In the 90's, high school counselors HEAVILY pushed everyone to college. My friend decided to go to trade school, and his counselor told him he was "throwing his life away". He now makes more money than most of our classmates.

Oh no, how dare Gen Z learn from the previous generations and not drink the Kool aid about going to college. The audacity of these whipper snappers...

Good. We need mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc…

Mark Cuban once said the day we ban student loans is the day that the cost of tuition will go down.

It’s sad that school is so expensive because we’re going start having shortages of teachers, doctors, nurses ext because no one can afford to go to School .

bring shop class back to high schools

Not everyone is meant to use their hands, just like not everyone is meant to work in an office. Find out what you like and go from there. It’s a pretty simple decision in my opinion

The only reason you go to college is to use expensive equipment to educate yourself; magnetic resonance imaging scanner, wind tunnels, super computers, electron microscopes, anechoic chambers, rare chemicals etc. If you are just going to college to read books, writing papers, you can do it over the internet.

Colleges are only worth it if you're pursuing something with high pay potential, like a lawyer or doctor. You can still go to college... but play your part accordingly

And someone with 3 degrees, I support Gen Z. I do well financially, but the cost is astronomical and I’m hustling to pay off my student debt. I’m going to encourage my child to go to trade school or community college, then have his employer pay for his bachelors if he decides to pursue a 4-year degree.

As a millennial that paid 40,000 dollars for a college degree I don’t use, I agree with this.

College, a waste of 4 years learning about useless classes that are not relevant to your career.

College is such a scam I dont blame these kids going a different route i went to college and took on massive debt finally paid it all back after 6 years but it was a struggle finding a job right after i graduate

Why do people act like this is a new thing? If you’ve ever gone to get your car fixed and there was a human there at the shop, they probably went to a trade school. Or, if you’ve ever called a plumber for a leak, and someone came over and fixed it, they went to a trade school. Going to a 4 year university after HS is a recent thing, not a traditional thing. There have always been plenty of people that didnt go.

My family pushed College on me, but I refused. I wanted to cook. I wanted to create.

I regret not becoming a pilot, while I have a decent career now. I spent all my time to paying off debt anyway

I wished i went to trade school before jumping straight to college. Imagine you get your trade license while completing credits to get your associates degree. By time you transfer to a university, you’ll just have 2 years to complete and you can pay your way through school using pell grants and your trade job. Damn lol

There are so many ways to go. The most important thing is to make a plan and write out what you need to do to get to the end goal.

Takeaway here is that if you’re not going to school to become a lawyer, doctor, scientists, accountant, engineer or you’re just not entirely sure what you want in life…. Just go to trade school.

there are bootcamps and certifications as well

20 years later “more kids ditching trade schools for college”

They got plenty of time to do what they want. Don’t rush, live your life..

The only thing college gave me was a degree to satisfy the prerequisite to apply to law school. That’s it. No real skills.

they will make a million more with a college degree. uhm factor in the loans that everyone need to get. yeah it is a lot less. Also it takes forever to get a degree because we need to take classes that have nothing to do with our degree. In other countries they get done with their degree faster. They are only required to take what is relevant to their degree and nothing else.

If you’re not going to college for STEM, law, or business then do a trade school instead. All these universities do is promote a bunch of useless theories instead of teaching valuable marketable skills.

When are you guys gonna give us stats on the ratio of Administrators to Professors at these universities? Do a study, pull some numbers. You know, journalism.

For Gen Z men especially, traditional college is a waste of time and money. All the debt and little to no return on investment. The degree usually won't pay itself off until after 20+ years. Gen Z men also have to compete with women for the same jobs after graduating college which makes the trades easier to get into.

Industrial Electrician and PLC programming is a winning combination. Make a ton of money and get a job anywhere in the US.

As someone in uni i can say studying for my stem degree is hot garbage lol its a lot of slow studying, no guarantee of pay off, technology is always off shored, im barely surviving off bare bones money being supported by parents. Still have one year to go so who knows what may change.

