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GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 3:45:08 PM

sweetnsensual

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Someone in my family is 3 months away from graduating high school but is failing two classes that are requirements for graduating. One teacher actually told her there was no hope in passing because she's so behind thanks to absences due to illness and doctor appointments. She can't make up her absences because of her school and work schedule not meshing.

She's asking me for advice on getting her GED. My mother worked in a position some 20+ years ago where she saw that applicants with a GED were the first to be tossed in the garbage. She said GED applicants were seen as either not intelligent enough, too lazy, a troublemaker, etc. Please note my mother did not do this, her employers did and it was a long time ago. She doesn't agree with it, I don't either and I'm not saying someone with a GED is lower in any way to a person with a high school diploma.

Nevertheless, the story from my mother does concern me. I have questions regarding a GED and if you could help me in any way, I'd appreciate it and so would my family member.

Is a GED the same as a diploma? If it was, why isn't it just called a diploma? Do employers still toss GED applicants away (even if it is illegal--I'm not sure if it is or isn't)? Will there be any opportunities missed when a person reaches the outside world or the "real world" because they have a GED instead of a high school diploma, (i.e. jobs, college etc).

Thanks for all the help.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 3:53:19 PM

RWAble

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Alot of employers look at GED's as sub-standard. They feel the person wasn't trying their best.
Has your friend checked into post graduation summer classes?
Most school districts offer them and you can get your diploma when finished.

< Message edited by RWAble -- 3/6/2007 3:54:03 PM >

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 3:56:54 PM

sophia37

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I cant tell you what most "employers" do, but Ive been volunteering at a state job over the winter, and the 17 year old who works across from me just got her GED. So I guess the state for one, will hire a non-grad and a GED grad. They just wont pay the person very well.

As an educator in the public school system myself though, my first thought would be, can your relative make up the courses in a summer school? That would be the first thing to look in to. It's always better to have a H.S diploma than a GED if you can. Even if you have to cut back on work for the summer, I think it's something that should be seriously considered. At that age, school comes first, menial labor second. And I do believe HS students perform mostly menial labor. No offense intended.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:01:16 PM

Level

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I've been told by a number of employers that a GED is seen pretty much the same as a diploma, so I guess it all depends on the individual. And yes, I got one after I dropped out of school midway through the eleventh grade.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:03:41 PM

defiantbadgirl

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A GED is equal to a high school diploma. I have a GED and had no problems getting into college. I knew a woman with a genius IQ who obtained a GED so she could start college sooner.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:23:22 PM

unsung

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[in reply to the OP\

GED is equivalent to high school graduate with vocation level credits, acceptable by most colleges but not to universities. Most universities require up to a year of pre-university preparation from a recognized college or technical school prior to acceptance into any of their offerings. This is in Canada mind you, I don't know the deal in the USA. Lord knows I have been to enough post-secondary it makes my head rattle still wondering what the big deal is. Perhaps their way of separating chickens from hens. Its all fairly stupid if you ask me; if one has desire to learn, they will.

And yet, I have had employers look smuggly at my GED credentials, but having several post secondary on top of them shines a different light. I think I would have to agree with your mother on this one, I don't think GED credentials are taken too seriously, especially with the number of actual graduates there are from the regular system.

Your sister should perhaps attain those last 2 courses through correspondence. If she knows most the material she should be able to get through the courses fairly quickly. Or perhaps even night classes.

< Message edited by unsung -- 3/6/2007 4:33:57 PM >

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:30:56 PM

defiantbadgirl

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The college I go to even allows students still in high school to take college courses. Granted, I attend a junior (2 year) college, but what's wrong with taking 2 years at a junior college and then transferring to a University? Plenty of students, whether they have a GED or a high school diploma do that anyway. It saves money.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:39:28 PM

iwannapullurhair

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I've got a GED, which I'm ashamed of actually. I was sick alot in High School. I have an Associate degree now. I'm debating going back for my Bachelor's degree. Sometimes your just watching tv and there is a joke about it, like on the Simpsons, and it stings me. Your relative should try to get the real degree if possible. Everytime I apply for a job, despite the college degree on there, I figure the garbage can may be getting my application instead.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:42:05 PM

unsung

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I don't know what's wrong with it defiantbadgirl, do it how it works for you. But I will say this, that my experience has shown that universities and colleges are no different than any other corporate structure or enterprise. More students more money, not necessarily that anyone of them offer anything remotely different in the first 2 years - same ole same ole. And to have someone explain to me why I have to take anthropology and pay 400 to do it because I require my general study credits when the program of my chosing isn't even remotely associated with anthrology or the origins of man. Or if I transfer universities and the one I am tranferring to does not except this credit I have earned from a previous institute because we did not use the text book although all the definitions are the same. I do have a problem with the format the of post secondary process across Canada.

