(Brenda Baer, brendab@blueprinteducation.org is the Director of Distance Learning/Special Education Coordinator for Blueprint Education. In this essay she writes about some considerations students should think about in completing high school and preparing for either work or post-secondary training. -Lon)

Do you know any young adults that have reached a fork in the road of life and stuck by the choice- GED or Diploma? Faced with such an important decision, it is imperative that they have all of the options before deciding which path to choose.

-GED option-

The GED (General Educational Development or General Equivalency Diploma) began in 1942 and was originally given only to military personnel. The original test was used by WWII veterans that wanted to pursue education or vocational goals. The test at this time was mainly used for employment purposes- since at that time a high school level of education qualified most people for entry-level positions. Times have changed since then, and so has the exam. It has evolved to reflect changes in high school curriculum and included real-life contexts. The test is divided into 5 parts: Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies and takes a total of about 8 hours to complete. The schedule varies- depending on where you take it.

Things to think about…

• The military classifies a GED holder as a dropout and strictly limits enlistment (ironic since it was started for military personnel).


• The GED does not test all academic skills; such as how to study, time management skills, etc. These skills are critical for post-secondary educational settings.


• Like it or not, a GED often signals to employers that "he's troubled" or "she can't commit".

-Diploma Options-

So if a GED isn't the right choice, are there options to gain a diploma? The answer is most certainly- YES! The options for public and private education have expanded tremendously since 1942. If the traditional high school doesn't meet a student's needs- try the alternative route. Most states now have charter schools, online schools and other alternative schools. There are also private online schools where students nationwide (and even worldwide) can attain a high school diploma- but make sure the school is regionally accredited!

Things to think about…

• Look for programs that offer flexibility (hours, days, number of classes, etc.)


• Think of combining resources- using a tutor and an online school for instance


• The maximum age varies, most (31 states) have an upper age limit of 21 years old


• For some private programs there isn't a maximum age

How to decide?
There are many factors to take into account when helping someone with this decision. Their profile is key; things like age, number of credits, maturity, academic history, social skills, living situation, support structure and economic stability all play a role. Spending time and asking probing questions will help uncover the best path. Questions like:

• What is the lifelong impact of this decision?


• Do you have the skills to further your education?


• Why does this option make sense to you?

A GED makes sense if it is a stepping stone to further education. At Blueprint Education, we had a student that was accepted to Juilliard and needed to show up with either a diploma or GED. She tried to complete all the courses, but wasn't able to get it all done before the report date. A GED made sense in this case. We had another Blueprint Education student that took one class at a time and finished his diploma program at age 27. Moving onto community college was an easy next step for him, since school was an integrated part of his life. A diploma program worked for him and his family.

Have you ever had students stuck in a fork? What do you tell them?


Blueprint Education creates curriculum and programs to build a solid education for students in any situation. They offer over 220 fully-accredited online courses to reach students throughout the world.

For more information please visit Blueprint Education at: www.blueprinteducation.org, or call 800-426-4952, or email email@blueprinteducation.org


(This essay originally was published on Baer's blog at www.blueprinteducation.org/node/207 on Feb. 25th 2011.)