Is nobody concerned that more and more of our higher educated persons in America are foreigners? Trade schools are awesome, but we should be fighting for affordable college for things like medical, engineering, or law degrees and let them charge up the nose for things like art degrees.

I got a 2 year degree and am doing almost better than ppl with bachelors or masters. My Mom asked me to get a bachelors and i asked her why ill make the same money?

Who would ever thought that trade school that people discredited back there is now become a valuable thing

At my high school and still to this day, the popular non-traditional route was cosmetology school or similar. Trades weren’t that popular. College degree route was obviously the most popular choice. However, we had more people go into cosmetology than people who choose to major in biology. Biology was a random I choose that was also popular amongst students from my high school. The student who allegedly made the most money outside of college was a music major but they got lucky. Students who came close salary wise weren’t stem majors.

College is only going downhill from here, they are going to continue to increase the price every year and when that happens more and more people with go the non traditional way.

I worked for a non-profit trade school as a recruiter years ago in San Diego, I went to the Sweetwater school district and had a meeting with someone there to see if we could be included in their college fair, explained that college is not for everyone and that students should have options. I was shut down and told that we were basically ruining students futures and that they want to encourage students to go to college. They also said that they didn’t want students to get student loans, even though we guaranteed that trade school also accept FAFSA, even if they do get a loan it would have been less than half of what they would need to get for an under grad degree. It was very disappointing to hear this directly from a school district.

Hey, whatever makes them happy or more affordable. Thats the real world.

I'm one of the Gen Zers who took this route. And no, high-school counselors haven't stopped pushing for college, we actually have to specify we aren't going to college, a lot. I had to put up with these so-called counselors saying how "it's really the best path for everybody" and how "you where a promising student, gifted actually, so it's surprising you're deciding to stop your education at only the High-School level." If I make $1mil less than a college grad in my life, congrats, I didn't have to spend the first 20yrs of my adult life stressing out about being in debt.

SkillsUSA has literally changed my life. I’m a senior in highschool and just from Nov. 2023-present I went to a Fall Leadership Conference in Albany, NY, the Area 2 regional competition for collision repair (placed 2nd), and STATE COMPETITION at the NYS Fairgrounds at the end of April, placing 2nd in Auto Refinishing!! The winner is unable to go to nationals, so guess who gets to go to Atlanta in June?!?! 😁There are *no limits* no matter your age, gender, religion, etc. Don’t even worry about what everyone else is doing or thinking. You will also fit right in where you are meant to be, don’t let anything stop you. The trades are becoming more inclusive and diverse as they are becoming desperate for workers!

Skills USA is an amazing program, and there are so many different trades. This year I had the opportunity to do Skills USA and it was an amazing time, I was able to make it to the State level and compete for Nationals, and though I didn't make it onto the podium my two other friends did. They got Silver and Bronze, If you're school has this you should totally sign up for it. It is an experience you will never forget

Good I graduated from esthetics school now I’m in my bachelors for communication

I encourage anyone go to community college or do school part time if you get no fafsa. I get fafsa and am very lucky but these classes are really hard. No child deserves that financial stress

Good, this is the backbone of America. The younger generation is growing back, where previous generations let it wither away.

Glad I did military service before college. Now I get paid to go, and I think of it more like a temp job with credentials at the end. I wouldn't do college if I weren't being paid to. It's so pointless... except for a choice dozen classes or so. The curriculum is so bloated.

YOOO SKILLSUSA IN THE THUMBNAIL REPRESENT 💪💪

I'm just waiting for the part where we start hearing stories about an over saturation of people going into trades a few years from now.

As a college graduate, I’m proud of them for choosing their own path and choosing trades that can make them money whenever and wherever! But I still encourage them to never stop learning! One of the biggest benefits of college is the way it gets you to think critically and analytically and question the information you receive as well as how to do your research. Trade school is great…at teaching you to be a worker ant. But now more than ever, you need to stay vigilant and sharp. It is an uneducated mass that is easy to control and manipulate. So keep educating yourself!

