Which is better - 10th grade or college? Understanding with the experts
Miscellaneous / / April 03, 2023
It's time to say goodbye to the stereotype "you won't find a normal job with a vocational school diploma".
Some still scare schoolchildren: “If you study poorly, you will enter a vocational school.” But is it so bad to go to college instead of 10th or 11th grade? We understand how these options differ and what advantages and disadvantages each of them has. We also publish the opinions of schoolchildren, graduates of colleges and universities, directors and heads of educational institutions.
College Pros
College is an ideal option for teenagers who have already decided on their future specialty. It makes it possible to avoid passing the Unified State Examination, to change the usual environment, to become financially independent and self-sufficient earlier.
1. Rapid development of the profession
Higher education is not necessary in all areas. Hairdressers, seamstresses, carpenters and other professionals do not need a university degree behind them. If a person has firmly decided on what he wants to do, and this business does not require high qualifications, then college will accelerate progress towards a dream.
Marina Hortova
Director of the Institute of Continuing Pedagogical Education.
If the profession that a student received in college is in demand in the market, then, as a rule, in the last years he is already determined with his employment.
Also, the college has more free time to study new, useful information for future work.
2. Financial and domestic freedom
College is an opportunity to start an independent life. Here, teachers do not run after students, do not force them to report for every gap, and do not push about grades, as they do at school.
They also give less homework. Thanks to this, students have more space for self-organization. Including - in order to combine study and work and become financially independent from parents.
If we are talking about out-of-town or foreign institutions, then they most often provide hostelswhere students can arrange life in their own way.
3. Change of environment
If relationships with teachers or classmates are poor, leaving after 9th grade is likely to be desirable. The college will help you change the environment and forget about bullying like a bad dream.
Inna Muravyova
SMM manager. She left school after 9th grade. Graduated from college 3 years ago.
At school, I had bad relationships with my classmates. Due to the fact that I am quite large, they called me "cow" and "fatty". So I waited for the end of the 9th grade to just dump. Didn't even show up for graduation. Over the summer, I lost some weight, learned how to do makeup, bought new clothes. I wanted to get to know my classmates well.
At the bottom of the freshman year, I felt excitement. But, fortunately, I managed to immediately join the company of people with whom we still communicate. I don't regret my decision. I'm glad that at that moment I managed to change the environment. It was simply necessary.
4. Lack of USE
Perhaps the main plus that attracts graduates. To get into college enough provide a certificate of completion of 9 or 11 classes. Based on it, the average score is calculated and the ratings of applicants are formed. The competition here is much softer than at the university.
According to Marina Hortova, with an average GPA of 4.4 or more, there are no difficulties in getting into college. In addition, now, in order to relieve social tension and leave young people in the regions, local authorities are expanding the number of specialties and places.
But even if you fail to get a budget place, there will always be an opportunity to return to school or go to college on a paid basis. The cost of education will be much lower than at the university.
In addition, a student who wants to continue their studies at a university after graduation, may enroll according to the results of the internal competition, without the exam. Sometimes — even on the accelerated program.
University entrance examinations are often less stressful and stressthan passing a state exam.
College cons
Those who go to college may find it difficult to adapt, as well as be disappointed in the specialty that they have chosen hastily. And that's not all the problems.
1. Difficulties with choosing a specialty
Choosing a life's work can be difficult even in the 11th grade, let alone in the ninth. Those who stay at school have at least two years to find themselves. And the guys graduating at the age of 15-16 need to decide on the direction in an accelerated mode.
Not surprisingly, such an approach can be erroneous. When you go to college, it will be much more difficult to correct it. It will take more bureaucratic delays to transfer from one institution to another or return to school.
2. Difficulties in adaptation
15-16-year-olds may not be ready for a sudden change in environment, environment, and daily routine. College education requires a much higher level of independence, responsibility and discipline from students than at school.
In addition, if a child leaves for another city, he needs to have household skills: be able to cook food, wash clothes, clean his room and manage money.
3. Shorter deferment from the army
Departure from the army provided once and only to those students who study full-time at a budget place. Therefore, after graduating from college, a graduate will be called to the service earlier than his peers who have chosen higher education.
4. Absence of high school graduation
It may seem that this is the most insignificant point of all of the above, but for some it has the meaning.
Anna Sorokina
Bioengineer. She left school after 11th grade. Graduated from university 2 years ago. The name has been changed at the request of the heroine.
Maybe it's strange, but deep down I wanted to attend the prom. Of course, this is not the only reason why I stayed at the school. But it was very weighty, even though I did not voice it to friends and parents.
Pros of studying in grades 10-11
Education in grades 10–11 is suitable for students who plan to enter a university and in the last two years want to throw all their efforts into preparing for the exam. And also - to have a little more time left to choose a profession.
1. A clear trajectory for entering a university
If the child is going to study at the university, then the decision to stay in the 10th or 11th grades may be more appropriate. Still, the easiest way to enter a university is by passing the exam.
And it is easier to prepare for this exam at school, when the knowledge is still fresh and all attention is focused on the constant study of KIMs.
Yes, you can also continue your studies at the university after college. Specialists with a diploma of SVE are accepted based on the results of the Unified State Examination or internal tests. But the results of the latter are relevant only for a particular institution.
