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πŸ“¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?

πŸ“¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?

Resources
ArticlesPodcastDaily’s

πŸ“¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?

Resources
ArticlesPodcastDaily’s

πŸ“¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?

Last week, we got an email from a parent named JoAnna, who was wrestling with a familiar dilemma:

β€œMy student did 9th grade last year on the diploma path, but we are planning to do non-diploma-seeking status this year. My child needs options and flexibility more than we felt was available on the diploma seeking path. However, I worry a lot about not following the traditional, β€œearn-a-diploma-and-go-to-college-path.” I would love help specific to college and/or other training when doing school through OpenEd.”

– JoAnna

JoAnna is not alone. Many parents struggle with this decision, and society has long pushed a linear path:

High school diploma β†’ college degree β†’ good job β†’ success!

But as education and work evolve, so must our approach to preparing kids for the future.

Here's what you need to know:

  1. You can still get into college without a traditional diploma. In fact, our CEO did! Colleges often accept alternatives such as:
    • A well-documented homeschool transcript
    • GED
    • Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT)
  2. You can create your own diploma. It doesn't have to be from a public or private school (you can even create it in MS Word). What matters more than this piece of paper is demonstrating readiness for college-level work.
  3. Early college credits are a game-changer. OpenEd students have earned associate's degrees through programs like Southern New Hampshire University while still in high school.
  4. Non-traditional paths can lead to amazing opportunities. For instance, another student started a successful dog-breeding business at 15, earning $30,000 in profit within six months.
  5. There are many alternatives to traditional college. These include vocational training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, and structured gap year programs.

In a new post, we explore all of these in detail and introduce several concepts every parent should know:

  • How non-traditional students can prepare for college
  • The new landscape of post-high school options (college isn’t the end-all-be-all)
  • Specific alternatives to the traditional college path
  • Resources like the "Own It!" mini-course that can help students navigate their unique educational journeys

Read the post

How are you approaching the diploma decision in your family? Reply to this email with your story – we’d love your thoughts!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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