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Types of Pathways

While there are many pathways a student can take after high school, we’ve compiled a few common higher education pathways.

Certificate programs

Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs provide focused, specific skill sets to prepare you for a particular job. They include areas such as animal care and management, automotive repair, health informatics, and office assistant.

These offer the quickest return-on-investment as they are designed to provide you with a skill set that fits the needs of a particular job. Certificate Programs are also flexible when it comes to scheduling. You might be asked by an employer to take another Certificate Program if a work opportunity presents itself while you are on the job.

Certificate Programs may also include courses that can lead to a degree at a community college or four-year institution.

Why this program might work for you

Certificate programs prepare you for entry-level work opportunities.
Many certificate programs can serve as steppingstones into further academic work and advanced credentials.

Things to think about

Are you sufficiently interested in and motivated by the work opportunities available through a particular certificate program?
How can you best pursue a certificate program to provide optimal future study opportunities?

Resources

Your high school counselors and college advisors
State University of New York Certificate Programs
City University of New York Certificate Programs

Next steps

Test your interest in any work opportunities before pursuing a focused Certificate Program through internships, job fairs, and job-shadowing opportunities.
Review and consider any connections to future academic opportunities afforded you through Certificate Programs.

associate degree

Associate Degree Programs

The Associate of Applied Arts (AAA), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Applied Technology (AAT), and Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) – most particularly AOS – are usually used to secure full-time employment in a particular field. None of these prevent you from pursuing additional studies – either immediately or in the future – but they will require some additional academic work if you’re interested in then transferring to a four-year program.

Why this program might work for you

Certain community college programs are designed to support students wishing to practice a technical trade or profession.
These programs also can be steppingstones into future academic work.

Things to think about

Are you confident enough in your decision to pursue a particular trade or profession to commit to these studies?
How can you build a program that meets immediate needs/interests and build a foundation for future study?

Resources

Admission and academic advising staff at each community college will be able to walk you through all the options available to you, including each program’s connection to potential future study.
State University of New York
City University of New York

Next steps

Students pursuing these technical degrees should look carefully at potential next steps and “file” these away for future consideration.
Identify a staff member at the college you wish to enroll at to help you consider the various options available to you.

community college

2+2 Community College-to-Four-Year Institution Transfer Pathways

These programs between community colleges and four-year institutions exist in a variety of formats. Both SUNY and CUNY have robust transfer tools between and among their schools. In increasing numbers, private colleges are also partnering with community colleges to offer similar opportunities. The community college degrees normally pursued to benefit from a 2+2 are the Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

There are many reasons to consider beginning your higher education at a community college. Personal or family commitments. Financial. Academics. Putting a plan together that includes earning an associate degree then transferring to finish out your undergraduate program can be efficient in terms of both time and finances. For students planning to head to graduate school, the 2+2 approach can help optimize their financial commitment.

These pathways work best when they are established early in your community college experience, even as you prepare to leave high school. Key to this strategy is to identify a handful of potential four-year college destinations at the beginning of the process. You can then explore their pathway programs and community college partners.

Why this program might work for you

Careful planning can result in a cost and time efficient 2+2 higher education pathway.
Planning includes early outreach to four-year institutions to solidify potential academic credit transfer.
Both the SUNY and CUNY systems have online tools that provide guidance for developing a 2+2 pathway.
Many private colleges in New York have partnerships with community colleges that support transfer pathways. 

Things to think about

Who at the community college and potential four-year institution can you contact to ask advice on developing a 2+2 pathway program?
Can you get assurances from potential four-year institutions regarding credit transfer, time to complete your degree, and financial aid?

