The Dockter's Visit

The Dockter's Visit
By Leah Dockter

With college costing as much as it does these days, parents and students are caught in a dilemma.  Education is expensive, but ignorance is more expensive. Sixty-five percent of the jobs in North Dakota require additional training beyond high school.  The good news is there are various funding sources available.
First apply for federal grants (money that doesn’t have to be paid back) by completing the FAFSA. This can be done by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov.  All the information is confidential and will only be seen by the schools you authorize;  next check with Job Service North Dakota.  They have programs which can pay for tools, tuition, and/or books for people going into technical education (welding, electrician, pharmacy technician, etc.).  If you have a handicap of some type, check with North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation.  They, too, have various ways of helping fund an education.  Apprenticeships and on-the-job training are also options.  Still another avenue is to go to Job Corps.  Job Corps provides career training (as well as GED training for those who dropped out), room and board, and a stipend for getting that first apartment, etc. when the individual finishes training.  North Dakota has a site in Minot, but Job Service can provide information about all the different locations available to ND students.
There are several summer academies students can attend.  These give students a chance to “try out” a career without spending money for tuition!  Applications are available at school.  Register soon because most have limited enrollment.  They are as follows:
Auto Collision Academy (1 credit)-May 27-June 26 Bismarck CTE Center
Culinary Arts Academy (1/2 credit) May 31-June 12  Bismarck CTE Center
Electronics Academy (1/4 credit) May 31-June 6  Bismarck CTE Center
Firefighting Academy (1/4-1/2 credit) Medina Fire Trng Center
HVAC/Plumbing Academy (1/4 credit) June 22-25  Bismarck CTE Center
Mission Physician  5 different weeks throughout the summer  Altru Hospital Grand Forks
If you have questions, feel free to call me.  If I don’t know, I probably know someone who does!