Post Secondary Options

Community College Options

More and more students are enrolling in community colleges across the nation, even as media attention focuses on the most selective four-year colleges. Why are students choosing community colleges, and should you consider a community college as a part of your college search?

The Economic Option
One reason for the growing popularity of community colleges is their relatively low tuition. Overall, the average cost of public community colleges is less than half the cost of public four-year colleges and about one-tenth the cost of private four-year colleges. As a result, students who spend two years at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college spend less money for the same bachelor's degree as their classmates.

The Associate's Degree Option
The two-year associate's degree is a goal itself for many community college students. Community colleges offer a wide variety of programs that train students to work in specialized fields, such as dental hygiene, computer technology, nursing, and culinary arts.

The Transfer Option
For students who want the four-year degree, community colleges work with four-year colleges to make sure those students can make a smooth transfer. Most community colleges maintain transfer or "articulation agreements” with a number of four-year colleges. These agreements map out exactly which community college courses will transfer to a specific four-year college. They may even guarantee admission as a junior to students who fulfill certain course work and grade requirements. For more information on whether the community college you're considering has articulation agreements with the four-year colleges that interest you, talk to an academic advisor at the community college. Some students even use their two years at community college to improve their chances of getting into a more selective four-year college.

The Flexible Option
Most community colleges cater to students of all ages and backgrounds. As a result, you'll often find more options in class scheduling, including evening and weekend classes. Distance learning is also one of the strengths of community colleges, with a variety of courses offered online, by correspondence or by other alternative methods.

An Option for You?
Community colleges can have some drawbacks for students who want the residential college experience. The majority of community colleges do not offer dorms (although 53 you can find some that do), and many community college students have full-time work or family obligations. As a result, you may not find the same breadth or depth of social options and extracurricular activities that you would at a traditional four-year residential college. On the other hand, community colleges often provide a more supportive learning environment, with smaller class sizes and an emphasis on academic and career counseling, than do larger universities.

As with all college decisions, make sure to research the specific community colleges that interest you. Like their four-year counterparts, each community college is unique, and you must decide for yourself which colleges may be right for you.

Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges

Central Massachusettes 30K Commitment

Some of the Massachusetts public community colleges and four-year institutions have teamed up to ensure your associate’s and bachelor's degrees will cost you $30,000 total, and in some cases even less! You can lock in the cost of your associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at $30,000 total, and get the education and training you need for a high-demand career, through the $30K Commitment. The versatility of Central Massachusetts’ public higher education institutions gives students a range of affordable options. Earn 2 degrees in 4 years by starting your educational path at Mount Wachusett Community College or Quinsigamond Community College, earning an associate’s degree, and transferring to Fitchburg State University or Worcester State University.
Learn more at mass.edu/gohigher/admissions/under30k.asp.

Mass Transfer

MassTransfer makes it easy for students to transfer from one Massachusetts public higher education institution to another. It is a way for community college students who complete an associate’s degree to enroll in linked programs with the full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission and a tuition discount. It also provides any student who completes the MassTransfer Block with the benefit of satisfying the general education/distribution/core requirements at any other public higher education institution in the Commonwealth.
Learn more at mass.edu/masstransfer/home.asp.

Partnership Between Framingham State University & Mass Bay Community College

Learn more about these and other opportunities at massbay.edu/academics/partnerfsu.

● FSUatMassBay - Through FSUatMassBay, MassBay students can complete a bachelor’s degree — right on MassBay’s Wellesley Hills campus. Eligible students, who enroll at MassBay in liberal arts or business administration programs and earn their associate’s degree, can follow a pathway to earn bachelor’s degrees in liberal studies or management from Framingham State University.

● Dormitory Housing & Residential Life - For students interested in living on campus, Framingham State University offers full-time MassBay students the next best thing: the unique opportunity to live on FSU’s campus, while attending classes at MassBay. Located just miles from MassBay’s Framingham, Ashland, and Wellesley Hills campuses, Framingham State’s partnership gives MassBay students the experience of living in a dorm on a college campus. MassBay students live together in the same dorm as a cohort.

Gap Year

Considering A Year Off (aka Gap Year)

Many students choose other options besides entering college the September following high school graduation and find it a valuable and rewarding experience. While this option may be considered and researched throughout senior year of high school, it is strongly recommended that you do not use this strategy in isolation. Taking time off requires careful consideration and discussion with family members. It is strongly recommended that students considering a “year off” still pursue the college exploration and application process during senior year. This ensures that you will have options in March, April and May available if you have a change of heart. Additionally, many colleges will allow students to defer their acceptance until the following September, enabling the student to take time to pursue other interests and experiences for a year, returning to college the next September.

Consider a year off if:
● You have an opportunity to travel or work in a new environment
● You have a special interest or passion you wish to pursue outside of college
● You want to strengthen your academic profile
● You need a break from school and need to do something different

There are endless possibilities and resources available to those considering a year off experience. If a student wishes to travel there are dozens of exchange programs. For a community service experience contact City Year, AmeriCorps, or SCA (Student Conservation Association.) Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School offer high quality programs to build self-esteem, self-reliance and leadership skills. Visions International offers opportunities in cross-cultural living and outdoor exploration, while programs like ITHAKA Cultural Study Programs in Greece allow a student to live with a Greek family, learn the language, study the history and work on an active archeological project. Time Out Associates in Milton is another resource worth consulting for some targeted information on programs and year-off opportunities.