And back to the OP, I think it is easier to wrap up the 2 courses as opposed to being forced into a corner due what could have been but isn't.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:45:29 PM

defiantbadgirl

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I disagree. According to the OP, this individual has fallen behind due to illness and can't catch up. Far better to get a GED than 2 Fs. I've never regretted getting a GED. In fact, if I had it to do all over again I would've gotten one alot sooner than I did.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:46:14 PM

cjenny

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How old does one get before that isn't really researched? My ex husband is looking for a job, I did his resume & totally omitted high school ( he did not graduate nor get a GED). He has taken several night classes.
He is erm....*counting* 44 and when I was in a supervisory hiring position most resumes only went back 7-10 years. That was a few years ago, I'm wondering if it is still standard to look back only within the past decade?

OP, I personally consider a GED as a solid statement of education. Not everyone has the chance to finish 'normal' school due to circumstances beyond their control. I said that backwards lol but hopefully it made sense.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:46:52 PM

GeekyGirl

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My mother has a GED (She quit school to get married and have me.) It never kept her from having good jobs. She sold real estate successfully for a number of years and then later joined the police force. She rose to the rank of Lieutenant exceptionally fast and is next in line for the position of Chief. I'd say it hasn't hurt her a bit! She's got a very good job and is extremely financially stable.

I don't put a lot of faith in pieces of paper. I have an IQ that is quite high and was valedictorian of my senior class, yet people have judged me for not having a college diploma. I guess it never occurs to some people that I might actually WANT a job that doesn't require a college degree and that I might not need that piece of paper to prove to myself that I'm intelligent. Ironically enough, some of the poorest writers and spellers I meet at work are people with fancy college degrees. I generally snicker at those people a bit...Here they are making the same amount of money as I am, only they're $40,000 in debt and STILL can't write a cohesive paragraph. Go figure.

Many of my coworkers have GEDS...I'd say probably 50% and they are making quite decent money and have excellent benefits.

< Message edited by GeekyGirl -- 3/6/2007 4:48:25 PM >

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:48:45 PM

untamedshysub

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there is no difference unless its that certificate, but if she wants the Diploma then there is summer school or night school. Dr. appt and illness are acceptable and she should have been allowed to make up the work, if not contact the Director of the school board for her school district. Unless she is in texas but the school board should be able to do something.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:50:45 PM

untamedshysub

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quote:

ORIGINAL: unsung

I don't know what's wrong with it defiantbadgirl, do it how it works for you. But I will say this, that my experience has shown that universities and colleges are no different than any other corporate structure or enterprise. More students more money, not necessarily that anyone of them offer anything remotely different in the first 2 years - same ole same ole. And to have someone explain to me why I have to take anthropology and pay 400 to do it because I require my general study credits when the program of my chosing isn't even remotely associated with anthrology or the origins of man. Or if I transfer universities and the one I am tranferring to does not except this credit I have earned from a previous institute because we did not use the text book although all the definitions are the same. I do have a problem with the format the of post secondary process across Canada.

And back to the OP, I think it is easier to wrap up the 2 courses as opposed to being forced into a corner due what could have been but isn't.
My degree is in accounting and for the life of me I could not understand why I had to take biology and put it off until the very last class and found a way to do it online laughs.

< Message edited by untamedshysub -- 3/6/2007 4:52:06 PM >

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:52:31 PM

defiantbadgirl

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I've run into the same thing. Can't understand how people get a GED, high school diploma, or college degree when they can't spell the most simple words.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:52:53 PM

Sternhand4

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A GED should be a last choice option. Advise her to finish up her studies through summer school. Another possibility would be to transfer credits back from a community college if the school district allows it. You need to sit down with the guidance councilor to see what options are availible.
Good luck

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 4:53:09 PM

fergus

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Ah yes, the "Good Enough Diploma".

