my experiences have included:
- Vocational schools (known also as trade schools or technical education centers)
- 2-year community colleges
- 4-year universities
The hours at vocational school are more like high school, starting at 8am, finishing at 3pm. Votech is good for developing lots of visual, hands on skills like auto collison, bricklaying, fashion designing, hairdressing, tilesetting, carpentry, some computer skills, etc... certificates are presented after 1/2 year to 2 years of completion. The pre-construction program I took was much harder than I thought at first, for it required 3-week-long projects and going out to do research at different stores and job shadowing, but overall it's a much more involved experience than the university setting. Looking for a job soon? While jobs obtained with a certificate may not be as high-paying as university diploma jobs, you can find something you enjoy and start a job in a shorter time for more money if that is the extent of your educational plans. However, usually the courses are non-transferrable to other colleges or universities for degree purposes.
2-year-community colleges offer courses at cheaper costs than most 4-year-universities. The courses can be easier, but this is not always the case. The hours of your class are more flexible, depending on the times of day of the class. One pro of a community college is that you pursue an associate's degree to transfer it to an university (4 or more years educational institution), but one con of a community college is that there are no dorms or residence halls and no Greek organizations like in the university setting. Classes are usually easier and costs are typically more budget-friendly, so this is a great choice for people who want to get the feel for the university setting without too much pressure during their underclassmen years.
4-year-or-more universities require more intensive studying once the core requirements have been completed. Lots of professors may have PhDs and be more selective in their grading processes. You get to choose a minor and/or major, depending on your educational goals. There are more student organizations and more academic services available. But time management takes some practice and it's important so be sure you're prepared. The professors like to make their classes hard so they can find the motivated students. But university degrees can land you a better job than a votech certificate or a community college associate degree, since the companies focus their attention on hiring students who have completed 4+ years of education.
Each individual differs on his or her own preferences. Some people find that one to two years at a votech or community college is enough to land a reasonable well-paying job. Some people get lucky and get really good jobs early on. But a university degree gives you a higher chance of getting a better job.