| For at least four decades the conventional | | | | therapy assistant may also offer advanced |
| wisdom has been that as many high school | | | | programs leading to qualification as a |
| graduates as possible should go on to earn a | | | | licensed physical therapist. It's also |
| bachelor's degree at a four-year college. A | | | | possible in many cases to transfer credits |
| bachelor's degree has been the ticket to | | | | from the two-year college to a four-year |
| entry into high-paying professional careers, | | | | college.One- and two-year technical schools, |
| and many corporations haven't allowed workers | | | | many of them private, for-profit |
| onto the first rung of their professional | | | | institutions, have sprung up all over country |
| ladder without that degree. Two-year colleges | | | | offering training for a long list of |
| are often looked upon more as vocational | | | | different careers. Some caution is encouraged |
| schools, and have traditionally been | | | | here: Many of the for-profit schools promise |
| considered the stepsister of four-year | | | | career placement after graduation, and fail |
| institutions, suitable for those without the | | | | to follow through. The curriculum can vary |
| academic record to get into a "regular" | | | | from school to school as well; before a |
| college.A lot has changed. As college tuition | | | | student decides on a particular school which |
| costs have spiked, many students leave a | | | | promises to prepare for a specific career, |
| four-year college with a bachelor's degree | | | | it's advisable to research the educational |
| and a whopping student loan debt, often in | | | | requirement of that particular position and |
| excess of $50,000. And with the realization | | | | then make sure that the school's curriculum |
| that a four-year degree is no guarantee of a | | | | offers all the training needed.Of course, a |
| job related to their field of study, many | | | | public, state-supported, nonprofit two-year |
| students are opting out of the four-year | | | | college or vocational school is a pretty safe |
| school and into a two-year program.Two-year | | | | bet. It has the advantages of stability, |
| colleges require students to complete certain | | | | community involvement, and most likely a good |
| general requirements, including English and | | | | sense of what kinds of training are needed in |
| math courses, just like their four-year | | | | the surrounding business environment. A |
| counterparts, but the emphasis in a two-year | | | | community college can probably also offer |
| college is work-oriented knowledge and the | | | | trustworthy advice on the availability of |
| development of practical skills. Participants | | | | scholarships, loans, and other types of |
| can earn Associate Degrees in a wide range of | | | | student aid.For prospective students with a |
| majors including accounting, business | | | | clear idea of the career they want to pursue, |
| management, communications, information | | | | two-year colleges offer a relatively fast, |
| technology, and programs to prepare students | | | | and often less expensive, alternative to a |
| for a variety of medically related | | | | four-year program. No longer considered "Plan |
| professions.Many programs, while set up to be | | | | B" for students not able to swing a |
| completed in two years, can also be extended | | | | bachelor's degree program, they're becoming a |
| in a three-year timeline, allowing students | | | | savvy alternative for anyone seeking |
| to work part- or fulltime and pursue their | | | | professional education.Aldene Fredenburg is a |
| education. There's also a clear path to | | | | freelance writer living in southwestern New |
| advancement with some programs; students can | | | | Hampshire. She has written numerous articles |
| opt for additional training at the same | | | | for local and regional newspapers and for a |
| college. A program preparing a student for | | | | number of Internet websites, including Tips |
| work as a physical therapy or occupational | | | | and Topics. |