Three basic educational options are available after high school:

A certificate program in a vocational field usually requires 12 to 18 months to complete.

An associate degree program, Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.), usually requires two years for completion.

A bachelor's degree program such as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) usually takes four years.

Option 1: Certificate programs

For students choosing the first option, follow-up courses are available for later enrichment. Certificate programs do not have set requirements, but many expect high school graduation or a GED certificate, obtained by passing a high school equivalency test. Some vocational schools (e.g., TVI in Albuquerque) require basic skills tests. Financial aid, frequently based on need, is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study programs.

Option 2: Associate degree

With the second option, transfer to a four-year program is possible with much of the first two years' work counting. Associate degree programs generally require high school graduation or the GED certificate. Some, such as the New Mexico Military Institute, require a specific number of college preparatory courses.

Option 3: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree programs require graduation or the GED certificate. A few colleges, including St. John's College, accept students under special circumstances who are just finishing their junior year. Required preparatory courses vary, but most colleges require fifteen to eighteen high school units (one unit for a full-year course): usually three units in English, two to four in mathematics, two in science, two in social science. Out-of-state schools often require two units in a foreign language; New Mexico schools do not. New Mexico schools generally require the ACT, an aptitude placement test administered by the American College Testing Service; out-of-state schools usually require the SAT, the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In addition, some schools require achievement tests in specialized subjects. Graduate programs are available for students choosing third option.

Where to Get Your Education

Once you decide on several schools, submit applications. Do not make the mistake of assuming that listing the colleges on a Pell Grant application represents application to those schools. (Pell Grants, which were previously known as Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, provide aid to economically disadvantaged students.) Each school has its own application form. The application fees are generally not refundable, so only apply if you are sure of your choice. Apply to several schools if you are interested only in those that are not state-supported; if you only apply to one of these and you are not accepted, you will be left out in the cold.

	Examine educational opportunities; investigate admission policies.
	Discuss plans with parents and guidance counselors.
	Register and take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) if colleges you are considering require the SAT, and take the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
	Consider whom to ask for recommendations (teachers, employers).
	Visit college campuses.
	Register for the SAT and Achievement Tests or the ACT, depending on college entrance or placement requirements.

July, August, September

	Obtain catalogs, applications, financial aid information. (State-supported schools do not supply catalogs.)
	Have parents prepare Parents' Confidential Statement if required.

October, November

	Mail completed applications.
	Determine tests required and take them.
	Maintain good grades.
	Request that your high school send official transcripts.
	Ask teachers and employers to write recommendations.

December

	Make sure all applications are sent before Christmas if colleges do not have another deadline.
	Check that transcripts are sent before Christmas, or earlier if the colleges require otherwise.
	Financial aid forms for state-supported (New Mexico) schools are available.

January

Tentative acceptance is sent by some schools to outstanding candidates who have completed all application requirements.

February, March

	Have high school send official transcripts that include grades for first semester and a list of second-semester courses.
	Check that all necessary tests have been taken and that applications are complete and all recommendations are sent.
	Take any required tests.

April, May, June

	Keep track of acceptances, rejections, and financial aid offers.
	Many colleges notify applicants by mid-April.
	Application to state-supported schools is often still possible up to one month before the fall semester begins.
	Reply promptly to colleges accepting you, notifying them of your decision.

The Two-Year College

If cost is an important factor, you might consider attending a two-year junior college and then transferring to a four-year college. The cost is low and these are basically good schools. Plan your two-year program carefully; it will save you grief later. Do the following:

	Know the requirements of the four-year college you eventually plan to attend and its transfer policies; obtain a copy of the catalog.
	Take general liberal arts classes to meet program entry requirements: English, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology; such courses are easier to transfer. If you take specialized courses in math, science, business administration, or other subjects, you may find that they are not accepted by the four-year school of your choice.
	Plan your program carefully with a counselor at the two-year school. Let her know your ultimate goal and the four-year school you plan to attend.

