What is the difference between a high school diploma and a GED?

Question

I am currently taking high school courses through distance learning to receive my high school diploma. Some people have suggested for me to take the GED because sometimes I have difficulty studying from home. Ultimately, I would want to continue on with my courses. But I am wondering, what is the difference between the two? Will having a high school diploma guarantee better admissions in college and a better job?

Answer 1

A high school diploma basically means you have completed the required courses at an accredited high school. A GED means you took a test demonstrating a basic proficiency in high school level courses. In most cases a GED should be just as good as a diploma. However, if you want to get into a competitive university you should probably contact the admissions office at the school to see if that would hurt your chances. I'm guessing that a GED with a high enough SAT or ACT score would probably be fine.

In the real world, I think there is a bit of a bad stigma attached to a GED. In general, I think many people see that you got a GED and assume you couldn't hack it in a normal high school.

Either way, once you have a job or two and/or start going to college, most people won't really look twice at what you did in high school.

FOR KAY:
I agree that a college degree is important, but having a college degree is no guarantee of a good income just as not having a college degree does not preclude you from earning a good income. I don't have a college degree (although I have about 110 college units) and I should earn close to $50,000 this year. I know there are many college grads that won't earn that much in a year.

Answer 2

The first difference most people will notice is the difference in the age requirements. In most places, a person can take the GED at any time after they are 16 years old. The only thing is that they cannot have already graduated from high school and they cannot be currently attending a high school. Some states have other requirements that may have to be met in order to get a GED. As for being eligible for a high school diploma, there is no minimum age requirement, but you must have completed the course work stipulated by the state to the satisfaction of the degree granting school. Most states give students between one and three years after their 18th birthdays to complete their high school coursework on the taxpayer’s dime. There are some states, however, that have high school completion courses for adults where the end result is a high school diploma, not a GED.

Another key difference between a GED and a high school diploma is the time it takes to complete. For a high school diploma, a student may need to invest as much as four years, although many people manage to complete high school in as little as three years. A GED is a 7 hour test on five subject areas. The GED is graded in an interesting way. Every few years or so some graduating high school students are selected to take the GED. In order to be awarded a GED, a candidate must do better on the test than 60% of the graduating high school seniors who took the test. This means that the passing grade on the GED may change over time. While no formal study is required, most recommend taking a prep course or otherwise spending a good deal of time preparing for the GED.

Lastly, your future plans may dictate whether to try for a GED or high school diploma. Many employers won’t care whether or not you have a GED or a high school diploma. Similarly, most community colleges have no problems admitting people with a GED instead of a high school diploma. If you want to go to a university or a four-year college, you may want to consider getting a high school diploma, or, if that is impossible, spending a year at a community college so you can demonstrate your academic skill to a college or a university. If you simply plan on going to work, your references, resume, and the job skills you bring to the table will be much more important than whether or not you have a GED or a high school diploma.

Answer 3

It probably doesn't make a difference GED/online diploma. You will need one or the other to apply to college, but you will also have to have a high enough score on the SAT or ACT to be admitted into a college. If you start off at a community college rather than a big University, you will usually still have to pass the State's Test of skills assesment (may vary state to state) so they can see if you are on freshman level college math/english, etc. Some colleges require minimums in years of high school math, so you may have to make it up in college by taking pre level courses that you don't actually earn credits on. But jump through the hoops and get that degree, because having a college degree will determine how you can afford to live FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!! If you plan on having kids or being able to take care of yourself if ever divorced, it is a MUST! Also, by the time you get the college degree no one cares about what you did for highschool! Good luck!!!

Answer 4

There is a difference in a high school diploma and a GED. It's not suppost to make difference when you apply at a college or for a job but most of the time it does when it comes to colleges. It shows the people that you didn't feel like you needed to go to school being with your peers getting up everyday, making an effort most people with a ninth grade education can pass a GED and most colleges know this. So stay in school it will probably be the best time of your life, you won't regret it. Most people I know said they enjoyed their high school years, I know I loved mine.

Answer 5

i know what you mean,but i don't think there's a difference...though,i've personally thought they would look at me like i had been more responsible if i had had a diploma. i have a ged and became a flight attendant..
it would be stupid on their part to consider everyone as being responsible OR irresponsible because we all have our reasons. even if someone went through high school and got their diploma does not mean they are or were any better in any way.

Answer 6

yes to both questions. Some colleges require a HS Diploma. Some accept a GED.

Answer 7

The biggest difference between a HSDG and any other kind of graduation certificate you can obtain from a traditional High School is that you failed to graduate High School in the traditional way which may be a major indicator of how you will face other major hurdles in life for example: there is only one way to graduate from military boot camp,pass or fail there is no alternative,pass or fail. Drivers license,it's pass or fail,College entrance exams,pass or fail.The interesting thought here is ,if you fail your college entrance exam you will be directed to GO BACK and retake a certain portion of classes that you failed in High School and PASS that class so you can get into college.
Staying in High School and graduating may not be for everyone,but it is the first major social/educational hurdle High School students will face.

Answer 8

A GED is kind of like a diploma that you get if you couldn't get your highschool diploma at the time you were in school. So like, lets say you dropped out of highschool, went out into the real world, and got a job pumping gas or something (lol). You wouldn't be able to get a very good job since you don't have a highschool diploma. But if you wanted to go back and get your diploma, you would have to go back and get a GED. So its kind of like a diploma for people who dropped out and stuff. Its what you get when you go back to get a diploma when you didn't get it at the time you were supposed to.

Answer 9

Almost certainly. Push for that diploma with everything you have.

Answer 10

GED is a G ood E nough D iploma...not really