Resources

College Money Matters, a nonprofit organization focused on helping students and their families make informed choices about their higher education.
SUNY Pathways Program
CUNY Pathway Program 

Next steps

Discuss the possibility of a 2+2 higher education pathway with your high school counselor and other college advisors early in your senior year, as your college search gets into full gear.
Along with exploring the opportunities available through SUNY and CUNY, contact private colleges to request information about their partnerships with community colleges.
Enlist the assistance of transfer advisors at your community college and the members of the four-year college admissions staff to map out your academic and financial plans.
Revisit your 2+2 plan at the end of each semester at your community college.
If possible, spend as much time as you can on the campus of your potential four-year college destination while studying at the community college. Get to know students and staff there. This will make your transition much easier. 

four year college

Four-Year College Programs

Earning a four-year bachelor’s degree provides students with a well-rounded academic credential that provides flexibility to pursue a variety of professions and establishes an important foundation for graduate studies. Given the commitments of time, effort, and finances, students should consider this direction carefully.

As you gather information about four-year colleges, it is important to visit their campuses. Take a tour and speak with a member of the admissions staff. Ask current students about their experiences there. While there is no way to encapsulate your future four years into an afternoon’s visit, you will be able to get a sense of what being part of that campus community will be like. Utilizing each admissions staff as primary contacts, you should continue your exploration of potential schools throughout the application process and, when you gain admission, before you commit to enroll.

Why this program might work for you

When all the pieces – academic, financial, personal, family – come together, a four-year college experience can be a wonderful growth opportunity, particularly if you are able to immerse yourself completely by living on campus.

Things to think about

A four-year college experience requires commitments in energy, finances. How much debt will you accrue pursuing your four-year college experience?
How could that debt load impact your post-college plans? Do you have interest in pursuing a graduate degree?
Are there resources at your potential colleges who will provide solid answers to your questions before your make a commitment?

Resources

High school counselors and college advisors.
Big Future college planning tool offered by the College Board.
College Money Matters, a helpful website that provides advice and tools to assist you with your college planning.
Admission office staff members at the institutions you are considering.
Individuals you know who are current students at these institutions.

Next steps

Take a long view of this opportunity to ensure that you are comfortable with the commitments you are making to complete your degree.
Begin your college search in your junior year of high school.
Establish a schedule that compels you to complete tasks at least two weeks before the stated deadlines.
Identify an admissions staff member who can serve as a resource throughout the process.
Consider the financial commitments necessary to complete your degree not just those for your first year.
Once admitted, plan to visit your top-choice colleges before making a commitment. 

re-entry

Re-entry into Higher Education: Non-traditional Students

Work. Military. Family. Health. There are many reasons people do not pursue postsecondary education immediately after high school or leave college without completing their certificate or degree. These students have grown to be a significant cohort within the higher education arena. They are students whose postsecondary educational pathways are somewhat nontraditional. Nonetheless, they are a very important part of efforts to better prepare for the emerging economy of this millennium.

Sometimes a decision to “stop out” happens after a semester or more of college-level work. In some instances, individuals gain college credit through online courses offered through their work situation and/or acquire college credit-worthy experiences that will allow them to test out of courses.

The transfer and acquisition of academic course credit can be one of the easiest parts of a non-traditional student’s transition to college. It is important that non-traditional students seek out those institutions that are making concerted efforts to address the specific needs and aspirations of non-traditional students.

Why this program might work for you

It is never too late to pursue additional education.
Life experiences can translate to college credit.
Some colleges provide special supports for their non-traditional students.

Things to think about

Will you, as an older student, be comfortable participating in a campus community comprised primarily of 18–22-year-olds? 
Are there resources available to support your family while you complete my degree?
Can you get college credit for some of your life experiences? 
Will you be able to afford this experience?

Resources

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
For military veterans, the Veterans Administration provides information about educational benefits.
World of Non-Traditional Students at Albany University-SUNY
Campus Visitation Opportunities for Non-Traditional Prospective Students at Borough of Manhattan CC-CUNY
Terriers Come Home at St. Francis College in Brooklyn

Next steps

Research carefully about services and support provided to non-traditional students at the institutions you are considering.
Early in your research efforts, identify a person on campus who will be your point of contact throughout the process.
Military veterans should work closely with VA advisors to optimize their educational benefits. Many colleges have resource people well-versed in the details of these benefits.
Receive a clear understanding of your academic standing – including credits that will transfer and those that will be granted through testing – before committing to enroll.
Find what pathway works for you