tough decision

[dlauber]

well the more I think about it the more obvious it seems that I should do it...but I want someone elses opinion
ok basically I am thinking about staying in highschool for an extra year, I dont know what the proccess is for taking another year...like what kindof paperwork would have to be filled out...if I would have to get new shots, but I want to do it, and I dont want it to count against me in any way or form.
I am a junior now in highschool and turn 17 in July, so even if I took an extra year I will only be 18 when I graduate, like most students are.
Couple reasons I want to do it:
last year I moved into my new school in NY from VA about half way through tenth grade, and I missed the field trip to the vocational school. I was not even aware at all that there was a vocational school, and all vocational classes are 2 year courses, so if I take another year I can do the whole course.
Last year I moved from a really....well....dumb school.....so I didnt meet a cirriculum for english and history...and I haved to admit, a lack of work ethics didnt help, so Im repeating thoses classes....and I failed chemistry.....which I dont see that as my fault, my previous chemistry teacher had us remember the whole periodic table, and all the properties to every known element, then for about 3 months we had a substitute teacher. In my new school our science classes are seperated into lecture, and labs, and in all the science classes we are required to be given a reference table, which includes the periodic table.
so anyways, ill have another year to make up those classes.
And last, last year I broke my shoulder the day before baseball tryouts, so I missed the whole season, and I beleive that as an 18 year old I would still be able to play varsity baseball.

 

[bdhutier]

Hmmm... depends on what angle you're wanting to approach from.
1. Academics: if you really need to "catch up" then it would certainly be cheaper in the long run to do it at the school you're in now, but it's probably nothing you couldn't do somewhere else or on your own. Prettly much all junior colleges have entry-level classes, and tend to be pretty cheap, so you could catch up on chem, hist, etc there.
2. If you'd like to stay to go on the field trip and play baseball, I'd advise you to move on, those really aren't very good reasons to stay. You can go check out the school on your own, and play ball with a league, university, or junior college.
Hope this helps a little!

 

[dlauber]

nonono, its not about the field trip. My point was I missed the field trip, so I was not aware of the vocational school which you start as a junior and finish as a senior.
I really want to catch up, the baseball is just a bonus.
Im just afraid of whats gonna happen after I graduate and dont feel very prepared...I have no plans right now...I just dont know whats heading my way. I dont want the spend the rest of my life living with my parents.

 

[digitydash]

You should be able to take a tour of what ever your wanting to see without going to school another year.I also don't think it is possible with out not having enough credit to graduate.

 

[teresaq]

One thing to think about -- do you have enough credits to graduate? if not you will prob have to do another yr anyway. I would go talk to your parents and your counsler.

 

[dlauber]

well...I was thinking that sometimes when kids are barely passing there parents hold them back a year...even though though they arent technically failing. Sure this usually happends in elementary school/middle school, but Its not like I would be going to be oldest person in my class.

 

[digitydash]

I don't think it work that way in high school.Only thing that can get you not to graduate is your school credit if you have enough I don't think you would have a choice .A guidence councler should be able to give you a better idea though with your options

 

[bdhutier]

This assumes you have the credits to graduate this year. Since you aren't sure what you really want to do yet (which is certainly not uncommon), my advice if you were my kid would be to look into the military. There are SO many educational opportunities through the military, and you get paid to live life and mature. After a few years, you will have a better idea of what you want to do, and have the money to get it done.

 

[stdreb27]

Stay for baseball! Especially if you are going to be playing every day. (Pansy the table of elements isn't that hard)
Personally I wouldn't. Unless you are going to have to take remedial classes in college. Don't go to a vocational school.

 

[lovethesea]

what does your counselor say about summer school and making up what you have lost

 

[dlauber]

Ive never really talked to my counselor...ive been thinking about joining the military as an infantry man, I wouldnt mind going overseas, even if it is to the middle of the desert, honestly.
The only thing is, I dont know if im tough enough physically, or if I am willing to give up the freedom the military takes away.
and I really dont want to go to summer school...besides I think you have to pay for it here.
And I think besides those reasons I listed, I really want to stay another year because I just dont feel ready to leave. I feel young compared to everyone in my own grade.
and whats wrong with vocational schools?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Dlauber
http:///forum/post/2491991
Ive never really talked to my counselor...ive been thinking about joining the military as an infantry man, I wouldnt mind going overseas, even if it is to the middle of the desert, honestly.
The only thing is, I dont know if im tough enough physically, or if I am willing to give up the freedom the military takes away.
and I really dont want to go to summer school...besides I think you have to pay for it here.
And I think besides those reasons I listed, I really want to stay another year because I just dont feel ready to leave. I feel young compared to everyone in my own grade.
and whats wrong with vocational schools?
I'm an august baby and graduated when I was 17.
First off, in all seriousness, if baseball is a serious love, and you'll play, I'd consider staying. Make sure you are still eligible. I felt that if I'd been able to play one more year then go to college and play. It would have made an enormous difference in my ability as an athlete and I might still be playing.
Academically, if you really are that far behind, go take the college entrance exams to find out if you are going to have to take remedial classes. Then decide if you stay another year in school, will you not have to take those remedial classes. In highschool school is free in college it isn't. But if you are going to have to take remedial classes anyways might as well get them out of the way. You may have to take a year to catch up to the college level. Might as well take classes that are designed to do that instead of highschool, which really isn't for the most part. Then you NEED to talk to your advisor, if you are that far behind, you may have your decision made up for you already.
I'm probably going to step on some toes, but there are several problems with vocational schools.
Their diplomas mean very little.
One they aren't accredited by a nationally recognised governing body. And on the practical level most people won't recognise them either. I used to work at a car part store. And almost weekly we would get these applications from Lincoln Tech (automotic repair vocational school) In 2 years of working there I never saw one of these people hired. Infact managers would disregard any application that listed a vocational "school."
You are shortchanging yourself.
Since a cert from a vocational school has little meaning, the likelyhood that your employeer will recognise the education is slim. (barring some specialisation. Many times you will be treated like a highschool grad, and have to climb that hill. And a highschool grads earning power is significantly lower than a college grad. And even then the vocations that you might enter with your vocational cert will have lower earning ceilings than a college graduate. Personally I'll take the lower wage and more work while in college then much higher wage after than the higher immediate wage I would get after going to a vocational school.
Quality of employee
Another problem is that vocational schools target their sales pitch to the people who don't want to go to college. And with the ease of going to college, getting financial aid, student loans, just about anybody can get into college if they want too. So the people that don't either aren't the brightest and more likely motivated and diciplined in our society. Employeers want motivated and diciplined. Not to lazy to go to college. So even if you aren't that person, you will get lumped in with them. Heck a retail auto parts store wouldn't even hire a Tech school graduate. And retailers hire EVERYBODY.

