# GED vs HS Diploma

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ged-vs-hs-diploma/448580>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 8, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ged-vs-hs-diploma/448580 "2008-05-08T17:40:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ged-vs-hs-diploma/448580/21 "2008-05-09T19:32:34Z")

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[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey]  
Wow, that does seem really high. Like, really _really_ high. Like made up high.

I’d love to see whatever study that was cited from.  
[/QUOTE]

I found this from the American Council on Education website,

> [@](#):
>
> Based on analysis of data from the Digest of Education Statistics and GEDTS annual statistical reports, approximately 1 in 9 of the high school diplomas and certificates issued are GED credentials.

So it sounds like the 1 in 7 is off, but even 1 in 9 struck me as high.

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ged-vs-hs-diploma/448580/22 "2008-05-09T19:36:37Z")

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If someone is going directly to college and are not trying to get into a tough school, then it really doesn’t matter.

Personally I’d recommend for a kid that can actually get things done, that they should drop out at 16 get their GED, and spend their Junior and Senior year getting an Associates Degree from a Community College. That way their classes might actually give them some college credits.

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**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ged-vs-hs-diploma/448580/23 "2008-05-09T19:40:12Z")

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[QUOTE=mswas]  
If someone is going directly to college and are not trying to get into a tough school, then it really doesn’t matter.

Personally I’d recommend for a kid that can actually get things done, that they should drop out at 16 get their GED, and spend their Junior and Senior year getting an Associates Degree from a Community College. That way their classes might actually give them some college credits.  
[/QUOTE]

That’s the best reason I’ve heard yet to go for a GED. I can’t imagine that someone who was successful at that would have much trouble getting into a great university. Of course, considering they were well-rounded in other areas that the uni’s look at.

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