Second education: why college is better than university

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Two higher educations are already the standard of a modern specialist. You can get a second diploma from the first year of the university, in the magistracy, in foreign universities. Or college. Why secondary specialized education cannot be discounted - read below.

You can get a second education for various reasons. Someone wants to improve their qualifications and is studying areas related to their specialty. Someone is chasing prestige and a beautiful resume. And someone realizes that they made a mistake in their choice after school, and decides to turn in a completely different direction.

In any case, before you run to the university admissions office, look at a different level. There are 3,500 secondary specialized educational institutions in Russia, the vast majority of which are state-owned. There are about the same number of colleges and technical schools among them.

Many, like universities and academies, offer the chance to receive education remotely. Almost every college or technical school has an evening department.

Why secondary specialized education can be better than higher education?

Speed

The time it takes to complete your college degree is 3-4 years. In a technical school - 2-3 years. At the university - 4-6 years. When you are no longer 16, it makes no sense to spend another couple of years studying subjects that are not useful.

Specific specialty

If you decide to change your profession, secondary vocational education gives you more chances to get ready-made professional skills. The university gives more general knowledge, college and technical school are specific.

Price

If you went to university after high school, you can go to college for free.

In the Russian Federation, the availability and free of charge are guaranteed in accordance with federal state educational standards of preschool, primary general, basic general and secondary general education, secondary vocational education, as well as on a competitive basis free higher education if a citizen receives education of this level for the first time.

Federal Law No. 273-FZ "On Education in the Russian Federation"

Even if the budget options do not suit you (for example, there are very few evening and part-time free departments), the cost of training will be lower than at a university.

Universities will cost 40-300 thousand rubles c. Colleges - at 30-150. The specific price depends on the region, and on the specialty, and on the rating of the educational institution. But the price tag of the best college is about the same as the average college. But the choice of colleges, ready to teach you for 30-50 thousand, is many times greater.

Admission

The conditions for enrollment for obtaining a second education are different for each university and secondary school. But entrance tests in many colleges, especially evening classes, are effortless. Even the number of exams is less than that for a university.

According to statistics, last year only one out of ten applicants entered universities. In colleges, the rate is five to one.

Load

After work, you pick up your child from kindergarten, stand in traffic, go to the store, run to the gym or to your second job. But now you are learning! You need to cancel everything and rush to the lecture. In history, if you study in the specialty "banking". Or physical education (and this subject is in almost all federal education programs). It's not even funny.

So, in the secondary school, the general subjects program is much simpler. Most of you do not even need to attend, just bring your first diploma and write the appropriate application. At the same time, special subjects are taught at a high level.

Accelerated Learning

After college, you have a new profession in your hands. And the opportunity to grow in it, to get at least a third or even a fourth higher education, mastering accelerated programs of universities (in bachelor's degree) in parallel with a new job.

Practice

Colleges "train" students to work. The number of practical lessons will go off scale, after the college you will come to your workplace and calmly start working.

Of course, we are talking about a good college. But you won't go bad, will you?

Employers

I already foresee a wave of comments: "All employers demand a higher education!" In fact, the employer is more willing to hire a person with work experience, albeit in a different field, and a college diploma, than a graduate of an eminent university who has seen work only in rare practices. And well-known colleges are listed no worse than many universities.

And now, for objectivity, let's talk about the cons.

Program

Decide what you are looking for. If you want scientific work and in-depth study of a particular area, go to university. If you want a certificate, go to courses. If you need management skills, read books. You need to expect very concrete results from college and technical school, and not the ability to do everything at once. Secondary specialized education is still narrowly focused.

Teachers

It's not about qualifications, experienced and knowledgeable people teach in secondary schools. But they were used to dealing with children who often came after the ninth grade. It is more difficult for them to switch to adults, and this often leads to distortions. Evening students are sometimes expected to have 200% of attendance, or they are forced to draw posters and wall newspapers, or they threaten to give a grade lower, not realizing that no one will scold you at home for a C or C. Sometimes it is annoying, but it helps to remember childhood.