 

[dlauber]

If I had took the whole course in the vocational school, I would still go to college to take that class.
what my understanding is, if I take the vocational class for 2 years and I find it's something I enjoy, I can also take that class, or a similar classin college, with an already clear understanding of whatever I am going to be learning.
if I absolutely hated the vocational class, I would take something different in college, I would have to start out new to the subject, but alot of people do anyways.
The vocational class I was thinking about taking was...dont laugh...small animal care, and perhaps take classes to become a vet one day.
I dont know exactly what the course offers, I havent really looked into it, and even if I dont like it just by reading it, theres plenty of other choices.
I am not really far behind in school, I consider myself to be very intelligent...but I think that if I had one more year to prove that I have changed my attitudes towards school I might have better chances of getting into a college I want. And staying an extra year wont put me behind at all, like I said, I will only be 18 when I graduate.
I asked about a dozen kids today how old they will be when they graduate. The majority said 18, one said 17, and 2 or 3 said 19.
one if the kids who said 19 was a 4.0 student who had never failed a grade.
I know that age doesnt really matter, because I might not be aloud an extra year at all. But my point is is that if they do allow me to stay another year, age wouldnt be an issue anyways.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Dlauber
http:///forum/post/2493137
If I had took the whole course in the vocational school, I would still go to college to take that class.
what my understanding is, if I take the vocational class for 2 years and I find it's something I enjoy, I can also take that class, or a similar classin college, with an already clear understanding of whatever I am going to be learning.
if I absolutely hated the vocational class, I would take something different in college, I would have to start out new to the subject, but alot of people do anyways.
The vocational class I was thinking about taking was...dont laugh...small animal care, and perhaps take classes to become a vet one day.
I dont know exactly what the course offers, I havent really looked into it, and even if I dont like it just by reading it, theres plenty of other choices.
I am not really far behind in school, I consider myself to be very intelligent...but I think that if I had one more year to prove that I have changed my attitudes towards school I might have better chances of getting into a college I want. And staying an extra year wont put me behind at all, like I said, I will only be 18 when I graduate.
I asked about a dozen kids today how old they will be when they graduate. The majority said 18, one said 17, and 2 or 3 said 19.
one if the kids who said 19 was a 4.0 student who had never failed a grade.
I know that age doesnt really matter, because I might not be allowed an extra year at all. But my point is is that if they do allow me to stay another year, age wouldnt be an issue anyways.
If you want to be a vet get out of highschool as soon as you can don't waste time taking classes not directly required to be a vet because you are going to be in school for a LOOOONG time before you can become a vet.

 

[bdhutier]

OMG yes, stdreb... DVM schools are VERY difficult to get into as well. i'd agree with stdreb's assesment of many employers' opinions of Vo-tech scools as well. Generally, after you've spent 2 years in school, dropping a bunch of money, you're still looking at a basic entry-level position. If you get one of those positions, the employer is going to look at you as someone who they will have to train.
As far as the military is concerned, I really wouldn't worry about your "toughness." As long as you meet the entrance requirements, the Army or Corps will take care of the toughness aspect for you. It sounds kind of strange, but Infantry soldiering is an aquired skill, and not something you need prior to entering service. Im glad to see someone else interested in the Infantry. As a matter of fact, I'll be sending in my paperwork tomorrow morning to re-enter the Army in the Infantry Branch (YAY, I can keep captain!!).
Of course, there aren't very many civilian career fields the Infantry matches (ok, none...). What you're gaining, regardless of your military job, is the personal discipline and maturity you'll develop in the service, along with financial assistance for college. So, when you do know what you want to do, you will have the financial and personal means to accomplish your goals.
*** Before someone asks, no, I'm not a recruiter.

 

[dlauber]

I talked to my counselor about it, and as far as staying in school for an exra year...hes not sure, usually only mentally challenged kids stay in highschool for more then 4 years...but then again...hes never actually had a student ask if they could take another year...so he is going to look into it for me.
Also I found some meterial on that small animals care class, and it is directly related to vet work, but not required I guess...but I want that background information before I go to college, wheather it helps me get in or not.

 

[bdhutier]

At a vo-tech level, it's geared towards vet techs. Probably won't help you for DVM.