From dual enrollment and community college to internships and flexible degree programs, Central Florida students have more than one way to turn education into their future careers.

The path from high school to a career used to seem straightforward. You graduate from high school, attend a four-year university, earn a degree and enter the workforce. And for many students, this remains the case. But some of today’s Central Florida students are taking a different approach, building their education around their individual goals, circumstances and career interests.

For some students, the college experience starts while they are still enrolled in high school. With dual enrollment, students can take college courses and earn credits before graduating. Depending on the student’s goals and program, these credits can help reduce the number of courses needed later on and potentially shorten the time and cost of earning a degree.

“We offer multiple entry points for students depending on their goals,” says Lorie Coachman, associate vice president, admissions and enrollment services at Seminole State College. “For our dual enrollment, it gives the high school students a chance to earn college credit.”

A four-year university sometimes isn’t a starting point for a four-year degree. That’s where community and state colleges provide another entry point, allowing students to complete coursework or an associate degree before transferring to a university.

“We welcome a significant number of transfer students who begin their education at another institution, often a community or state college, before completing their bachelor’s degree,” says Valerie Mandel, executive director of Rollins College Center for Career and Life Planning. “While the traditional four-year experience remains strong, there is much more flexibility today in how students reach their educational and career aspirations.”

Some students arrive on campus with a career set in mind, while others are still figuring out what they want to pursue. This uncertainty is a common part of the college experience, with some students choosing to remain undecided, change their major multiple times or realize college is something they’d like to attend at a later time.

“One of the most important things I tell students is that it is OK not to have everything figured out before starting college,” Mandel says. “Many students feel pressure to choose a major or career path immediately, but college is designed to help them explore their interests, strengths and goals while gaining valuable experiences along the way.”

Jeffery T. Gates, senior vice president of enrollment and marketing at Stetson University, offers similar advice to students who are still considering their options. “The student doesn’t need to know what they want to be in five or 10 years,” Gates says. “It’s best to have an idea of what interests you.”

For those students who are unsure about a particular career, getting a glimpse of the day-to-day reality can be just as valuable as choosing a degree program.

“My advice is to go find out what a day in a given career looks like,” says Dave Franko, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs at Full Sail University. “Shadow someone, take an intro course online or talk to a working professional in a career you are interested in to better match your field with the right university program.”

The University of Central Florida also makes career development part of the college experience from the beginning. “When students understand how their coursework, campus involvement and work experiences connect to their future goals, they can make purposeful choices about their education,” says Chanda Torres, assistant vice president of UCF’s Dixon Career Development Center.

Not every student is able to follow a traditional college schedule. Some might be full-time or part-time workers, while others are raising families, changing careers or returning to school after time away. This adaptability has increased the importance of flexible programs, including online and hybrid options, for students with busy schedules.

“Our online courses use the same project-based curriculum and are taught by the same industry-experienced faculty as our campus programs, but they blend real-time collaboration with the flexibility to study on your own schedule,” Franko says. “This combination matters for a parent working a job during the day, or someone who needs to complete coursework at 10 p.m. after the kids are asleep. It’s a meaningful option for anyone who assumed going back to school meant putting the rest of their life on hold.”

This flexibility extends beyond the location where students take their courses. Options like career-focused programs, specialized degrees and technical certifications can give students alternative ways to build skills without having to follow the traditional sequence of general education courses followed by a major.

“To bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world success, we offer targeted programs designed to align with students’ future careers,” says Sherisia Darby-Owens, campus director at Hajgden International College. “From hands-on technical certifications and career-focused diplomas such as Clinical Medical Assistant, Hemodialysis Technician and Practical Nursing to advanced degree pathways for continuous upskilling, these options equip students with the practical skills employers look for.”

Internships have always been a popular choice to test what students have learned and put it to work in a professional environment while developing workplace skills and making connections. Career-focused programs can also incorporate projects or other hands-on experiences that reflect the work students will encounter in their chosen career path.

At Stetson, those experiences are part of the connection between classroom learning and professional preparation. “We like to say there’s no gap between theory and practice, and our students are ready for it when they graduate,” Gates says. “Some majors also require students to complete two internships. These experiences allow our students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it in these internships or research experiences.”

At UCF, students can also gain professional experience while continuing their studies. “One distinctive option is the UCF–Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program, which gives undergraduate and graduate students paid professional experience related to their academic and career goals while they continue their studies,” Torres says.

The many options available today can make the college decision more complicated, but they also make it possible for students to find a path that fits their goals and circumstances.

“There isn’t just one pathway to success,” says Coachman. “Students have more options than ever before, and we are committed to helping them find a path that fits their goals, their circumstances and their future. It’s important that people never be discouraged by what they’re known or seen for, but instead give themselves a chance to explore the possibility of what could be.”