
π¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?
π¬ Mailbag: Do You Need a Diploma for Success?
π¬ 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:
βMy 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, βearn-a-diploma-and-go-to-college-path.β I would love help specific to college and/or other training when doing school through OpenEd.β
β 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:
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 isnβt 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
How are you approaching the diploma decision in your family? Reply to this email with your story β weβd love your thoughts!
β Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)