Alternatives to College: What to Do Senior Year When You're Not Going to College

March 21, 2025 byJulie Hersum

5 min to read

Young male teen tudent in a denim shirt talking to a an adult in a yellow shirt with glasses.

For many people, a four-year college experience isn’t the right fit for them. If you are about to graduate high school and are planning on not going to college, you can use your senior year to help you feel confident when entering the workforce.

Is Not Going to College Okay?

Of course it is okay not to go to college!

While college can be a great path for some, there are plenty of alternatives to college that can help build a successful and fulfilling life after high school.

In fact, many employers now prioritize skills and experience over formal degrees. For example, a recent study of U.S. business leaders found that one in three companies plan to drop college degree requirements for new hires, including companies like Google and Apple.

Anyone looking into alternatives to college may want to explore the following pathways:

Apprenticeships: Paid, hands-on training in trades with competitive salaries
Vocational training: Specialized programs in fields like healthcare and mechanics
Coding bootcamps: Short, intensive courses that teach programming skills
Certifications: Industry-recognized credentials demonstrating expertise
Entrepreneurship: Starting a business based on personal passion

What Students Could Pursue Instead of Going to College

The most important way to prepare for life after graduation is to keep learning and growing throughout your senior year. Regardless of the path you choose, doing this will help you become a more well-rounded person who’s prepared to enter the workforce.

While no one can tell you what you should do instead of college, you’ll be more likely to discover your best path if you prioritize understanding yourself and your interests. Extracurricular activities can be one great way to explore them.

Finding work that aligns with your values, interests, and talents can lead to a rewarding career that deepens your sense of purpose and joy. Career quizzes can also help you identify and categorize work that lights you up versus what doesn’t.

You’ll also want to learn about alternatives to college so you can start planning your path.

Train in the Skilled Trades

If you enjoy working with your hands over sitting at a desk, skilled trades may be for you. Many are in short supply and offer competitive salaries, with training programs that usually cost far less than college and take months instead of years.

Generally speaking, skilled trades fall into four main categories:

Construction: Electrician, plumber, carpenter, welder
Manufacturing: Machinist, pipefitter, industrial mechanic
Transportation: Diesel technician, aircraft mechanic, heavy equipment operator
Healthcare: Massage therapist, dental hygienist, medical sonographer

Complete an Internship

Internships and work experience can give you a sense of whether you’ll find a particular job enjoyable on a day-to-day basis. If you’re not going to college, these opportunities can allow you to practice using technical and soft skills so you can feel ready to pursue your career. Internships can also help boost a resume and give you industry connections who may be interested in providing a reference or a letter of recommendation.

Do an Internship

Internships and work experience can give you a sense of whether or not you find a particular job enjoyable on a day-to-day basis; it can also give you an opportunity to practice using technical or hard skills in real time, helping you feel more ready when it’s time to enter the workforce.

Develop Your Technical Skills

Earning professional certificates and taking online courses during your senior year can help you get a jump on acquiring some key technical skills while you’re still in school. Connections Academy has partnerships with organizations like Credly, Coursera, The National Technical Honor Society, The Home Depot Path to Pro program, and more, that can introduce you to a variety of industries and provide a launching pad for developing the technical skills you may need on the job.

Build Your Soft Skills

Communication, time management, problem-solving, and resilience are just some of the soft skills you can develop during your senior year that will serve you well as you prepare to enter the workforce. No company runs on the power of a single individual; knowing how to work with different types of people and perspectives, bridge gaps, collaborate on ideas, and reach compromises are essential skills to build.

Find a Mentor

A mentor can help you plan your career trajectory, set goals, develop professional competencies, provide insight and life advice, or just be a source of stability while you’re considering your options after graduation. A mentor can be a Learning Coach, teacher, family friend, or a parent, as long as they’re a trusted adult that you feel you will learn and benefit from.

How to Find Jobs Without a College Degree

Not going to college doesn't mean your learning stops after high school graduation. Many careers that don’t need a college degree still require additional training or experience; it all really depends on the type of career you’re looking for.

The key is to research what education and skills different careers require before graduating high school. You can do this by looking at current job listings for roles you’re interested in and noting answers to the following questions:

What qualifications do they mention?
What technical skills are they looking for?
What soft skills or experience do they prefer?

Some careers require a specific degree, but others may prioritize skills and experience. If a job listing says, “bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience,” that often means that the employer is willing to accept hands-on experience, certifications, or a strong portfolio instead of a degree. Internships, apprenticeships, and online courses can also help you build the right skills.

By researching your future career while you’re still in high school, you can prepare early by looking for programs or job shadowing opportunities to boost your skills and help build a resume.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re thinking about skipping college, or questioning whether it’s the right path for you, explore how Connections Academy can support you on your path.

With career readiness help via strategic partnerships and online skill-building platforms, Connections Academy makes finding fulfilling alternatives to college possible.