The Technical-Vocational School

The most important question to ask in deciding if you should attend a technical-vocational school or a college is whether you will meet your goals. Many students assume that if they start electronics in a technical-vocational school, it will be easy to move into electrical engineering in college. These are two different areas and, in general, technical-vocational credits are not transferable to colleges. Another common error is taking secretarial training as a means of entering business administration. Again, these are two different areas. It is important to know what it is you want to do. If you attend a technical school you may use up your federal financial aid (Pell Grant) and you may not receive more for a college education. Do not misunderstand the value of state- or city-supported technical-vocational schools: they offer excellent programs if they meet your career objectives.

If you decide to attend a technical-vocational school, follow the same procedure in selecting the school as in selecting a college. Consult with teachers, counselors, family, and friends. Study catalogs carefully. Contact employers who have hired graduates of the school and contact former graduates; find out if they are satisfied with the education the school provides. Investigate the school's reputation: contact the Better Business Bureau, the state Department of Public Instruction, or an accrediting agency. Find out what type of postgraduate job placement the school provides.

How a School Evaluates You

You evaluate a school, but the school also evaluates you based on the following:

Academic record (grades, course work) Entrance examination scores Class rank Recommendations Extracurricular activities Communication skills

 
Not all of these factors are taken into account by all schools. For example, state-supported schools do not consider admission quotas, extracurricular activities, or entrance examination scores when selecting candidates for admission.

Most colleges have certain standards that must be met. One of the first things you should do is to make yourself familiar with these requirements for colleges in general and for the particular colleges you are considering. Schools with a greater degree of academic competitiveness will require higher test scores and higher grade point averages. Most out-of-state schools require the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). State-supported schools in New Mexico usually require at least a C grade point average, high school graduation or a GED certificate, and the ACT, an aptitude test used for placement and advisement purposes and administered by the American College Testing Service. At some state schools, students not meeting minimum entrance requirements are admitted into provisional programs.

Four basic educational options are available after college:

1. A master's degree program, Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), frequently takes one to two years beyond the bachelor level. At some universities, these degrees are awarded after completion of a certain amount of course work; elsewhere, a thesis may be required.
    
2. A doctoral degree program (Ph.D.) generally takes from two to seven years beyond the master's, or longer, depending on the field of specialty, the dissertation topic, and the student's rate of progress. A Ph.D. is awarded upon completion of a dissertation and an oral examination on the subject of the dissertation, conducted by professors and other experts in the field. The dissertation is a paper describing original, independent research done by the student on some subspecialty in the field. Much work, experimental or theoretical, is needed before the dissertation is actually written. A dissertation advisor assists in choosing a topic and gives suggestions on how the student might proceed. Before beginning research, the student takes a "qualifying exam" that tests for a knowledge of the fundamentals of the field; this test can be written, oral, or a combination of both.
    
3. A law degree (Juris Doctor or J.D.) takes three years beyond college. Before a law graduate is licensed to practice as a lawyer, she must pass a written test, given twice a year in New Mexico, on state and federal law (the "bar exam") Those wishing to teach usually get further legal education, attaining an L.L.M. (Master of Laws) or L.L.D. (Doctor of Laws) degree.
    
4. A medical degree requires four years beyond college. The student must pass exams covering medical subjects, given during the second and third years, to become licensed. A few states, including New Mexico, require postgraduate work to maintain your license. After medical school, the graduate often does an internship and residency to become certified in a specialty; this can take four years or more.
    

Admission to a master's or Ph.D. program requires college graduation. Most departments require the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), which tests verbal and mathematical aptitude as well as specialized knowledge in your chosen field.

Graduation from college is required for law or medical school admission. A law school (LSAT) or medical school (MCAT) admissions test is also required.

Scholarships

In the sciences, aid is usually given, without the requirement of proving need, in the form of a scholarship or a teaching or research assistantship.

Such aid pays the cost of the education and also provides a monthly living stipend. In the nonsciences competition for the few forms of outright assistance is very keen; most aid is in the form of a loan. In law and medical school the education is usually paid for through part-time jobs and loans. Some of these jobs may provide valuable experience in the chosen field. The National Institutes of Health gives scholarship assistance to medical students; in return, students spend their residency at a public health facility. A small town or the military may provide aid in return for a promise from the future doctor or lawyer to practice there.

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CAREERS: EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES