ABE Purpose and Program
The Purpose:
GED vs. High School Completion:
Three basic differences:
-
COD awards a Certificate of Secondary Education Completion, which is equal to any traditional high school diploma.
*Passing the GED Exam awards a High School 'Equivalency' Certificate issued by the State of California. -
The Certificate of Secondary Education Completion is earned by counting previously earned credits and successfully taking classes to earn credits that are lacking.
*The GED certificate is awarded by passing a five subject exam. -
A Certificate of Secondary Education issued from College of the Desert may be used for anything that a traditionally-awarded diploma may be used for.
*The GED can be used for almost the exact same things, excluding the following-
*Going directly into some branches of the military or directly to a university would, generally, not be possible with a GED. (Earning 15 community college units, along with the GED, would make a person eligible for the military.)
*Completing two years at a two-year institution, along with the GED, would qualify an individual to transfer to almost any university.
- personal feelings about either
- time (depending on skill level and/or amount of credits already earned)
- goals (military, university, promotion in job or to get a job, etc.)
- money (GED costs $money to take the test)
- skill level (materials for HSC are easier than GED material)
