The GED is also called the high school equivalency because it is the same as a high school diploma, the only real difference is you get it instead of a diploma and you don’t get to walk with your class. In this day and age their are alot of things that could force you to leave school early and getting your GED is one way to still get your credit for high school. Their are also a number of challenges these days that may make you feel like you have no other choice than to quit before graduation. The GED is a second chance for many.