As an older gen Zer I chose welding instead of fully going to college for 4 years because 2 years into college I was disheartened with my current progress at the time and major I was in, so I chose welding and enrolled into my school's welding program and graduated with a welding certificate.

just because college isn't for everyone, it also doesn't mean trade school is for everyone. They make it sound as though pursuing trades guarantees success. Sure, college degree doesn't guarantee success, but neither does a career in trades.

Trade school is good for some and college is good for others. Both paths depending on the major have demand in the economy. What really irks me is that usually half your time in college is taking courses unrelated to the degree(ex. 2/4 years doing a biology degree). Especially now when tuition is so pricey its like buying a home. The return has also decreased as degrees cost more and wages haven't increased as sharply.

Good. Trades schools are the best. They teach you everything you need to start out learning. Apprenticeship here in year one. Master in 4 years.

Going to construction is rough right now due to how bad the house market is

My daughter graduates this year with her welding certification and entrance into the local community college 2 year program for a more intricate program then into a paid apprenticeship ❤ mommas heart is proud!

Trades people typically learn more and know more in 2 years on the job than the architects and engineers do in 4 years of college. Can't tell you how many "office" screw ups I've had to fix over the years between construction and mechanic jobs.

Good to see people are seeing that college ain’t the only avenue to have a better life.

Electric was so fun, just got out of trade school! This reminds me i got opportunities!

I'm a lineman in Houston and average $200k+ a year I will retire with several millions in my retirement because of my union benefits that are paid by companies and not out of my check. Go trades and go union.

Thought the thumbnail was of an America's Got Talent performer LOL

Trades have always been around. How are they non traditional?

I'm 18 years old and I will be going to college. I can't get to where I want to be without it.

I’m glad this shift is finally happening. I went to a low-income high school back in 2016 and it was disgusting how these academic advisors obnoxiously pressured students to go to college, but never discussed HOW to pay for tuition or even career options. They just assumed because we were poor, we’d get it for “free”, which wasn’t the case for a lot of students and now many either fell for the sunk cost fallacy with a useless major or dropped out to go to a junior college (…which our faculty scoffed at). Students should be shown all the available resources! Some community colleges even offer apprenticeship programs and other non-profit institutes provide training as well (as shared in this video). My ethos: A mental health therapist who is fed up with teachers/faculty who think they know best for their students when they only know one piece of the puzzle.

About time. Because this country was build with people like this. Me being in skill trade for about 10 years. I agree of this message.

I’m 22 yrs old these kids are giving me motivation foreal

I wish I would have known about trade schools when I was younger

This is a good idea, less people should go to college unless your choosing a specialized major for example Engineering, finances or medical.

Yeah so I’m taking the medical field route and college is very important for that lol. This is a good opportunity though for people in the local work force though.

The report annoyed me at the end. Because they say that non-traditional avenues for college are better, but then they say that college degrees make more money that's an incorrect skew and fake news

Means that those colleges can no longer fund themselves.....

In my high school, you can be bussed to a trade school for half the day, and go to high school for half the day. You just can't have electives. Its a 3 year program, and its all paid for by the school district. So when you finish senior year. Your already ready to work.

As I gen zeer I really enjoy going against the crowd, doing my own thing , not following others. We should decide what we'll do with our own future .

Trucking logistics is my vibe. Low barrier to entry, salaries above the national average. $73k last year with no college.

Is it really non traditional? I think it’s traditional for what is needed

Good for them! There are so many other fantastic paths than traditional college.

Its just a bummer so many states make a 4 year degree mandatory for certain licenses to work. Thankfully my military service is paid for my first degree and also my second.

I definitely agree with the initiative of choosing trade school over college, if you’re not going for something equally as valuable such as a doctor, surgeon, etc. I myself will be going to college but will be taking a gap semester or year, and I’m extremely fortunate to not have to take out any loans to go to my state’s flagship. However, you should still really only go if you know what you’re going to do and it’s going to be something that makes money.

It should be illegal for someone the give a kid 25 50 or even 100k student loans i can't imagine having that much in debt i don't understand why people aren't more a afraid of debt i have a really good job and live debt free and if feels so good i feel like i can do anything i want to within reason Of course

Trade jobs are successful job now because lack workers so demand is high now. Once there's a lot workers to pick from things will change. A college degrees were valuable because not many had them.

