Juanita, 26, had a lot of worries when she applied to study at a career college. How would she juggle coursework with family and career obligations? And most importantly, was she smart enough to pull it off?
This thought "I'm not smart enough for college" can be the kiss of death for students who have a less than stellar academic record. If you're one of these students, and are thinking about enrolling in a career college you may not have the self-confidence you need to take the first step. Experts say it's time to rethink your history-why you may not have done well in school the first time around. Perhaps you were distracted by other concerns, suffered from poor self-esteem, or enjoyed parties just a little too much. Whatever caused you to lose focus, you must be resolved to change that behavior and start anew. A career college is a good place to do this.
And finding success through career training is even easier today because of programs designed exclusively for students like you. Unlike the traditional lecture and note-taking format that so many remember with dread, today's career college emphasizes hands-on instruction as well as programs geared towards vocation, not purely book-driven academics. If you didn't do well in high school, or perhaps tried to take a few college classes and found them difficult, don't think that these experiences predict your success at a career college You'll probably be much more motivated to learn at a school that is based in real-world applications rather than bookwork. One student, Mark, who struggled with high school grades and was constantly reprimanded for talking in class, found his socializing skills were an attribute at a career college-his teachers knew that as a future diagnostic medical sonographer, he'd be working closely with patients and would need people skills. Mark also found lots of support at the career college with instructors helping him through trouble spots when needed.
Since many career college students are working adults, there are other factors that make a career college more student-friendly than a traditional university. At career colleges, classes are typically offered at convenient city-based campuses, making it easier for busy working adults to complete training for a satisfying career in areas like healthcare. Students don't need to be concerned about how long it will take to complete a certificate or degree either, since many career college programs can be completed in eight to ten months.
Juanita, the student who was concerned about how she would succeed at a career college found that it was easier than she thought it would be. She found lots of support among fellow students who were pursing similar goals, and thrived in programs that provided both technical knowledge and practical skills. "Being at a career college taught me that I'm more capable than I thought I was. When I went back to school, I did better than I thought I would. I was a lot smarter than I thought."
TIPS FOR CAREER COLLEGE SUCCESS:
• Ask for help: Your career college admissions representative or student services advisor can advise you about tutoring options, GED testing or the nationally recognized ability-to-benefit test, along with requirements for admission.
• Hone your skills: If you're not sure what program is right for you, ask an admissions representative to help you figure out where your talents and aptitude lie.
• Eliminate distractions: Before school begins, take care of other responsibilities that you might have. Line up childcare, figure out transportation and parking logistics, purchase books, etc.
• Have confidence: You CAN succeed at a career college and earn a certificate toward a fulfilling and rewarding profession.
To request information about healthcare career training programs offered in south California, visit http://www.americancareer.com Effective Student Marketing, Inc. |
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