Depends on how you are applying it. If you are talking about college, shouldn't hold you back too much. If you are talking about jobs, well .... the sort of jobs tat require ONLY a HS diploma, it really won't matter. For jobs requiring more, it will depend what the person had been doing AFTER getting the diploma - college, trade school, military, other employment. So in all these cases it doesn't matter a heck of a lot.

Now, as for how it lines up with ACTUAL EDUCATION - GED vs what you might learn in HS - neither are worth a hill of beans. School of hard livin' learns you a LOT faster. Thediploma for that gets placed not on your wall, but is carried with you in how you handle yourself.

fergus

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 5:00:42 PM

unsung

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DefiantBadGirl, I am not going to get in a spitting match with you over this. I have stated the way it is viewed in Canada from my direct experience. I have no idea how it is looked upon in the USA. If it is equivalent so be it. Here it is not and will cost a person an additional year of post-secondary fees to advance into a recognized university. High School Graduates are a dime a dozen here, an employer can be as smug as they want. It is up to the individual to gauge that, and how it is approached. I got a GED because I could not stand the public school system and wanted out as quickly as possible. Did mine in 5 weeks before they made it mandatory to attend for a minimum of 8 months and put a cap on when you could actually attend classes to get a GED which is based on age and length of time out of the school system. From there I proceeded directly to college, and it was a phkin hard adjustment learning math and other courses I needed for my college classes. There is nothing like being self taught, but damn it is the hard way round from my experience.

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 5:02:17 PM

GeekyGirl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

I've run into the same thing. Can't understand how people get a GED, high school diploma, or college degree when they can't spell the most simple words.

It hurts my head to think on it. I read reports that are written by my coworkers and find that they have a very difficult time with spelling, grammar, punctuation, run-on sentences, sentence fragments, etc. I'm not a perfect writer myself but the people I refer to are writing so poorly that I am unsure what they are trying to say.

I have a theory that people of average intelligence are much more "hung up" on credentials because they feel the need to "prove" to themselves that they are intelligent. People who are truly of high intelligence are generally fairly secure in that knowledge. I even had someone say this to me the other day.

A coworker was asking me to help him with his homework. I agreed, and he began to say things like, "You're so smart..how come you don't have a college degree?"

I told him that I had chosen a different path in my life and didn't need a degree for the job I have.

His answer was, "Yes, but don't you want it, just so you know you can do it?"

"Um, no...I already know I could do it if I wanted to. I don't need to go in debt to prove it to everyone else."

He said, "Well I didn't do well in school like you did..I'm not naturally smart like you. I need a diploma to make me feel better about myself."

At this point, I believe the public education system has been "dumbed down" so much that diplomas and degrees aren't worth the paper they're printed on. The idea is to make sure everyone can pass and feel good about themselves.

I do have 45hrs of college credit and only one of those classes would be something I considered challenging. Ironically, it wasn't math or science or english. Those classes were pretty easy at the college level. The one that gave me trouble was agricultural economics of all things.

ETA because I forgot to finish the story I was telling!

< Message edited by GeekyGirl -- 3/6/2007 5:04:39 PM >

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RE: GED same as Diploma? - 3/6/2007 5:11:25 PM

GeekyGirl

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On a side note to the original poster, I really disapprove of high school kids having jobs during the school year. The jobs they get are usually piddly jobs anyway that aren't good for anything but a little extra spending money. My mother forbade me to work until after graduation (unless you count cleaning stalls at the stable during the summer in exchange for riding lessons.)

She said, "Making good grades IS your job and the only one that counts." Besides, you are only young once and I think teenagers should be able to enjoy high school, extra curricular activities, learning social skills, etc without being burdened with the adult responsiblity of work. Once they graduate, they are going to be working until retirement. Let them enjoy the good years while they last!

My senior year of high school, I was studying, doing rodeo queen contests, FFA competitions, French Club, high school rodeo, spending time with my high school sweetheart...I can't imagine trading all that to go to work every evening after school.

< Message edited by GeekyGirl -- 3/6/2007 5:12:41 PM >

_____________________________

"It's nothing that I understand, but when in your arms you have complete power over me. So be gentle if you please, 'cause your hands are in my hair, but my heart is in your teeth and it makes me want to make you near me always."

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