Upon graduating high school, students have a number of choices to make about their career. Many choose to go to a college or university to earn a degree. Others head right into a full or part-time job. Others may choose vocational trade schools. Vocational schools have many pros and cons, depending on your career choice.

The advantage of enrolling in a vocational school is that the courses are career focused. There aren’t all of those “useless” courses that actually have no real-world application based on the course of study you want to take. These programs are 100% centered around your career of choice. This includes a majority of mechanical and “hands-on” careers like auto mechanic, A/C repair, plumber, court reporter, and more. It allows you to complete your training and education faster than a traditional college degree program, and get you out into the career you want. It usually costs less than a college education as well.

However, by earning an education at a vocational trade school, you have limited yourself to the career for which you have studied. For example, if you chose to study to become a court reporter, there isn’t much outside of that career for which you are qualified. Because you don’t really earn a degree, rather a “certification”, to go into another career will require additional education. A college degree, however, can qualify you for a number of careers in a field, like liberal arts, business, or political science. » Read more: Pros and Cons of Vocational Trade Schools