Who are the Real College Fraudsters?

For-Profit Colleges, Fraud, and Non-Profit Colleges

Note: I have previous posted about how poorly colleges prepare graduates for the realities of getting a job and succeeding in a career  ("Colleges Admit Inadequate Career Preparation" December 29, 2021).

For-Profit College Fraud

During the Obama years, Corinthian Colleges and many other For-Profit Colleges were closed down for various misrepresentations, many of which centered on deceptive recruiting and false promises "about their job prospects and likely salaries, and about their eligibility for specific jobs."  Fraud is wrong.

Some Consequences

California's Attorney General led the way, winning a $1.1 Billion (default) decision.  Besides destroying many jobs (depending on various sources, about 16,000 teachers and staff), it plunged Corinthian Colleges into bankruptcy. 

Then in June 2015, the United States Department of Education made findings that entitled former Corinthian students to debt relief.  What was the total student loan forgiveness? Although different figures have been reported, initially in March 2015 "the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education announced that they were forgiving almost $500 million of these private student loans...."  Those forgiven loans represent half a billion dollars in evaporated assets.

Students' Degrees Derailed

It is unknown how many thousand students had their college career (and degrees) cut short by governmental action.  (Reported estimates at that time varied between 16,000 and 70,000.) Basically, they had to start over.  The government had no plan for those students -- even if satisfied with their education at Corinthian -- to recover from their "mistake" of attending these colleges.

Distraction from Traditional College's Failings

The further consequence is that while "for-profit" colleges were smeared as fraudulent, it distracted many from the failings of traditional non-profit colleges.  

• It distracted attention away from the serious non-graduation rates at many colleges (almost 40% don't finish a degree in SIX years!).  
• It distracted attention away from the student debt explosion (currently $1.6 Trillion) fueled primarily by attending traditional "non-profit" colleges and universities.

Are Non-Profit Colleges Honest?

Are non-profit public and private colleges "honest" about careers?  

Nearly ALL avoid making promises about job prospects. So they're not being "dishonest." Yet,  they provide poor career preparation.  (You have to give credit for those colleges that admit they're not very helpful.)  None are prosecuted for that omission, or failure.

Non-profit public and private colleges side-step any representation or promises of careers. They simply acknowledge that an accredited degree is "required" for many professional careers.  It may be "necessary" for some, yet not sufficient by itself for getting hired or for career success.  That's neither a guarantee; nor even an honest assessment of your likelihood of being hired.  Buyer beware.

Overselling College's "Value"

Is "over-selling" a college degree -- like a "guaranteed career" -- fraudulent?  Yes, it is.

Many colleges tout the "value of a College Degree" by citing "average" salaries; or "average unemployment" by education level, such as Northeastern University.  But within those average statistics, there are vast differences between jobs and industries.  The "Value Propaganda" never discloses the best and worst cases.

The San Francisco Federal Reserve's article is typical. Here is the kernel of their argument, quoted: 

"The average college graduate paying annual tuition of about $20,000 can recoup the costs of schooling by age 40. After that, the difference between earnings continues such that the average college graduate earns over $800,000 more than the average high school graduate by retirement age."  

Let's examine their statement.  

• The "average college graduate"?  What degree did they get?  Do you think all degrees pay equally well?  Are there are NO differences by institution, geography, gender, or race?
• ... annual tuition of about $20,000. What, no living expenses?  Add several thousand per year.
• ... can "recoup the costs" of schooling by age 40.  It doesn't say you're done paying the loans, but that you've only earned back the costs!  Wow, the plantation has moved upscale; now it's called a college loan!  And that's only for "average" tuition levels, not the highest.
• ... by retirement age  Which age do they mean?  Social Security's definition?  Why not state that age?

Ignored Assumptions

• Unstated assumption #1: They are silent about "under-employment" -- which is fairly common with many college grads. (See below)
• Unstated assumption #2: They are silent about full-time work vs. elective "breaks in employment" (e.g.: time out for children or family).
• They supposedly excluded people with more than a four-year degree.  That  excludes many "Professional" areas; thereby excluding higher educational costs (and potentially higher salaries) from throwing off the "recouping the costs."  If a student wants to pursue such a career, their statement doesn't cover it.

