Explain It to Me What if college isn't for everyone?
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Apr 13, 2025 
Chelsea Waite, an education policy expert, joins Kristen Bennett, executive director of Service Year Alliance, and Megan Drummond, assistant director at Northland Career Center, to discuss the shifting perspectives on higher education. They explore the growing acceptance of vocational training and trade schools as viable alternatives to college. The conversation highlights the importance of hands-on experiences and the benefits of service years, addressing the need for inclusive pathways that empower students to define their own success.
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High School College Pressure
- Erica from Dallas felt pressured to attend a 4-year college.
- Her high school heavily promoted college and didn't advertise trade schools.
Shifting Educational Landscape
- Recent high school education policy has focused on preparing all students for college.
- Gen Z and Gen Alpha are now questioning this approach due to student debt.
History of High School Education
- Early high schools were designed for elite students to prepare them for leadership roles.
- The high school movement expanded access to education, but inequalities emerged in who was directed towards college versus vocational programs.