Did you go to a trade school in high school?

[sasquatch]

I am ashamed to admitt that I wasted two years in High School at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center. Now because of my Goddamned faith in adults:grr:it looks like I'm going to have to take High School english and social studies classes so I'll have enough credits in those areas to attend SJSU. Right now I'm so pissed off at everyone and myself I want to take a loaded pistol to my temple and call it a life(like there were any good parts). Am I alone here or should we just use these schools as "reform" schools because these places are as condusive to going to college as rain is to baseball games. BTW I studied heating,ventalation and air conditioning at "Bedlam" as I now call it.

[Kenneth ken]

1. I did not

I sort of look back at high school and think it might have been worthwhile to take some VO-Tech classes. I'm not sure about two years of only that.

On the plus side, having a useful skill can help you work your way through college rather than having to work some menial, no-skills-needed job.

You might try to see if you can test out of any of those classes.
I'm not sure what/who determined you might 'have to take high school English...' but definitely at least ask about testing out.

[sasquatch]

2. I haven't asked yet

My skills because they were earned in High School and not in college or adult ed arn't considered legitimate. I seen on the online form that I require four high school credits of english to enroll in SJSU. I'll call them and ask.

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. I went to GNBRVTHS...

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. Loved every minute of it. My shop was Machining Technologies and Tool and Die Making. I got the best education in Massachusetts I think.

My Voke experience was intense. Two weeks of intense academics and related courses (Math, Science, Drawing), then two weeks of Shop (9 hours of work). I met all the academic requirements of the state of Massachusetts AND learned a trade that, although I am not a machinist, prepared me well for post-high-school challenges, I went to college, received my degree in English Lit and European History, and now make my living as an instructional designer and editor.

School is what you make of it. Voke offered me the challenges I needed to focus my life and goals once the high school experience ended.

[sasquatch]

4. My "Bedlam" didn't offer senior English

It didn't offer courses that made us eligieble for post High School four year college, so now I'm fucked big time. The Employers that visited our school would always encourage us to just work out of High School and not attend Junior College(or as I know it High School with cigarettes). I was near one of the top students in the class (6 out 24) although I really suck at math. After I got out of High School I thought the education I recieved was excellent for someone entering HVAC service. The problem is employers find your skills as illegetimate so you get thrown in HVAC installation which you have very little skill in. I also when I was working in HVAC I was making 7.50 an hour with no health care or union. The Union we had wasn't very strong so there is nothing but, non union company's where I live. So my time spent there would have been better spent shooting heroin or some other awful drug. Because there is this creative side to me and I at least could have wrote some interesting litterature. BTW I've never done drugs.

[BigMcLargehuge]

5. Every Vocational School in the US

is required to meet the same general education requirements as a non-vocational school. When I was a junior, because of my shop assignment, my academic group was in the lower third of four tiers.

I wasn't happy. I talked to the guidance director about my academic concerns and he was able to move me into the top tier academic group, where I flourished.

When I applied to college several of my shop-related material was considered above college prep level.

I did trig and calc from Freshman year on in Related Math
My CNC programming language was accepted as a foreign language credit

As for community college, you get out of it what you put in. I chose community college for economic reasons, received my associate of arts degree in Elementary Education, then transferred as a Junior into a 4 year school and finished my Bachelors work.

Since you can't go back in time and change your high school experience, you can change your future prospects. Go to community college. Challenge your professors to challenge you. Do your best regardless of the environment.

And you will succeed.

[sasquatch]

6. The state of Ohio at that time required three years of English

to Graduate but, colleges required four four years of college to enroll. So Bedlam which didn't give us any choice of classes just had us take Junior english. So entering college is about as possible as driving your car to the moon after you graduate. The state of Ohio only requires vocational schools to meet there minnimum requirments to graduate High School. If you don't beleive me look it up for 1999 state of Ohio graduation requirments. Community College is something I will avoid like the plague. I already have employers who think I just went to that High School because I couldn't handle real High School. Now I don't think I need them thinking that I can't handle normal four year college. It's already hard enough to find a job in the Bush Crime Family economy, I don't need those bad marks as well.

[BigMcLargehuge]

7. You're shooting yourself in the foot then.

The key to success is getting a good education. Community colleges offer that, and without requirements for SATs, they accept virtually anyone. Think of it as a stepping stone to better things. Besides, it's cheaper than a four-year school and you are taking all of the general education requirements that colleges will shove on you for the first two years anyway.

Find out if the local CC has a consortium agreement with state four-year colleges so that ALL of your AS degree credits transfer.

By opting to forego further education because of the stigma you believe it implies is a mistake. Getting into a four-year school is both hard and expensive, but worth it, I guess, if you can get in. I found CC work much more challenging because in my case, every student in my classes WANTED to be there everyday.

When I transferred to an undergrad program I met a huge percentage of students who were there by obligation and brought nothing to the learning environment.

[sasquatch]

13. I'll reconsider

My feeling on JC or CC

[sasquatch]

8. Kick

I need to get this thread back up:)

[Droopy]

9. I went to a trade school my last two years of high school

And I went on to college afterward. If I remember correctly, I had to take some placement tests. I remember taking placement tests for English and math specifically, I don't remember if there were any other subjects I had to test on. Those tests determined that I had enough knowledge to take college level math and English courses.

You might have to take what are called 'Developemental' classes the first quarter or so. Don't sweat it. Also, check on those placement tests. You may be able to test out of taking a few classes.

[sasquatch]

10. What college did you attend?

was it four year or CC

[Droopy]

11. Four year

Wright State University. If I remember right that's in your neck of the woods, too. I dropped out after two years, but will be heading back in the fall to finish up.

[sasquatch]

12. Good for you

:)

[Wcross]

14. I did

There was an aviation technology class that offered flight instruction. They didn't provide the required hours for a license but once a month we each got to fly for 1 1/2 hours. They also prepared you to take the FAA written exam. I did get my license 10 years later, and enjoyed every minute of the time spent. I later attended community college and SUNY.
I wasn't Harvard material so I didn't really miss out by going to trade school.

[sasquatch]

15. Good for you

I don't feel that way though