After High School... Where do I go next?

Where to begin when thinking about taking the next step after high school? Perhaps a place to begin is to become familiar with some of the options one has, like a 4-year bachelor degree , or an associate degree, vocational school, or apprenticeship. On this page, IRD offers information about different educational models.

“We are contemporary Indigenous people. We keep the values and kinship of our tribes intact while adopting and using the tools of modern society” – Cheryl Crazy Bull, CEO & President of American Indian College Fund, 2018

Options

They are also known as trade schools or technical schools. They offer technical instruction through means of coursework and hands-on training.

For more information, you may go to: Real Work Matters – Trade Schools in New Mexico

An apprenticeship allows one to learn a trade from a skilled employer by working for a fixed period of time at low wages. Apprentices receive technical and hands-on training. Depending on the occupation, apprenticeships can last from 12 months to 6 years. A large number of apprenticeship programs are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor for quality assurance.

For more information, you may go to: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions

An associate degree is a two-year academic program that gives students basic technical and academic knowledge that prepare them to join the workforce, or that serve as basis for going on to higher levels of education, like a bachelor’s degree.

For more information on a general understanding of an undergraduate program, you may go to: University of New Mexico - The Undergraduate Program

To Whom Can You Talk?

The first place to start is at home. Ask your parents if they have any experience or information regarding higher education, vocational school, and apprenticeships. Your teachers and school counselor(s) could also be people who may have experience or knowledge about higher education. In addition, you may also talk to college students who are from the same community as you. They were, or are, students and went through the process of having to learn and choose between options. Other people to whom you may consider talking are friends, who are thinking of college, and tribal education directors.

What You May Consider

Family – How close/far do want to be from home? Will distance be an issue when it comes to activities or occasions that may be happening at home? Is there a chance of becoming homesick?

Personal – When it comes to you, is there anything in particular that you are looking for? What are your interests?

Your pick – What options would you like to consider?

Reasonable – What choices fit the budget and do not break the bank?

Questions you may ask can be:

Is there any support for first-generation college students?
Does the college offer any waivers regarding the college application or tuition?
Are there resources available for Native American students?
Are there any costs I have not considered?
What deadlines should I be on the outlook for?
What is an apprenticeship or vocational school?
What apprenticeships are there?
What level of education do I need to be in the profession I want to be?
Can I go to vocational school to begin my higher education path? Is this my best choice?

These questions are only examples of things you may want to know. We encourage you to come up with your own questions to identify what you know, and what you want to know, regarding your higher education choices and path.

Enrichment Camps and Extracurricular Activities

Consider joining summer enrichment camps and programs while you are still in school. Programs like Upward Bound/TRIO and IRD Dream Keepers summer camp offer an opportunity to interact with other students like yourself and learn about higher education options in New Mexico. On the other hand, extra-curricular activities may give you the opportunity to develop personal skills like public-speaking, teamwork, and critical-thinking.

For more information, ccheck out:

Indian Resources Development – For NM High School Students
TRIO – New Mexico

Have a System for Gathing College Information

We suggest to decide early on a system you will use to gather college information and documents of interest. Some information may come as digital files and other as hard copies or paper copies. Digital copies tend to be easier for uploading via websites and sharing via email attachments. Examples of digital copies are completed college applications and scholarship essays. On the other hand, it may be easier to use paper copies as reference for the school or program of study you are considering. Some examples of paper copies are college brochures, FAFSA info, CIB and other personal info. It is a good idea to store these information in an organized manner and in a safe place like a cabinet or something similar.