But What If I Don't Want to Go to College?: A Guide to Success Through Alternative Education (But What If I Don't Want to Go to College: A Guide to Success Through Alternative Educa-(Hardcover))

Praise for the previous edition:
"This would be a good reference book for any high school or public library."—VOYA

A four-year college isn't right for everyone after high school, but do alternatives exist that will still lead to profitable career opportunities? Author Harlow G. Unger, one of the country's foremost education experts, assures readers in his practical guidebook that they can achieve career success without a college degree. But What If I Don't Want to Go to College?, Third Edition provides concrete, step-by-step information for students who wish to pursue career avenues or educational opportunities other than college—for instance, alternative and vocational education—after high school graduation.

This updated volume examines careers in 16 industry categories and describes the skills and experiences required for each. It also offers guidance for self-assessment and determining what essential employment skills readers already possess.

Updates include:

• Employment statistics
• A table of industries expected to have the largest number of jobs in the future
• Fastest-growing jobs and training required for each professional field
• Current statistics on average earnings by education level
• Distance learning
• Salary and job statistics by industry
• Where to look for jobs and how to get hired.

Grade 10 Up—The advantages and disadvantages of 12 basic types of vocational programs are discussed in the opening section of this third edition. Unfortunately, oversimplification occurs throughout. For example, "The fact is there are only two good reasons for going to a four-year college or university." One is a desire to study traditional subjects; the other is that a career goal can only be reached by going this route. In the personal interview section, the author states, "Do well in it, and you'll probably be hired." No matter how well one does, competition is always a factor and it isn't really discussed. The book is organized in two parts, "Career Education-Alternative Routes to Success" and "Career Opportunities-and How to Find Them." Appendixes list accrediting associations; directories; employable skills; jobs, education, and pay; and cooperative-education programs. While the chapter "Getting Started in Your New Career" goes through writing resumes and cover letters, it offers only one example of each, hardly any discussion on Internet sites beyond Monster.com, and little advice ("It is unethical for you to copy more complex, sample cover letters and résumés…."). Readers might find helpful the charts that match up occupations with earnings and education through 2012. Additional purchase only.—Kelly Czarnecki, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg, NC
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