| Students drop out of high school for many reasons; | | | | to take precious time away from work in order to |
| perhaps they need to work to support themselves, or | | | | attend a class on campus, a working student can |
| their family structure may not have been conducive to | | | | simply enroll in an online college and complete the |
| the educational process. Many students who for one | | | | coursework in the comfort of their own home, on a |
| reason or another do not complete high school do, | | | | schedule that is convenient to them. |
| however, complete their GED (General Education) | | | | An online college will offer much more to a GED |
| certificate. This is a high school equivalency test that | | | | student than coursework in general education classes. |
| tests students in five subjects: language arts, | | | | If a student wants to take a certification course in a |
| mathematics, writing, science, and social studies. The | | | | particular field to increase their viability on the job, many |
| majority of students who do go on to complete their | | | | online schools have those programs available. Many |
| GED report that they have done so in order to | | | | online colleges offer technical degrees, as well. This is |
| continue their post secondary education. | | | | ideal for students who want to increase their |
| Previously, GED students may have had a difficult time | | | | knowledge and perhaps move into a completely |
| transitioning from a GED into a college program. | | | | different career field. A technical degree is usually very |
| However, over the past decade there have been | | | | career oriented, offering training for a specific job, such |
| many developments in education that are beneficial to | | | | as nursing. |
| GED students. These developments include the | | | | Many online schools offer associates degrees, which |
| recognition by many colleges and universities that | | | | are two year degrees in a wide range of fields. An |
| non-traditional students are often as well-equipped to | | | | associate degree may be in a technical field, an |
| handle a college experience as a student who | | | | academic field, or a professional field. By achieving a |
| graduated from high school with a diploma. Increasingly, | | | | two-year online degree, GED students open up the |
| colleges and universities welcome students from | | | | door to even higher levels of education. If they so |
| non-traditional high school backgrounds as students. | | | | choose, they can go from there into a traditional |
| Another great development over the past decade or | | | | four-year university, or they may choose to continue |
| so is the advent of online schools and colleges. Online | | | | with their education at an online college, completing a |
| college is an ideal way for a GED student to pursue | | | | bachelors or masters degree, or even a PhD. |
| post secondary education. Whether a student wants | | | | Many distance colleges offer four year degrees in |
| to go to school online for certification in a particular | | | | nearly every career field available. From business to |
| work field, or to attain an online degree, they have | | | | criminal justice, law or education, an online degree can |
| many more opportunities than ever before to achieve | | | | be the pathway for students to attain higher earning |
| those goals. | | | | potential and greater job satisfaction. Also, there may |
| Schools online have programs in hundreds of different | | | | be many instances in which a working student who is |
| areas for GED students. Often these students have | | | | attending online college can apply what they are |
| already entered the work force, so they need flexibility | | | | learning to their present job. This may lead to |
| in their class schedules. Online degree programs offer | | | | recognition by employers and the possibility of |
| just that for busy working people. Rather than having | | | | promotion or pay raises. |