As college and university tuitions across the United States continue to skyrocket, high school students face one of the costliest decisions they will ever make. Fortunately, for students daunted by the expense of a four-year institution—or who aren’t even sure it’s right for them—Delaware offers alternatives. From job training to vo-tech, creating a successful career pathway is getting easier.
It’s best to start the conversation early. Carol Warrington, a guidance counselor at Cape Henlopen High School (Cape) in Lewes, asks her high school students, “What do you want to do, and how are we going to line you up for the skills and education that you need to do that?”
Many state school districts offer diverse pathways. In Wilmington’s Brandywine School District, students who are successful in the Advanced Placement Program can earn college credits early, thereby reducing course costs later on. The district also provides Career and Technical Education (CTE), a program that exposes students to such industries as hospitality management, radio broadcasting, and engineering—and helps them master technical skills in their pursuit of a particular field.
Similarly, Cape partners with vo-tech programs and businesses throughout the region, including Carpenters Union in Georgetown, the Salon Professional Academy in Dagsboro, and Williamson College of the Trades in nearby Media, Pennsylvania. Guidance counselor Kristin Clifton stresses that all young people require some kind of training after high school. “Your training might look different from other people. …It. could be six months…two years…four years,” she says. “[But] everyone needs training.”
For students drawn to a certain profession, internships are a valuable way to get firsthand experience, says Garnet Rhue, a career counselor at Cape. “It could be a deal-breaker” that diverts a student to a new path early on, she points out.
For example, the Delaware Academy of Medicine offers a four-month student-led program dedicated to educating the next generation of health care providers. Students explore a topic of interest and work to identify gaps in existing data and help address specific public health issues.
Additionally, the Mini-Med School program is open to middle-school-age kids and provides a free six-week series where students can gain a deeper understanding of health care, from dentistry and medicine to public health and research. Students can also hear from faculty about their experiences.
Have a student who is a budding environmentalist? Consider the Delaware State Parks Internship Program, which covers environmental education, historical interpretation and research, park management, and more.
For graduating seniors who want to serve, AmeriCorps partners with the Children’s Beach House Youth Development Program (YDP) in Lewes. “This provides members with a chance to become part of a supportive community [and] contribute to something larger than themselves,” says YDP director Jacqueline Donaldson. Enrollees, who receive benefits and housing, gain exposure to various fields through professional development and hands-on experiences, with guidance from seasoned professionals. “Our hope is that participants discover and develop their own career interests as they take their next steps.”
For graduates interested in travel, more than 35,000 AmeriCorps locations across the U.S. offer an opportunity to serve in such areas as disaster relief, education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
For those without the financial means to seek a four-year degree, a SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) Scholarship omits the need for loans by offering a free associate degree. The program emerged in 2005 as a state initiative to give every Delawarean access to higher education and job training.
In collaboration, University of Delaware (UD) created a two-year Associate in Arts Program (AAP) for all in-state students, with smaller classes taught by UD faculty in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown. It’s ideal for students who do not want to move away from family or who have work obligations. Upon completion, students can transition to UD’s Newark campus to complete their bachelor’s degree. In the last decade, more than 2,000 Delawareans have earned their bachelor’s after starting in the AAP.
Delaware Technical Community College (Del Tech), a two-year college with locations in Dover, Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington, also utilizes the SEED Scholarship to offer an associate degree, a diploma, a credit certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or workforce training. The free tuition can be applied to five years of courses, which pays for a full associate degree and one additional year toward a bachelor’s degree. (In 2021, the program expanded to include Delawareans of all ages, not just high school graduates.)
While the transition from high school to the future can be stressful for graduates, they can take comfort knowing that our state offers myriad opportunities and experiences to help them first discover their best path—and then get there.
Related: Your Guide to High Schools and Colleges in Delaware
