As students consider if, when, and where to attend college, one factor that may be overlooked is this:
Your style of learning is often one of the biggest determiners of college success.
This is especially true of students who are interested in careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and design fields.
What is a technical degree?
A technical degree focuses on teaching students the skills they need for a specific career path in industries that rely on specific knowledge in order to plan, design, test, troubleshoot, produce, and repair things. This means everything from managing a construction project to designing graphics for packaging to installing an electrical system to repairing a vehicle.
Although you will also usually take some general education courses, a technical degrees primarily focuses on courses that directly teach you what you need to know to become a highly-skilled professional. You are able to apply what you learn to real-world situations and projects.
In addition, technical degrees emphasize hands-on learning with labs, shops, and studios that have the same equipment and software that professionals working in your field of study use. This is especially true at Dunwoody College, which pioneered technical education in the United States more than 100 years ago.
Who should consider a technical degree?
As a pioneer in technical education, Dunwoody College of Technology, has identified five of the key traits often found in successful technical education students. If you share one or more of these traits, a technical degree might be the best path for you.
Trait #1: Curious
People who are curious about how things work — and how to make them work better — are often some of the most successful technical education students. In a world driven by information and technology, curiosity is a powerful trait.
Curious people ask a lot of questions and seek to understand. They are able to immerse themselves in a project. They approach things with an open mind and are not ashamed of saying, “I don’t know.”
Trait #2: Hands-On Learner
A hands-on learner is someone who learns best by doing. It’s someone who prefers labs to lectures. It’s someone who wants to put their learning into action every chance they get.
As a tactile learner you remember things better when some type of action or activity is involved. You prefer to touch, move, build, or design your way into understanding the principles you are learning.
Trait #3: Determined
Grit and perseverance are often keys to innovation. If you are someone who doesn’t give up, who is willing to take chances, and who works best with an end goal in mind, you might find success in technical education.
Trying — and failing — are part of the learning process, so people who can do that without becoming discouraged are ideal candidates for careers that involve a lot of trial and error.
Trait #4: Creative Problem-Solver
Creativity is often one of the more over-looked traits when it comes to technical education success. But the ability to find out-of-the box solutions to complex problems is a valuable asset in most technical fields.
Technical colleges also specialize in a number of design-based fields, including Architecture and Graphic Design, which require both technical proficiency and creative thinking.
Trait #5: Focused
Do you know what you want to do? Are you interested in a direct path to achieving your goal? People who answer yes to those are often great fits for technical education. Students at a technical college are laser-focused on their program and their degree and can find employment in their field even before they graduate.
One of the benefits of such a focus is that your professors and fellow students are passionate about the industry you’re preparing to launch a career in. They keep up with developments in the field and are a resource for each other.
Is a technical degree right for you?
Understanding what type of learner you are is a big step in deciding if technical education is the right fit for you.
- Are you a hands-on learner?
- Do you prefer labs to lectures?
- Do you enjoy figuring out how things work?
- Do you like the challenge of solving problems?
- Do you know what you want to do for a career?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a technical education might be a great fit.
Learn more about Dunwoody’s majors and programs, including certificate, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degree options.
RSVP for one of our monthly open houses or set up a personalized on-campus or virtual appointment with an Admissions Counselor today.
About Dunwoody College of Technology
Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is not only the pioneer in technical education, it is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest.
Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 individuals, Dunwoody is the college for those who are Born To Do.