Let's examine their "limitations" and "weasel words" (buried further down the article).

• They assume the degree takes "four years."  Only about 45% of graduates manage that. The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard allows eight years to graduate!
• "... Annual tuition is the same all four years."  Really? Do you believe that?  Living expenses also vary widely.
• "A potential shortcoming of the results in Figure 1 is that they combine the earnings outcomes for all college graduates, regardless of when [what year] they earned a degree."  So it's less reliable for recent years.
• "We calculate the cost of college as four years of tuition plus the earnings missed from choosing not to enter the workforce."  No living expenses?  Incredible!
• "Of course, some of the variation in earnings between those with and without a college degree could reflect other differences."  Meaning:  a degree might NOT be causing the earnings difference!
  
• "Although some colleges cost more, there is no definitive evidence that they produce far superior results for all students (Dale and Krueger 2011)."  A blow to expensive colleges! 
• "Although other individual factors* might affect the net value of a college education, earning a degree clearly remains a good investment for most young people." (*Meaning: NOT related to a degree!)

I hope I've demonstrated that the S.F. Fed's article is riddled with misleading and unrealistic assumptions.  Nobody spending a few minutes of research (my links provided) could accept their "conclusion" as reliable, meaningful, or realistic. Buyer beware.

The bigger question is why The Fed is selling college as a "absolute good" with such flawed assumptions?  Obviously, the Fed sees the institution of college worthy of promoting by all means -- even intellectual dishonesty.  The Fed has created a blanket political endorsement.

A More Honest and Realistic Approach?

Most people don't typically earn a "generic" degree.  (Only 11.1% of graduates earn a "4-year" degree in "liberal arts and sciences," and many of those have minors or concentrations.)  Most college graduates specialize in a specific discipline, a major or minor, professional degrees, or a certificate track.  I like the idea of an investment's payback.  It's a basic Cost-Benefit analysis.  So why didn't The Fed's report focus on the degree areas with the best and worst paybacks?

Under-employed Graduates

Typically, colleges do NOT publicize "Under-employment" among their graduates.  The overall average Underemployment is 42.5% (Statista 2022).  Criminal Justice leads the pack (74.3%) followed by Performing Arts (67.6%), Ag (60.3) and Leisure and Hospitality (59.8% -- obviously due to Covid-19 shutdowns).  Predictably, the lowest under-employment is in nursing (12.1%) followed by various categories of Education and Engineering.

But under-employment doesn't just happen with Four-Year degrees.  The Atlantic's Exposé on underemployment in the country's top law schools is a great example.  Fraud-by-omission is wrong!

Colleges are not persecuted for dishing out "unemployable" degrees with dubious market value.  In that case, these colleges are given a "pass" since the students "chose" degrees that were "interesting" to them.  Currently, colleges are not required to represent the "job-market value" of degrees.  Buyer beware.

High School's Omissions

The "real fraud" is how college education is "sold" in public schools before students enroll in college. High schools routinely sell college as some sort of life goal, and a virtual "guarantee" for getting a great job and earnings.  They also use the selective "Value of a College Degree" examples (like the Fed's, above).  

They ignore underemployment, or automation job-loss. They are typically silent on college degree non-completion rates.  They downplay and ignore high-paying non-degree career alternatives.

High Schools are the pipeline for the colleges; and the colleges are "insulated" from any claims of fraud. Schools "sell sell college" to unsophisticated children who know neither (1) the true college costs, nor (2) the potential salaries, nor (3) the likelihood of benefiting from a degree.  Fraud-by-omission is wrong.

Conclusion

I didn't just demolish the Fed's Value of College "study" for fun. (Okay, it was fun; and way too easy.)  The most important point is ditching the "ANY-degree-is-okay" mentality.  College should be approached as a more targeted method toward viable Careers; PLUS obtaining skills with proven market value that are "transportable" to other well-paying career alternatives.