A student looking to strengthen their academic profile might consider a post-graduate year experience at one of the many fine independent schools in our nation such as Andover, Choate, Exeter or Taft. Others might consider attending the American School in Switzerland or Paris. A student can spend a year in a British boarding school by contacting the British American Education Foundation or spend a semester in Scotland attending the University of St. Andrews.

The following listing provides some information for some of the interim year programs that exist:

A.F.S. Intercultural Programs

Americorps

Apprenticeship Programs

City Year

The Dynamy Internship Year

Earthwatch

Education First

EF Gap Year

Habitat for Humanity

National Outdoor Leadership School

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Outward Bound

Peace Corp

The Samaritans

School for International Training

StudyAbroad

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America)

Career Resource

Vocational Opportunities

(Where to get certificates, licenses and training locally)

Automotive Technology

Carpentry/Construction

Computer Networking/Computer-Aided Design/Cybersecurity

Cosmetic Services

Culinary Arts

Electrician/Electrical repair

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Nursing Assistant/Dental Assistant

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R)

Interior Design

Manufacturing Technology

Paralegal Studies

Plumbing

Military Options

Enlisting in the U.S. Military
Service Academies and ROTC Programs

Enlisting in the U.S. Military

Joining the United States military is a career path that many take after high school because of the numerous benefits that come with it. Although a career in the armed forces can be a dangerous job in some cases, you can also receive several benefits that you cannot get from many other jobs available in the civilian sector.

Education Benefits
Some of the primary benefits that come with joining the military are the educational programs. When you get into the military, you can get access to the GI Bill. This gives you a certain amount of money to pay for your post-secondary education. You can get money to pay for your tuition as well as for your living expenses. You can also get some training in various college-level classes while you are in the military.

Health Care
Another major benefit of joining the military is the health care that comes with it. When you are in active military duty, in the National Guard, or in the Army Reserves, you get access to a military health care plan called TRICARE.

Bonuses
As a way to recruit new military personnel, the government has set up a bonus program. The incentives that are being offered to join the military constantly change, but they can be substantial depending on a particular situation.

Skill Set that Employers Want
Employers are finding that veterans of all ranks have marketable technical and leadership skills. People with a military background also possess numerous attributes, including loyalty, leadership ability, respect, integrity, duty, reliability, and working as team members, that employers value in their employees.

Serving the Country
Another benefit of joining the military is that you get to serve your country and make a difference in the world. You get to help protect the country and do what many civilians cannot do. During military conflicts, it can be a very dangerous job.

If you are interested in exploring careers in the military, contact a local recruiter to set up an appointment to learn more about the enlisting process. See contact information below.

US Army Recruiting
328 Worcester Road, Framingham MA
(508) 875-5550

US Navy Recruiting
255 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA
(508) 756-6158

US Air Force Recruiting
255 Park Avenue, Worcester MA
(508) 926-0052

US Marines Recruiting
186 Main Street, Marlborough MA
(508) 303-0908

US Coast Guard Recruiting
Centre Plaza - 221 Centre Street, Malden, MA
(781) 338-9480

Service Academies and ROTC Programs

Juniors interested in the Service Academies and the ROTC Scholarship programs should begin AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (January of Junior would be appropriate) to ensure that they receive full consideration. SATs and/or ACTs should be taken by May of the junior year. Open houses can be visited during the summer.

The first step in securing an appointment to one of the academies is to request a Pre-Candidate questionnaire.

The Academies

Admissions
U.S. Military Academy
Building 606
West Point, NY 10996-1797
845-938-4041

Admissions
U. S. Air Force Academy
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200
U.S.A.F. Academy, CO 80840-5025
800-443-9266

Admissions
U.S. Naval Academy
117 Decatur Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5018
410-293-4361

Admissions
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
300 Steamboat Road
Kings Point, NY 10024
800-732-6267

Admissions
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
31 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4195
860-444-8500

_{The Coast Guard Academy has an admissions procedure similar to other highly competitive colleges. However, there is no nomination process involved. Write directly for an application.}

The second step is to write to each of your senators and your congressman and ask that they consider you as one of their nominees.

Find your local representatives through this link: govtrack.us/congress/members

In this letter you should indicate your first, second, third, and fourth choices for academies as well as:
● Name, address, and telephone number
● Date of birth and Social Security Number
● High school name and year of graduation
● Names of your parents

Other helpful information:
● Steps for the Service Academies Application Process: whitehouse.gov/service-academy-nominations/steps
● Procedures for the Service Academies Process: whitehouse.gov/service-academy-nominations/procedures
● If an academy offers a Summer Leadership Experience program you should apply and attend if selected. Check
the specific academy website January of junior year to see when openings for the Leadership Camp opens.

Minimum Preparation While in High School:
● English - 4 years
● Math (through Calculus) - 4 years
● Foreign Language - 2 years
● Laboratory Science - 2 years
● American History - 1 year

ROTC Scholarship programs involve a competitive application process as well. In addition to the written application, candidates must undergo a physical examination, formal interview, and a physical abilities test. The first step in the process is to contact the local recruiting station for an application