Back To School...Again

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            College is a frightening topic for many high school students all over the country. Oftentimes, the cost alone can scare people away from the degree they deserve. On the other hand, there are many alternatives for students to help pay for college.

            Since saving up cash is a big issue for students right now, there are ways of receiving a degree for a fraction of the price. Dual credit classes are a prime example of this. These classes are college-level courses offered to high school students for a very small price compared to the tuition of many colleges. These may be used for high school general education credits or actual college credits that can be earned for nearly every college. For cheap costs there is also a program here at Centralia High School called the A+ program. This requires the student to be a teacher's assistant for a certain period of time. Now here's the fun part. This program also gives a student two entire years of free education at MACC (Moberly Area Community College) locations or at other schools that accept A+ qualifications. The A+ program is a great way to get college out of the way and get careers started. The following website offers information about the program: http://www.centralia.k12.mo.us/home/chs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=71.

           It is also possible for college to be completely free. There is one college in Missouri where students can go for free. According to Mrs. Dimmitt, "College of the Ozarks is the only free college in Missouri. They arrange a work-study program which pays tuition and fees." Many colleges also offer automatic scholarships based solely on academics. A lot are more interested in ACT scores than they are in GPA, as long as the students meet the initial application deadline. Most of these colleges do require some sort of extra-curricular involvement for a scholarship.

          There are some jobs right now that are high in demand and require a bachelor's degree. Mrs. Dimmitt says, "Starting at a 2-year college is always going to be a cheaper way to earn a bachelor's degree." Some 2-year colleges that are popular are Moberly Area Community College, Jefferson College, and State Fair. These could help a student start off his or her career. Whether it is nursing or engineering, these jobs must have some sort of degree. Areas that are growing that would be smart to go into are nursing, math, science, special education, and engineering. These are predicted to be growing and more people will be needed to fill positions in these jobs.

          For more information about certain colleges, talk to the school counselors or visit the websites of the colleges you are interested in attending. Some websites offer virtual tours. For example, check out http://www.campustours.com.