______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas.  Then determine if college is required.  

College is an expensive way to find out they:

          Didn't need the degree

          Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)

          Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)

          Hate the career resulting from the degree

          Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."

Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees!  Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.  

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   

Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers!  Stay tuned for the next post.

__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!  (Click on "About Me")

Colleges Admit Inadequate Career Preparation

 Imagine ...

You've spent tens of thousands of dollars on your college education over the last four years.  Then, in your "Senior Year" you visit your college's Career Center website to plan how to convert your degree into a career.  You're greeted by an article entitled: "Transitioning from College to the Workplace."(footnote 1, 2, 3)

To your shock, as you scan down the article, the second section catches your eye: 

"2. College Has Not Prepared You for Everything."

Wait a minute!  My high school said college was "the Key" for a great career.  

This little gem makes statements like the following:

Many recent college graduates are UNPREPARED for the emphasis placed on teamwork skills in the professional world, the importance of dealing with all different types of people, balancing work demands with personal life, and personal finance issues.

The Student thinks: "What happened to the "advantage" of a college degree?  They're not preparing me for those things?"

It gets worse.

All new hires are basically on equal standing. Focus less on why employers should be so impressed with your credentials and more on how you can use your talent and skills to make a contribution to the employer's bottom line or the department’s group effort.

The Student thinks: "You've never thought about a company's profit. Why are telling me instead of helping me?"

The next section is preparing you to "EXPECT LESS" from your degree and it's "advantages": 

"3. Finding Employment May Not be Easy"

The job market is cyclical and you may be entering the workplace at a time when it is very competitive. One job opening can get hundreds of resumes or applications. The harsh reality is that obtaining a job offer is a very time-consuming task—and it's even harder to obtain the ideal scenario of having multiple job offers.

The Student thinks: "I thought college degree would make things easier."

Section Four ("4. College Graduates Get Entry-Level Jobs") continues the "Expect Less" theme:

Another reality in the transition from collegiate life to working professional is that a large number of the jobs available for college graduates are ENTRY-LEVEL (Editorial Comment: In fact, almost ALL jobs are entry level -- you and I already knew that!). These jobs often require hard work, long hours, and low pay.

The Student thinks: "Okay, I knew I wasn't starting as the Big Boss ... but how "low" might the pay be?"

The next section tells you: "5. Be Prepared for Job Offers and Salary Negotiations."

You should be prepared to negotiate the salary and any compensation or benefit package. Have a clear sense of what you want before the offer arrives or negotiations begin.

The Student thinks: "That's great, but my Major Program NEVER taught me how to negotiate!  They never even mentioned anything about salaries of benefits."

Your increasing skeptical eyes wander down toward the end of the document: 

"8. Professionalism in the Workplace."

    In the workplace, acting unprofessionally can get you fired. Your employers and co-workers will judge evaluate you on your speech, attire, behavior, and motivation. It is up to you to show them that you are intelligent, articulate, and professional.  

    To succeed, you must be seen as a member of a team that can be relied on. Deadlines are critical, much more so than in college.

The Student thinks: "This merely confirms my suspicion that the college's standards and expectations have been poor preparation for a 'Real Career.'"

Of course, those of us who've been in the workforce aren't surprised by any of these revelations.  We might be surprised by the naivete of the college "graduate!"

Students: Now You Know the Gaps

Now you realize you made a huge investment without knowing the "gaps" in your college's Career Prep.  And although they could claim they "notified" you via their publications, you (like many students) didn't check these resources until late in your college career.

Some colleges do a better job at Career Preparation than others.  Many now offer Career "Assistance" such as informational interviewing and networking.  Some offer, host, or promote services like: Networking events, Job Shadowing, and Internships.  Many host Hiring Fairs.  Few offer current Industry salary, benefit, or contract information. Almost none truly "simulate" the Work World and its exacting standards and intense competition.

______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas.  Then determine if college is required.  

College is an expensive way to find out they:

          Didn't need the degree

          Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)

          Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)

          Hate the career resulting from the degree

          Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."

Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees!  Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.  