College is the biggest scam. Im in my 2nd year and its hell

Good for them! They are making smart choices. If they are not inclined to work on jobs that require a university degree, such as doctor, lawyer, chemist, etc. then, this seems like a great option. They may even end up earning more than their peers who went to uni! 🙌✨ Either way, they are still young and can decide to get a degree later on if they want to. Developing their skills in a trade early on may also help them fund their own higher education.

Society needs this so I wholeheartedly support this!

im glad she said it, AI will change educational dynamics dramatically

I have chosen vegan cooking as my subject..wish i could succeed in life❤

Convent

Fawk College. Teaches you to be an employee rather than own your own business.

This is great! It's how it should be! We need these kids! Not everyone wants to go the traditional academic route and it's wrong of us to force that on them. It isn't beneficial to the kids that simply have different plans, and good ones at that.

Because its NOT WORTH IT. You spend maybe 4 years~ studying for a degree, with a low likelihood of your degree landing you a job that would pay more than walmart. Specific careers will pay well, yes, but those are limited, require specific dedication beyond most people, and cost such exorbitant rates that you won't pay it off for another decade. And then half the years in college are you learning about unrelated concept which will be ruled obsolete or offensive in a few years time. Unless you're aiming for a specific career in medicine, law or a hard science, you can almost always learn the skills at home and save yourself thousands. Enjoy a journalism, sociology, or teaching degree which will net you the same as the disinterested shelf stockers + 50k minimum in debt.

I'm watching this in my college dorm.

whats the point going to college when you practically use only 10% of those knowledge you learned after graduation?

If you already know what your gonna do in life after highschool, like having dreams and goals and where to start, you go do it instead wasting time in college. If you don't have any idea what to do after highschool, then better go to college and learn more by meeting people there and find your purpose 👌

A lot of people don’t understand that a construction like jobs will be decrease once Robots and Ai becomes more affordable and that will comes with time. The reason is people get injured more often in construction like job and they want to reduce chances of lawsuits etc. They may will hire you to work along side with the robots but with robots they will not have to hire a lot of workers. Yes you can get in it now and make $ because it’s just a matter of time. The ways our society are going and if you notice every generation there is better and more advance machinery. They already have the tech it’s just they need more investors and a way to make it more affordable

How is that even considered “non-traditional”? People with college degrees are in the minority and used to be even more so.

I hope it works out

We live in an opportunistic economy. WHAT ABOUT ALL OF US WHO CAN'T FIND A JOB!

Good on them❤

So many status quo students and professors. They are only there to fulfill the status quo of “going to college” and it ruins it for ambitious learners who are ready to pay tens of thousands

I’m really proud of them ❤

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who is going to college just to learn things, not necessarily to make tons of money one day. I'm super curious about everything and college just scratches that itch, you know. I'm most likely going to end up a teacher because I want to inspire curiosity and creativity in other people, too. Life is precious and our time is limited. I don't want to look back on my life (if I make it to old age) and think... why did I waste so many years trying to make so much money I don't need. I reserve judgment for those who pursue trades and high paying jobs that require degrees because I realize they do open up doors for people who have different goals and aspirations. For example, many people want to get married and have a family (a wish I do not have) and making more money would be a better life move for them than for me.

These guys will change the world, not because of their cutting edge research but by doing all the regular stuff that keeps our society going on a daily basis, their impact will be seen sooner and immediately in some cases. We have enough pencil pushers, bureaucrats, glorified babysitters and seat warmers. We need people who do real work and get their hands dirty to keep the society from collapsing.

probably 80% of jobs, maybe 90%, especially for those folks that are average or below average intelligence/effort levels, do not need any college. A decent high school student level competence is becoming more and more valuable too!

I don’t blame yall Do ya thang

Actually, this is the traditional route. Most people were poor (throughout history) so they went straight to an apprenticeship or a trade. So, students are actually reverting back to what was once normal.