What's the difference between a GED and a high school diploma?

Question

Me and my friend are at a bit of a confusion here. He says you can just take ur GED, drop out of high school, and go to college.
I'm think there's some sort of catch...
Like it's not as "valuble" as a high school diploma.

I just don't get why you can get a GED and get out of high school and it's the same effect as graduating.
Just like someone to clear us up here.

Answer 1

Well it depends on the situation. Certainly you can get a GED and start a community college, which generally has very low admissions requirements. If you successfully complete 2 years there, you can transfer to a more prestigious college (but not Princeton; they don't have a transfer program).

If you're a genius, perhaps you're just getting the GED to get into Harvard ahead of schedule. Sometimes that's the only way to get the high school completion paper ahead of time.

Answer 2

I'm not even going to venture a guess as to reasons you or your friend would even consider dropping out...

GED stands for General Educational Development. To get one is not as hard or demanding as a HS diploma, and some colleges will only accept it if the scores on the GED test (usally 5 areas) are exceptionally high. It enables individuals to demonstrate that they have acquired a level of learning comparable to that of high school graduates. The student has to be at least 17 to take the test, and A LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL will be required in most cases (which can be VERY hard to get, if at all).

Really, by the tiime the drop-out becomes official, the permission is granted, the time spent registering and studying for the GED test (and possible classes that could be required first), and getting a test scheduled, the person could already be 19 or older. A GED isn't just an easy way out of high school and off to college...if it was, wouldn't your school be empty? It's not the effect as graduating, and that's a fact.

The "system" is not designed for drop-outs to just take the GED instead of graduating, and makes it extremely difficult to do so. It's designed for people with extenuating circumstances, usually older people, to help get their lives together. Who do you know that has dropped out, got their GED fast, and is now in college?

Please have your friend do some more checking at your shcool with your counselor (they are there to help), a favorite teacher, or even the catalog of the college their interested in before they adopt the label of "drop-out".

A HS dilpoma to an employer or college shows commitment, desire, and stability with a willingness to work... and normalcy. A GED person is not a graduate, usually a drop-out, has some problems with high school, but may have had some special circumstances. I know some GED people out there are getting a rise out of that, and there are a lot of great people that have overcome their obstacles, gotten their GED, and lead happy lives. But just be ready for the question in an interview... "Why a GED instead of a diploma."

By the way, the 5 areas tested are 1) correctness and effectiveness of expression (writing), 2)interpretation of reading materials in the natural sciences and 3) the social sciences, 4)interpretation of literary materials, and 5) general mathematics ability; with a minimum percentile score on the test of 40%, though a lot of states require higher. Some states even add a test on federal and/or state government.

Best of luck with the decision. Remember, it's a LOOOOOONG future.

Answer 3

For the rest of your life you will be asked where you went to high school and if you graduated. Every time you fill out an employment application, this question is there. A GED is an 'Equivalency' it is the same in theory, but generally not as highly rated, unless you passed it at say age 12. It is FAR better than just dropping out. Some education is better than none...more is better than less. Taking a class when you can at a night school or community college is better than NOT taking a class. Every time you learn something new, you add to your value and enhance your employability and the real you.

Answer 4

the 1st distinction maximum persons will notice is the version interior the age standards. In maximum places, a guy or woman can take the GED at any time as quickly as they're sixteen years previous. the sole component is they can't have already graduated from severe college and that they might't be at present attending a severe college. some states produce different standards that could might desire to be met with the intention to get a GED. As for being eligible for a severe college degree, there is not any minimum age requirement, yet you're able to desire to have executed the course artwork stipulated via the state to the delight of the degree granting college. maximum states provide pupils between one and 3 years after their 18th birthdays to end their severe college coursework on the taxpayer’s dime. There are some states, despite the fact that, that have severe college final touch classes for adults the place the top effect is a severe college degree, no longer a GED. yet another key distinction between a GED and a severe college degree is the time it takes to end. For a severe college degree, a pupil might might desire to speculate as much as 4 years, regardless of the undeniable fact that many human beings be able to end severe college in as low as 3 years. A GED is a 7 hour try on 5 project factors. The GED is graded in an exciting way. each and every few years or so some graduating severe college pupils are chosen to take the GED. with the intention to be offered a GED, a candidate might desire to do greater useful on the try than 60% of the graduating severe college seniors who took the try. this suggests that the passing grade on the GED might replace over the years. mutually as no formal learn is needed, maximum propose taking a prep course or otherwise spending an outstanding deal of time making waiting for the GED. ultimately, your destiny plans might dictate regardless of if to objective for a GED or severe college degree. Many employers gained’t care regardless of if or no longer you have a GED or a severe college degree. further, maximum community colleges have no issues admitting those with a GED rather of a severe college degree. in case you pick for to flow to a school or a 4-year college, that's advisable to contemplate getting a severe college degree, or, if that's impossible, spending a year at an area college so which you will demonstrate your tutorial ability to a school or a school. in case you purely plan on going to artwork, your references, resume, and the interest skills you convey to the table would be lots greater significant than regardless of if or no longer you have a GED or a severe college degree.

Answer 5

I believe that you have summed up one of the major differences, not that I am an authority on the subject. Listen, when you drop out of school, you are saying: "That's it, I've had it" (A.K.A. to future employers and colleges: "I'm a quitter"). No employer or college wants to see that on an application. They all want to see that this person is a go-getter who meets new challenges and overcomes them, getting help when necessary. You cannot just quit school to try a different program and think they will not notice. I personally have always believed a diploma to be preferable--and this is coming from someone who has even tutored a GED class. In a GED program, you study a HUMUNGOUS book full of Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc. skills and then take one BIG test (supposedly the equivalent of a full high school education, hence the name: General Equivalency Diploma). However, even having seen the task that stands before GED students, I have always believed the high school diploma to be preferable.

Why?

First, the student who sticks with it through high school presents a positive face to colleges and employers, saying, when a challenge comes up, I don't back down, I overcome it. That is VERY important to them when they consider investing corporate resources to train you to do something you don't already know how to do. THEY DON'T WANT SOMEONE WHO THEY FEEL WILL QUIT ON THEM!!!

Second, learning through high school gives you years to digest new material in each subject, instead of trying to digest a book with well over 1000 pages of many lessons in several different subjects in six to nine months--and then remembering it for one test. Some of my students had been in the GED program for YEARS themselves because they hadn't been able to grasp the material yet. All of them would probably have graduated high school by now. GED is similar to high school--what you get out depends on what you put in. Slack off or have difficulty in the GED program and you could still be there for years. The GED program is not easier than going through high school, in my opinion. People who choose GED are not necessarily dumber or even weaker-willed than those who go through high school. Some just were home-schooled or had family ties that barred education for a time, etc. However, the word GED instead of Diploma can trigger a flag in the minds of some people (yes, myself included).

Present the strongest face you can to future employers and colleges--GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!

Answer 6

A GED is just like graduating from High School. I took the GED. That is one hard test to past. (I did) And when I took the test it was like a all day event. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED AND COMPLEDTED STUDIES

GED YOU DID NOT COMPELETE HIGH SCHOOL BUT DROPPED OUT AND TAKE EQUIVALENT TEST TO SHOW YOU KNOW ENOUGH TO HAVE GRADUATED FROM HS.