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   

Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers!  Stay tuned for the next post.

__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!

References

1. OSU Career Services, Oregon State University, accessed Dec. 20, 2021:

https://career.oregonstate.edu/sites/career.oregonstate.edu/files/transitioning_from_college_to_workplace.pdf

2. An (almost) identical version, accessed Dec. 20, 2021, is at: https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/content/dam/arts-sciences/geology/people-tab-assets/Transition%20from%20College%20to%20Workforce.pdf (Apparently some college copy the same information.)

3. A source attribution is listed with the above documents: "Acknowledgments: Job-seeker articles by Katharine Hansen and Randall Hansen of Quintessential Careers helped provide content for this write-up. Recruitment and career articles by Calvin Bruce (THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine) also helped outline this material."

Ditch the “Right-College” Obsession

Does the "right college" matter?

How does your college-bound child know if they're choosing the right college? What research have they shown you? Of course, nobody can rationally choose the "right" program unless they are really sure about their major and career path.

If you're not paying anything, who cares? If you ARE paying some or most, YOU should care. So before you accept your child's choice of the "right" college, find out what career they're pursuing. What criteria or recommendations are they basing their choice?

Prestige or Tradition -- Your Idea?

Some parents may "push" the college they attended. Is that really smart? Times and cost were radically different than today. Is the college still good? After two decades, programs can change dramatically. There is often considerable turnover in professors and staffing. What was once world-class research can have funding discontinued.

Hey, if you are wealthy, go ahead. Maybe you'll want to make a big contribution, too.

Is your Kid's college choice about something ELSE?

• Are they just following their friends? That's a reason for you to pay their way??
• Are they attending a college to be away from your prying eyes? That will boost your cost.
• Are they "following" their romantic interest to their preferred college? Now there's a distraction.
• Are they attending a college near the beach (or other preferred locale)? What a life!
• Are they attending a "party" college? I hope studying doesn't interrupt their fun times.

What matters MORE than the "right college"

The right college does no good if your child chooses an “unemployable” major; or never earns a college degree (a significant percentage).   It won’t help if your college-bound child has inaccurate, unplanned, or extremely unrealistic views about a career.  Your child's success depends largely on their ability, aptitude, and effort. If they lack those, no amount of college will help them.  If they can't create real value, no degree will get them a job.

Forget about wasting your money to “bribe your child’s way” into the “perfect” college.  (You’ll avoid jail-time as well!)

A degree may be necessary for specific occupations and professions, such as engineering, law, medicine, counseling, or teaching.  Simply getting into the “best” university does not guarantee success. For many graduates, part-time jobs are common, even in the degree field.

______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas. Then determine if college is required.
College is an expensive way to find out they:
          Didn't need the degree
          Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)
          Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)
          Hate the career resulting from the degree
          Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."
Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees! Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   
Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers! Stay tuned for the next post.
__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!

Railroaded into college

Railroaded into college

Schools have railroaded your children. They have been brainwashed to believe that a college degree is the only way to have a good career (and financial security, by implication).  Maybe you believe that too. Then answer the following questions: Why don't schools measure (or care) if their graduates:

• Successfully attain a college degree?
• Successfully attain a career in their degree major?
• Are successful in a career?

The School-to-College Pipeline

High Schools are viewed as a "pipelines" to steer students to enroll in colleges straight out of graduation. Colleges and high schools have a symbiotic relationship. They both benefit by making it appear that a large percentage of high school graduates are interested in furthering their education. College counseling staff visit high school campuses to counsel, enroll and schedule the students.

High School counseling departments conduct college enrollment, assessment testing, or scholarship workshops during class time.  High school counselors are evaluated on the percentage of graduates who are enrolled to enter college (not graduate). Of course, that doesn’t mean the graduates will all actually show up at college, much less graduate. The school get credit for grads who start college (even if they don't finish).

Even Career and Occupational programs in high school are on the bandwagon. They use "Articulation Agreements" with Community Colleges to offer college credit for their program classes.

