GED deadline doesn't mean giving up future

How did you do on your New Year's resolution's last year? Don't be too discouraged, you'll have a chance to make them again in a couple of weeks.

If one of them was finishing your GED, however, you may be in for disappointment.

That's because you may have to start all over again after the first of the year.

Last May, the State of Nebraska sent out more than 7,200 letters informing students in the process of earning a General Educational Development certificate that the GED Testing Service will release a new series of tests next year, so current test results won't be valid.

GED certificates are earned by passing tests on reading, writing, social studies, science and math, and are accepted by employers and colleges.

The new series of GED tests, aligned with the controversial Common Core national standards, will be computer-based and will require more analytical skills. Reading and writing will be combined into a single literacy test that will include a new writing assignment.

Nationally, more than 800,000 adults took GED tests, including several thousand in Nebraska, which has a completion rate of 83 percent.

There still might be time to finish your GED, if you hurry. But don't be discouraged if the busy holiday season doesn't allow you the time.

Your GED certificate will still be worth it, even if you have to start over after the first of the year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who have less than a high school degree have a medium income of $471, and an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent. Add that high school sheepskin, and the median income climbs to $652 a week and unemployment drops to 8.3 percent.

But why stop there? Southwest Nebraska residents are blessed with community college campuses in McCook and Imperial as well as the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis and an unlimited number of online advanced educational opportunities.

And, Mid-Plains has announced a program to help erstwhile college students recover credit toward completion of a degree, as well as many opportunities for financial aid.

Some college, still short of a degree, will push weekly income up to $727 and unemployment down to 7.7 percent, a bachelor's degree translates to $1,066 and unemployment 4.5 percent, and a doctoral degree means a medium income of $1,624 a week and unemployment of 2.5 percent, according to 2012 figures.

So don't give up just because the rules have changed in the middle of the game. Keep your eyes on the goal and you'll be the winner in the end.