When we receive our final college exam results, there can be a moment of trepidation before we open the envelope; a thought that maybe we should have been studying instead of playing a drinking competition the night before that final essay was due. For some of us, a dire result means that we might not be able to study in the field we originally planned to, and for some of us it means that we might not be able to go to university at all. University isn’t for everyone, and whether you don’t attend one as a result of bad exam results, or simply the feeling that university isn’t for you, then not to worry- there are many other options to get qualified, and get the job of your dreams.
The After School Dilemma
Many young people really have no idea what they want to do with the rest of their lives. After college comes to an end, there’s a feeling of euphoria in thinking that the hard part of life is behind you, and then a realisation that the hard part is actually yet to come. While traditional university is a great step for many people, it’s not for everyone, and of course many people spend three of four years studying at university, only to have difficulty finding a job in their chosen field, or coming to the conclusion that they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives doing what they’ve studied for.
Catch 22
You might finish school or college and want to get straight to work, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. You might, however, find yourself in a catch 22 position- no employer will hire you without experience, and without employment, you can’t actually get any experience. This can be easily remedied by choosing the middle ground- studying via distance education. You won’t need to go to university, and yet you’ll still receive a qualification that will appeal to employers.
Flexibility
Distance learning courses offer a flexibility that simply doesn’t exist in the traditional university structure. You don’t necessarily have to start studying at a certain time of year (there’s no university style semester), and you don’t have to do your coursework at a set time each day (there are no scheduled classes). You can study what you want, when you want. Of course, distance learning involves a decent amount of time management, but since you’re choosing exactly what you want to study, it means you’ll want to sit down and hit the books (or the computer screen, as the case might be).
Work and Study
While you might not be able to commence your dream career without qualifications, distance learning allows you to continue to earn while you study, so you don’t miss out on the things you want (because life isn’t free!). You can easily hold down a part time or even a full time job while you study, giving you a steady income while still studying for a better future. Of course, whether it’s traditional schooling or distance education, it’s never a good idea to have a drinking competition the night before an essay is due…