Outside US & Canada?
How to Choose Between a GED and a High School Diploma
By Melody GoughQuestion
I'll be 23 years old in less than a week, and would like to get a high school diploma. A GED is fine, but I feel as though obtaining a diploma is better, as it will teach me discipline and a wider range of subjects. Plus, I have wasted a lot of time and would like to be more marketable to colleges by receiving my diploma rather than a GED. The problem is my income. How can I acquire a diploma on limited income? Please advise how I can begin achieving my goals.
Answer
Your instincts are right on: generally speaking, a high school diploma carries more weight than a GED. A diploma indicates that you've mastered a broad range of coursework and have the academic background to go to college. A GED indicates that you've passed an equivalency test. The diploma involves three or four years of study, the GED involves a prep course and a day-long exam. In most cases, a high school diploma carries more weight with a college admissions counselor and with a prospective employer.
So you're right to make your high school diploma a priority. Consider your education an investment in your future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, high school graduates earn 45% more than those without a diploma. In other words, don't let your finances stand in the way!
Here are some financing strategies to consider:
- Bridge programs. Since college is part of your long-term plan, consider pursuing a "bridge" program. Many community colleges offer affordable, short-term programs designed to help you complete your high school diploma credits while working toward an associate degree or certificate.
- 'Second-chance' programs. Many adult education programs and community colleges take advantage of federal and state grants to offer free diploma completion courses for returning high school students.
- Federal and private grants. Check into federal, state, and private financial aid sources. If you qualify for a federal Pell Grant, for example, you may be able to apply it to a college bridge program.
- Flexible scheduling programs. Don't quit your job, work around it. Online high school diploma programs and other flexible scheduling options allow returning students to complete their credits without losing their source of income.
University of Nevada Reno professor Melody Gough is here to answer your questions every week. Professor Gough has taught poetry in both online and community college classrooms for almost a decade and has also taught English composition at the local university for the past five years. In addition to advising her students and inspiring them with witty classroom exercises, Professor Gough writes both poetry and memoir. Her Master of Arts in Teaching English is from the University of Nevada, Reno.