Schools aren’t on the hook for your child’s future success. But the school looks like they're doing a great job. Unfortunately, this push for college puts career education in the "back seat" in most high schools.

What you should NOT do: 
For the foreseeable future, schools are controlled by state educational bureaucracies. Curriculum standards are typically controlled by committees stacked with university professors. They are unduly influenced by state college and university systems, textbook publishing conglomerates, and college entrance testing services.

Don’t waste your time trying to “reform” your child's schools to do a better job with career exploration and career planning. With some fortunate exceptions, jobs will never be a top priority in K-12 schools.

There is no Benefit to College EXCEPT a High-Paying Career
Regardless of the propaganda, the high expense of College DEMANDS that it lead to a decent, well-paying career. Gone are the days of pursuing college for a "well-rounded" and "liberal" education. College is far too expensive. Besides, there are many ways to become well-rounded (whatever that means). Some people think colleges have even become too hostile to diverse opinion.

Schools have students (and parents) only thinking about getting to college. They just want students to enroll -- how they use it (or not) is their problem. Finishing and getting a degree is the student's problem, not theirs. They don't worry whether the student is unlikely to get a degree. But even a degree doesn't provide an automatic career. There are many factors
that kill a college grad's chances of being hired.

Since schools don't care, YOU need to assess IF your kid can finish a degree.

______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas. Then determine if college is required.
College is an expensive way to find out they:

• Didn't need the degree
• Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)
• Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)
• Hate the career resulting from the degree
• Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."

Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees! Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   
Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers!
Stay tuned for the next post.
Visit my companion website, Outsmart College (https://sites.google.com/view/outsmart-college/)
__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!

FAFSA and Parental College Contribution

Parents: How well do you know College Finance?

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a "universal" Federal Government ANNUAL application required for students to get almost any financial aid for college.  It doesn't just cover government grants or scholarships.  It is usually required for any campus "work-study" programs or on-campus jobs.

Parents, please note: You are NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to submit information, regardless of "suggestions" by your child's high school counselors.  In my 34 years of teaching, did I ever hear parents assume they were legally required?  Oh, yes, many times.  When cornered, counselors carefully covered their tracks by saying the information is required for student's financial aid.  But at Parent FAFSA "Workshops," the implication and presumption is you'll do whatever they say is necessary for your child's college, of course.

Critiques of FAFSA

Many experts have criticized the FAFSA form and process as cumbersome, lengthy, and time-consuming.  Even the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers have criticized FAFSA, which does not consider fluctuations of family finances, or parental willingness to contribute.  It also discounts any Housing- and Food-Insecurity of college students. (see Miscalculating Need: How the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Misses the Mark)   

The FAFSA Process

The FAFSA process is exhaustive.  The student fills out their information, either online or by form.  You, the parent, divulge all of your private financial information. The application is the Student's -- not yours.  You don't "control" it, nor is it "private."  Your child will see all submitted parental financial information. 

The FAFSA forms are submitted (along with copies of the Parent's most recent IRS 1040s).  After processing, the student receives the Student Aid Report (SAR) which lists all information from the application; and indicates whether the application is complete. If complete, the SAR notifies the student of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC; for parental financial information, see section below).  Presumably, that's when Junior asks you to pony up that check.

Who is Considered a "Parent"
Which parent is "expected" to file confidential financial information?
1. If Parents are currently married: The parent's combined household finances are reported.
2. If Parents are Divorced: Only one parent is considered a parent for FAFSA purposes.

• If the parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, and don't live together, the student fills out the FAFSA based on the custodial parent (the parent who has the child more than 50% of the time).
• If the student lives with both parents equally, the FAFSA is based on the parent who gave more financial support in the previous year.
• If the custodial parent remarries, the income of the step-parent must be reported.
• Alimony is considered taxable income ONLY if the custodial parent is receiving it. (The non-custodial parent doesn't get a "break" for paying it!)

Some students are "coached" to live with the parent who earns less, in the case of divorced, separated, or unmarried parents.  If the student's custodial parent makes less money, the EFC will be lower and the financial aid package could be higher!

