I’m not ready for college — I may never be. Are there other alternatives?

There’s no law that says you need to know what you’re going to do with your life the minute you graduate from high school. So, if you’re tired of people asking, "what are you going to do after high school?", take a look at some of the great
alternatives we found:

Help others while helping yourself.
Americorps is a government sponsored service organization. As long as you are 18 or older and a US citizen, you can choose from programs in education (working in schools), environment (taking care of rivers and parks), and public safety (like working on closing drug houses). Americorps provides a living allowance and basic health coverage. Plus, after a year’s service, you earn a generous educational award. For informationgo to Americorps's website

Training for life.
Youth 16-24 may be eligible to live and study with Job Corps. This program is the nations largest residential, education and job training program. The goal of the program is to help people gain independence and get quality, long-term jobs or further their education. There are 118 Job Corps centers throughout the country. Locate one near you at www.jobcorps.doleta.gov or call 1-800-US-2JOBS.

Get on-the-job training. An internship is a great way to get a sneak peak at what a job or career is all about. Although usually unpaid or low paid, internships give you a lot of confidence about the career choices you make because of your experience in the field, and may earn you college credit if you decide to get more education.

Get fast-track training.
If you’ve already nailed down the career you want to pursue, there might be a vocational school in your area that can provide the
training you need. These schools generally offer training that lasts less than one year, and many times financial aid is available to help with the cost. Some possible course choices may be: bartender, chef, legal assistant, medical or dental assistant, graphic design, hair and skin care or truck driving. Talk to your high
school counselor or look in the phone book yellow pages or online for more information.

Build homes, build muscle, build experience.
If the construction business is your calling, check out Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer organization that constructs homes for needy families. Check out the Habitat Americorps:
www.habitat.org/cncs/.

Consider the military.
Consider what the US Armed Services has to offer. You can gain valuable training and
money for college. Many people say that once you’ve joined, you’ve gained a new "family" with lifetime friendships and a place to turn to when you need help.Check out www.armedforcescareers.com or www.myfuture.com.