Graduating high school is the first step to exploring the world beyond. At this point, you have several options. What you decide next will determine how you spend your first several years after high school.

Your Options After High School
COLLEGE / TRADE SCHOOL
Pay, Food, Housing	Pay: Grants and loans Food: on-campus cafeteria or off campus Housing: dorms or off campus
Pros	A degree that will, in theory, get you a better job and higher pay.	Cons	Expensive demanding. Loans you have to pay back. No guarantee it will lead to jobs.
Commitment	~4-5 years for undergraduate or ~4-5 for graduate
JOB
Pay, Food, Housing	Pay: $7.25/hour (min. wage), $1,160/month, or $15,080.00/year Food: eating out or cooking at home Housing: at home or in an apartment
Pros	Mind-opening experiences, travel, pay, and an opportunity to earn money for college	Cons	Entry-level jobs are often not a living wage. Sometimes you won’t be able to stay out late or hang out on weekends because of scheduling.
Commitment	It depends on your schedule. 40 hours is full-time
YEAR OFF / TRAVEL
Pay, Food, Housing	Pay: travel-related work or job to pay for travel Food: eating out or cooking at home Housing: home to save money to travel
Pros	Mind-opening experiences and an opportunity to consider all your future options	Cons	This is expensive and it’s possible to lose momentum by getting distracted
Commitment	Varies
MILITARY
Pay, Food, Housing	Pay: $1,468 per month or $17,616 per year plus bonuses Food: Provided Housing: Provided
Pros	Mind-opening experiences, opportunity to consider all your future options	Cons	Depending on your placement, this could be a dangerous, several-year investment
Commitment	4 – 8 years

Continue on to learn phrases to adult by and how to verify facts. Then head over to our Civil Duties heading, to learn how to vote and, if you choose, enlist in the military.