Well here’s a real alternative to heading for college: there’s a full-time free technical program right here that’s guaranteed to lead straight to a job. It’s called Year Up.

You have to be 18-24 and have a GED or a high school diploma. You have to attend an Open House on one of five dates this July, and you have to fill out an application. If accepted, here’s a list of what you’ll be learning:

• Desktop and Network Support
• Help Desk
• Hardware Repair
• Operating Systems
• Disk Formatting, Partitioning and Ghosting
• Peripherals
• Software Installation
• Viruses and Malware
• Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Networking and TCP/IP
• Investment Operations
• Customer Service
• Fund Accounting
• Business Writing Skills
• Time Management
• Career Networking
• Communicating Clearly and Effectively
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Working in Teams
• Presentation Skills
• Workplace Norms
• Introduction to Business
• Personal Finance

During the second six months of the program, students are placed in apprenticeships with local partner companies. A stipend is provided to all participants throughout the one-year, full-time educational program.

The website claims to have achieved excellent results to date:

• 100% placement of qualified students into apprenticeships
• 83% student retention
• 90% of apprentices meet or exceed partner expectations
• 87% of graduates placed in full or part-time positions
• $15/hr average wage at placement

Donations, volunteers, and corporate partners are what make it possible. It has been around for nearly ten years in several major cities including San Francisco. Give it some thought...