How Is a High School Diploma & a G.E.D the Same?

Whether you receive a diploma or a GED, completing high school is crucial to future success.

Most students in the United States choose to finish high school and receive a diploma. Those who don't go this route often end up completing a course that awards them a GED, or General Educational Development, certificate. Both provide evidence to future employers and schools that you have a grasp of high school coursework, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each option.

Diploma

Public and private high schools award diplomas to students who successfully complete all coursework required by their state's Board of Education. This usually includes core classes as well as a specified number of credits from "elective" classes (additional courses chosen by the student but not required by the state). Completing high school not only shows your understanding of those courses, but it also demonstrates your ability to study and multi-task, since most students participate in other activities during the school year as well.

GED

The GED program allows individuals who did not complete high school to take a series of tests covering several years' worth of material. The exam content is designed to judge the student's knowledge of subjects equivalent to that of the average high school graduate, so the test (which takes 7 hours) covers five major subject areas. Although no course enrollment is required to take the exam, due to the large amount of material covered, most students benefit from either a study guide or a preparatory class.

Advantages

Students who complete high school gain the necessary core knowledge, but they also benefit from other opportunities, including skill training, arts classes and social activities that are not available to those who drop out of high school. A GED provides a certificate of completion in a much shorter time period, which can enable you to enroll in community college courses or begin working much sooner than if you completed all 12 years of schooling.

Disadvantages

Traditional high school settings can be a hindrance to both academically challenged students and gifted ones. The academically challenged may always struggle and become discouraged, while the gifted can become bored with the level of learning available to them. A GED program may provide a quick certificate, but it offers none of the other benefits available in a typical high school setting. Also, some employers and most colleges and universities prefer a diploma, since it demonstrates academic proficiency better than a single exam does.

Helpful Tips

Most GED preparatory courses and exams are open only to those age 16 and over, since the majority of states have mandatory attendance laws through age 16. Because several years of material are included on each of the five subject sections of the exam, enrolling in a prep course will enable you to review and learn the necessary material in advance. Schools charge a fee for you to take the exam, as well as tuition for any prep classes; however, the investment provides a greater chance of success.

References

• Major Differences between a GED and a High School Diploma
• A High School Diploma vs. the GED