for
school funds.
There
is a real life reason for students to complete high school and
graduate. Two major national studies have indicated that a high
school graduate will, on average, earn $160.25 per week more than
a non-graduate. Most businesses and companies today pay employees
bi-weekly or monthly; this means that a high school graduate
will, at minimum, receive $320.50 or $641.00 per payday more than
those who do not graduate from high school. These
studies did not include or consider a G.E.D. as a high school
graduate.
*EXAMPLE:
Current minimum employment wage is $5.15 per hour.
Current standard workweek is 35 – 40 hours per week.
$5.15 X 40 hours = $206.00 per week gross pay earned.
Graduation Bonus = $160.25 average for
high school graduates
Grand Total Pay Per Week = $366.25
*EXAMPLE:
The
annual income for a minimum pay job
$5.15
X 40 hours X 52 weeks total annual income = $10,712.00
Graduation Bonus Earnings $160.25 X 52 wks =
$ 8,333.00
Total Annual Income = $19,045.00
*EXAMPLE:
The
average working lifetime for an employee is 30 years.
Graduation Bonus Earnings $ 8,333.00 X 30 years = $249,990.00
Education Pays For a Lifetime! ! !
*
These examples come from two separate national studies and are
not any specific guarantee of students’ earnings.