In addition, if a former college student opts for full-time study at a university, it will be more difficult for him to combine it with the work that he may have already acquired.
2. More time to choose a specialty
By staying in grades 10-11, students can delay choice specific specialty. At the same time, the profiles into which they are divided after the 9th grade are rather conditional. And they do not determine the future profession.
For example, if a person from an engineering class suddenly wants to enter the journalism department, he will be able to choose another profile or prepare for the exams in literature and English on his own.
Elena Babitskaya
Head of the educational part of the college at the Institute of Continuing Pedagogical Education.
It should be borne in mind that by the age of 17–18 a person’s worldview is better formed than at 15–16 years. Therefore, most often those who remain in grades 10–11 choose their future profession more consciously.
3. The study of specialized subjects
In addition to the mandatory exams - the Russian language and mathematics - for admission to a university, it is required to pass profile disciplines. Choosing a class with a particular focus helps you prepare better for it, as the curriculum allocates more hours for them.
4. Opportunity to prolong childhood
The life of a student who decides to stay at school does not change dramatically. In most cases, he does not have to adapt to a different teaching staff and life, at most to new classmates.
In addition, the status of a student is perceived differently than the status of student: the first is more often concessions in matters of discipline and self-organization. And if a child aims to move to another city, he has two more years left to be with his family.
Cons of studying in grades 10-11
The main reason why students refuse to go to high school is the fear of the exam. However, there are other unpleasant things that you will have to face.
1. Difficulties with the transition to a specialized class
Students who have triples in their certificates, as well as those who have passed the OGE poorly, may be denied admission to a specialized class. Admission is on a competitive basis. regulated regional laws.
So, for example, in the lyceum of ninth-grader Danila, there is a rating system, according to which students from the top of the list are enrolled in classes of a technological and humanitarian profile. When selecting, many different criteria are taken into account: the average score in academic subjects, victories in olympiads, and so on.
Danila Dryuchin
Moved to 10th grade. Studying at the Orenburg Lyceum.
I didn't know if I would make it to 10th grade at my school. I wanted to choose a physics and mathematics profile. But when we calculated the average score for the annual grades, it turned out to be 4.1. This was not enough. So I began to consider the option of going to college.
But the results of the OGE were good: "5" in Russian, mathematics and computer science, "4" in physics. Unexpected and pleasant. My final mark in Russian is a four, although it was three in a year. I think this improved the situation, and I was able to enter the 10th.
These rules apply only when moving to specialized classes. If the student does not apply for training in them, they do not have the right to refuse admission.
However, a student who was not taken to a profile direction due to a low average score of a certificate will need to prepare for passing the exam mostly on his own. The general class program may not provide in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
In addition, says Marina Hortova, parents of C students are often asked to take back their documents so as not to spoil the reputation of the institution and teachers. This action is illegal, but due to ignorance of the law and unwillingness to participate in a showdown with the school administration, some really have to say goodbye to the idea of moving to 10th grade.
2. Boredom and lack of interest
If studies is given to a student with difficulty and he has no desire to enter a university and connect his life with scientific specialties, then perhaps he should not stay in grades 10–11.
First, it will be painful for him to study the principles of mathematical analysis and organic chemistry. Secondly, it would be much more rational to spend this time on what he is really interested in - for example, learn to sew and design theatrical costumes or master the art of cooking in college.
3. Stress while preparing for the exam
The pressure of teachers and parents and society can have a deplorable effect on the psyche of eleventh graders. Every year there are reports in the media about how schoolchildren faint at exam points and even commit suicide due to poor exam results.
It is difficult for 17-18-year-olds to remain calm and impartial when passing the exam that determines their professional destiny.
For those who are faced with the exam after college, it's a little easier. Because, firstly, they already have experience of taking exams at the end of semesters. Secondly, a diploma in open source software is a fixed success. College graduates already have education and prospects employment, and failure in the exam cannot hit them as hard as schoolchildren.
What is the result
Deciding on the direction of development is really not easy, especially at the age of 15. But it is absolutely clear that it is worth choosing an institution, focusing on the curriculum, desires and opportunities of the ninth grader, and not on stereotypes about the quality of education.
Dmitry Dryuchin
Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Technical Operation and Repair of Automobiles at the Orenburg State University.
I would not say that a university is always more prestigious than a college. Yes, and the institution of the institution is different. For example, last year in the IT field at our college, the lower passing threshold was 4.3 GPA, and in the medical field it was even higher - 4.5.
I think that in the current realities, the fact that a child went to college should not be perceived by parents as a disaster. This does not mean that after him all the paths in life are blocked.
To understand whether to go to college or stay in grades 10-11, it is worth knowing the answers to the questions:
- Does the graduate want to study at a university or will a secondary vocational education be enough for him?
- Is the student able to master the program of 10-11 grades?
- Will he be able to prepare well for the exam? How scary is this exam for him?
- What kind of relationship does the student have with classmates and teachers? Doesn't it hurt him to be in this team for another two years?
- How difficult will it be for a former ninth grader to adjust to the new environment and environment in college?
- Does the schoolboy scare that after college the delay from armies burn down?
It is worth remembering that there are no uniquely good and bad ways. And even if in the process the teenager realizes that he made an unsuccessful decision, the situation can always be corrected.
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