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Selecting a School
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My Future
The one-stop site is an "A-Z" site that helps you explore careers, locate schools, write resumes, prepare for interviews, search scholarships and grants, applying for financial aide and more. The Department of Defense produced this site with information from the Departments of Commerce, Labor and Education.
External Website: My Future
School Decision Resources
This resource lists VA and other government sites to help with selection of a school and education program that might interest you.
External Website: VA
Why You Should Consider Trade School Instead of College
Trent Hamm in his April 9, 2015 article noted that 'for a lot of people, going to a four-year college seems like an automatic choice when they graduate from high school.' However, based on National Center for Educational Statistics, some should seriously consider trade school, particularly if they are not at the top of their high school class. A traditional four-year degree is not for everyone, and trade school can be a better career path when considering the factors associated with a college education discussed in this article. Mr. Hamm provides an overview of what a trade school education is, who it would be best for, and some of the advantages of trade school versus college.
External Website: The Simple Dollar
Vocational Schools and Technical Careers
If you're considering vocational or trade schools for your post-secondary education, you can use this site to help you navigate the process of selecting and pursuing a career. There are informational articles about various vocational careers, interviews of working professionals, and a career assessment test that uses your academic and personal preferences to help you match interests, aptitude, location and affordability. Industry insights and updates are also posted.
External Website: Career Colleges
Military Friendly Schools
G.I. Jobs offers their trademarked Military Friendly school search to simplify the military transition experience.
External Website: Military Friendly Schools
Military Education Benefits and Programs Guide
The U.S. News University Directory's Military Education Center is a comprehensive resource including: military veteran, active duty, Reserve and Guard education assistance programs, school selection aids (university/college, trade and career)school ratings, financial aid, online opportunities, spouse and other family member education benefits, high-demand careers and paying school debt guidance.
External Website: U.S. News
College Navigator
This National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) site allows you to drill down into information to help make the "best choice" school decision for you. It includes the "College Affordability and Transparency Center" at which the cost of schools can be calculated. At this site you can build a list of schools using "My Favorites" for side-by-side comparisons, pinpoint school locations on an interactive map and export search results into a spreadsheet.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES is located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences.
External Website: National Center for Educational Statistics
Online Accredited Schools & Colleges
Online colleges around the nation want to obtain an accredited status for many important reasons. A college's academic reputation has a great deal to do with its accreditation status. Accreditation also ensures that graduates' credits will transfer to other colleges, as well as be accepted by potential employers. All in all, accreditation signifies a school's credibility, academic repute and the quality of instructors.
External Website: Accredited Online Schools & Colleges
Ten Rules For Choosing Online Colleges & Universities
This article explores ten issues to understand when considering online schooling. Additionally, the site posts online degree programs, scholarships, and financial aid information.
External Website: Online Colleges, Scholarships, and Degree Programs
Veterans Administration Institution Search
To locate the colleges and universities, vocational institutions, flight schools, and other educational facilities with programs that are approved for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, use the VA Institution Search tool. Yellow Ribbon Program participants are included. The database is updated annually.
External Website: VA
Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation & Education (VR&E)
The Veterans Administration (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation & Education program supports servicemembers leaving active duty due to medical issues and Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap. The program provides comprehensive services leading to employment or assistance for individuals to live more independently. These services include vocational counseling, training, career placement, and special rehabilitation services available to eligible active duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and dependents.
External Website: VA