Does it seem like everyone’s asking what your next steps are?
What plans you have? What you want to study? It can be overwhelming to think about the possibilities.
We’ll help make it easier by sharing a few options to consider when you’re wondering what to do after graduating high school, including alternatives to a traditional 4-year college.
Interested in an exciting career where you can make an impact?
Get paid training and work experience in an in-demand field starting in high school.
Going to college is something that’s likely been ingrained in your mind for some time. There are a lot of ways you can go about this, though: full-time, part-time, private university, public college, community college, technical college, and the list can go on.
Here are some key questions to ask yourself when you’re thinking about college and trying to decide where to go.
- What are your interests, passions, and skills?
- Do you know what you want to study?
- What does it cost to go there?
- How are you going to pay for it?
- Are there scholarships available?
- Can you go full-time or part-time?
- Will this degree help you get a job?
- Are there alternatives to a traditional 4-year college?
While you might want to go to college to position yourself for a future career, you may not want to wait four years or more after high school to do that.
Don’t wait for graduation to build your success.
With youth apprenticeships, you can start growing a career now and have a plan in place for a tuition-free college degree. Discover more about youth apprenticeships through Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) and get ahead today.
You might be wondering what to do after high school besides college. If this sounds like you, maybe entering the workforce is an alternative to consider. Some high school graduates pursue full-time positions that don’t require a college degree, such as entry-level customer service representative, retail salesperson, data entry clerk, or warehouse worker.
While long-term pay opportunities may be lower without professional training or higher education, starting a full-time position could allow you to earn retirement benefits, healthcare insurance, and vacation time, with some companies even offering college reimbursement if you decide you’d like to go to college later on.
Why choose between a career or college?
With youth apprenticeships through GAP, you can earn a paycheck while working towards your college degree. Find out how to get started now.
Another alternative to going to college is to earn a professional certification in an area of interest. This can often be completed by demonstrating proficiency through a test, which you may be able to study for in your own time.
Depending on the career you’re seeking, this could be enough to position you for industry-specific entry-level opportunities. Jobs that may only require a professional certification to get started can include real estate agent, personal trainer, and help desk technician.
Did you know that you could gain industry certifications through GAP?
Earn your degree debt-free and gain industry certifications. Discover youth apprenticeships at GAP today.

If you’re still thinking, “I don’t know what to do after high school,” consider a type of on-the-job training known as a youth apprenticeship. You could begin working as a youth apprentice as soon as your junior year. All the while, you get to earn a paycheck while you learn in-demand skills under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
Real-world experience is combined with classroom time, and by the time the apprenticeship is complete, you’ll have earned a tuition-free degree as well. Often this is an associate’s degree, which is all that is needed in the area of concentration. However, if you want to continue toward a bachelor’s degree, the associate degree can be transferred to a 4-year college program.
With youth apprenticeships, you don’t have to wait to start a career. This opportunity offers exciting roles in growing tech-driven fields like information technology, supply chain logistics, and advanced manufacturing, alongside traditional vocations, such as automotive repair.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do after high school. When I heard about this program [apprenticeship], I thought it was a great opportunity. I didn’t have to worry about money like my other friends going to college. You get an education and experience, kind of a two for one.”
Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) Graduate
Student Apprentice, Carla Facundo