That’s why I said “say ‘High School gradudate,’” not “say 'Graduate of XYZ High School.” Those two statements are not equivalent; for a GED holder one is true and the other is not.
I had always assumed most people got a GED (now days) because it was necessary in order to continue on to college. Anyone know how many get it as an end in itself, Vs as a college entrance requirement?
I know a girl who got it mostly just to get the degree. I think she will go on to college eventually, though I am not quite sure that she is college material. But she is not in college right now and she has had a GED for at least half a year.
The only one I can think of off-hand is Gretchen Wilson, who decided that if she was running a music mini-empire she should get her crap together and made it official she finished at least that much education, then got the rest of her roadies and such who lacked one or a high school diploma to get together with her and study for the test. I think there was a also another motivation - she apparently keeps telling her kid(s) education is important, yet she hadn’t finished high school, so she decided to set an example for them. She doesn’t really need it, as she has made her pile in country music, is still popular, and seems to be somewhat smart about what she does and doesn’t buy, so I guess she’d be an example.
Everyone else I know of who got one did it either as a stepping stone to college or because they couldn’t find a job without it.
I have a friend who went and got his GED because he needed one to work at the sheriff office. He had no desire to go to college.