|
 Pew Research Center says Americans are split on
the purpose of that traditional college education. Of those polled,
47% said that the reason to get a college education is to learn
work-related skills and knowledge to enter the workplace, while 39%
said that a college education is an opportunity for students to find
themselves, find their passion, grow personally, and develop the
skills to think critically and learn, thereby preparing for life.
While there is indeed value in this traditional approach to
education and what you take home from it is beyond debate, this path
may not be for everyone. Traditional college does indeed prepare you
to enter the job marketplace in a general sense, and helps deepen
your ability to think and learn, but is for most an indirect route
to a specific job.
There are alternatives today to the traditional college track that
may make more sense for some individuals. They are known as
for-profit colleges, or technical/trade schools. While traditional
colleges and universities offer you a very broad education in a wide
variety of disciplines including the arts, the sciences, history,
humanities, and personal discovery; a for-profit/technical school
education is very focused and prepares you for one single thing: a
very specific job in a marketplace that is hiring.
What you are earning in traditional college studies is a degree: an
associates, bachelor or graduate degree which gives testimony and
credentials that you have fulfilled the requirements, stayed the
course and are now a multi-disciplined person who is capable of
critical thinking and a number of jobs in multiple fields. Potential
employers do look for educational background, but what they want
more is experience in the job you will be hired to do.
In a for-profit/technical school program you earn a certificate that
says you have fulfilled the educational requirements and are now
adequately prepared and experienced for a specific job. For some,
this may be a more direct route to a job.
In comparison, attending a for-profit college or technical school
may save students from a lot of student loan debt and help them find
a job in a field of their choice that will provide them with a
decent living.
The U.S. Department of Education statistics show that a person with
a bachelor’s degree, on average, brings in a higher salary (that is
when the person is fortunate enough to land a job after graduation).
The Department of Education calculated the average salaries of 25-34
year olds:
- those with bachelor’s degrees make an average
of $44,970 a year - associate’s degree holders bring in $37,030
annually
- and a high school diploma will earn $29,950 a
year
For-profit colleges and some trade/ technical
schools have been in the news lately. Trump University, a
for-profit college, agreed to settlements with some students
because those students charged that they did not get what they
were promised. DeVry University has been under attack since 2002
with similar charges. The most important thing to consider when
thinking about a for-profit college or trade/technical school is
their track record. The internet is a fantastic resource for
finding and researching these alternative educational
institutions. As in all things, you need to be careful with your
selections.
One area school that has a great track record and has been
providing quality education opportunities since 1995 is Midwest
Technical Institute. MTI is considered a for-profit college in
Wikipedia. On their website, MTI tells of its history. In 1995,
Midwest Technical Institute founders Brian Huff and Mike Casper
were working as welders and noticed something in the workers
around them: a need for better welding training. There were no
local opportunities for training, so Mr. Huff and Mr. Casper
decided to begin training welders themselves.
MTI was founded in 1995 in Lincoln, Illinois. Initially, the
school was operating out of a small facility. Based on the high
interest in learning welding skills, an additional building was
added to accommodate new equipment and increase the number of
stations in 1996. In May of 1999, MTI received accreditation
through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges (ACCSC). Less than one year after receiving this
accreditation, MTI expanded again to accommodate a larger
student body and demand for training.
In April of 2000, MTI relocated its main offices to a larger
facility in Lincoln. Initially, MTI was started as a trade
school, primarily offering welding processes associated with
commercial pipe welding. This program was ultimately lengthened
due to a demand for production manufacturer welders.
By July of 2000, MTI noticed a need for training
in other skilled trades jobs outside of welding. It was at this
time that MTI expanded its main campus once again and began
offering a course in HVAC/R-MAR (Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning, Refrigeration and Major Appliance Repair). In May
of 2001, the HVAC/R-MAR facility was expanded an additional
2,000 square feet, adding another classroom, a climate control
area, a service call room and a sheet metal shop.
[to top of second column] |
In January of 2003, MTI began its first allied health
program, the Medical Assisting Program. Allied health programs
continued to grow over the following years. MTI added a Massage
Therapy Program in August of 2004, a Dental Assisting Program in
April of 2005 and a Medical Coding Specialist Program in March of
2006. As MTI continued to expand, the school realized it was time to
make a change. To accommodate their growing student body, MTI
relocated its campus to Springfield in January of 2007, where it
currently resides.
This move brought with it more changes, as new programs were added.
In May of 2007, MTI began offering a Basic Nursing Assistant
Program, and in August of 2007, a Pharmacy Technician Program.
MTI is a year-round vocational school providing training for careers
where job growth is expected. The high standards utilized in their
programs ensure that students who are serious about learning a trade
in a hands-on environment and finding a career path will have a
legitimate chance to reach their goal.
In an article written by WICS/20 in January, 2014, Brian Huff, CEO
of Midwest Technical Institute in Springfield stated that for trade
schools, job placement is the main indicator of their success. "One
of the key drivers of our accreditation is based on job placement.
So we're required to have a minimum of 70 percent job placement on a
particular program for it to maintain eligibility," Huff said.
MTI brags an 82 percent job placement rate at their Springfield
campus, but some programs have an even higher success rate. Program
directors say between 90 to 100 percent of dental assistant students
will have a job paying around $34,500 a year when they finish the
program, and the program takes just 36 weeks to complete.
"We may have welders and HVAC that are close to the $40,000 range,"
and Huff said. "Our CDL students make $40,000 to $50,000 when they
leave here."
Huff says high school seniors should strongly consider their options
before paying tuition for four years. He said the department of
labor reports few career fields that require a four-year degree.
"When you look at it, 12 percent of the jobs in America require a
bachelor's degree: 12 percent. So why are we telling 100 percent of
high school graduates to go get one?” Huff said.
MTI offers skilled trade training in Allied Health and Mechanical
Trades, where students can gain knowledge in career programs such as
welding, heating and air conditioning repair, major appliance
repair, medical assisting, dental assisting, medical coding,
pharmacy technician, certified nurses assistant, and more. They have
campuses in Springfield, East Peoria, Moline, Illinois; Springfield
Missouri; and Brownsburg, Indiana.
One approach to education will not fit every potential student and
every budget. Consider the cost, the commitment and the outcome, and
choose a path that is right for you.
Pew Research article on the value of a college education:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank
/2011/06/02/purpose-of-college-education/
Article on
MTI in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest
_Technical_Institute
Web page for careers offered at MTI:
http://careers.midwesttech.edu/springfield-il-
technical-trade-career-programs/?matchtype=
b&network=g&adposition=1t1&keyword=technical
%20schools%20springfield%20il&campaign=
298529304&content=232564765886&
device=c&campaignid=1066&utmsource=technical-trade-Google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7__
ay32QIVnbXACh0w6A7wEAAYASAAEgKTL_D_BwE
Web page for the history of MTI:
https://www.midwesttech.edu/ campuses/springfield-il/campus-history/
Article from WICS-20:
http://profoundlydisconnected.com/
wp-content/uploads/2014/01/MTI-article-Jan-2014.pdf
|