Divorce Privacy Concern:
Your child will see all submitted parental financial information.  They are in a position to disclose everything to your Ex-spouse.  It doesn't mean they will, but they could; especially if the Ex regularly "pumps" the child for information about you and your personal business.

Have I heard from parents not willing to leak their finances to their Exs?  Yes, I have.  Reasons have included: general privacy concerns; Ex-spouse abuse and manipulation; and not wanting to trigger increases in support.

EFC: Expected Family Contribution
Expected Family Contribution is a number that determines students’ eligibility for certain types of federal student aid.  The parent is NOT required to pay that amount.  It's simply the government's opinion of your parental ability to pay.  The Parent always remains in control of how much they feel they are able to pay, and under what "terms and conditions."  The important thing the parent loses is PRIVACY.

The Parent's Financial Information

What information must the parent provide for the Application?  The parent submits information on all financial assets.  

First and foremost is Taxable and Untaxed Income.  This is where your cash "contribution" toward college would come from, right?

Wrong!  

FAFSA also wants parents to contribute from their ASSETS, even if not in the form of cash!  

Let's take a look at the form for Parent Net Worth, line by line:
16. Cash, savings, and checking (they want your CASH, of course!)
17. Net worth of investments (Retirement, etc. Does NOT include your primary residence, luckily)
18. Net worth of business and/or investment farm (starts at 40% of net worth of business/farm up to $130k, and increases from there. Do they want you to liquidate part of your business?)
19. Adjustment of net worth of business/farm (they expect you to pay more as your business net worth increases)
20. Net worth (sum of lines)
21. Education savings and asset protection allowance (a small deduction. The Allowance varies by age of older parent. At age 45: $11,100 (2 parents); $5,800 (1). At age 65 +: $18,900 (2); or $9,500 (1).)
22. Discretionary net worth (Discretionary?  Not really -- they expect you to give it to a college!)

Luckily, FAFSA does consider the number of dependents currently in college during the application school year.  It excludes younger children that might also need your contribution soon. But it also excludes you, the parent, who may also have educational needs!

Are the disclosures invasive?  You bet, and they continue EVERY year until the student turns 24, or are otherwise considered "Independent."  (Independent means the student is: homeless, emancipated, married, a Military Veteran, a graduate student, etc.)

_____________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas. Then determine if college is required.
College is an expensive way to find out they:

• Didn't need the degree
• Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)
• Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)
• Hate the career resulting from the degree
• Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."

Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees! Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   
Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers!
Stay tuned for the next post.
Visit my companion website, Outsmart College (https://sites.google.com/view/outsmart-college/)
__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!

Degree Completion Risk Factors

Many college students drop out and never finish any degree.  Shockingly, around 50-60% don't earn the "proverbial four-year college degree" within six years (depending on the college and year reported).  See https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=40

They may not obtain a degree, but they often have spent tens of thousands of dollars, or are saddled with lots of debt.  Their parents often have less retirement money, and end up paying for a co-signed student loan.

Before you "promise" to pay for college, are you being honest and realistic about your child's potential to actually attain a degree?

Where Degree Completion is More Likely
What factors increase the likelihood of attaining a degree? Every student is different.  They mature at different rates, despite the way school grade levels promote in lock-step.  But what factors influence degree success?

• 3.5 GPA or higher in high school
• High AP grades; passed AP tests (3s, 4s, or 5s)
• High SAT or ACT scores
• Self-motivated student
• Goal-oriented student
• Designs their own research
• Definite, Specific, & Early choice of career and supporting major

Where Degree Completion is Less Likely
Your child's high school preparation creates a critical foundation for the academic rigors of college.  Most of the list is pretty obvious.

In High School, does your child exhibit any of the following traits?

• Low GPA
• Requires intervention (credit recovery or summer school "retakes")
• Must be supervised and pushed by adults to work
• Doesn’t work well independently
• Doesn’t like to read or write; complains or avoids doing work
• Uses excuses & blame instead of taking responsibility
• Received Special Education (or ”504”) services

* Unfortunately for students with disabilities, only about 40% attain a 2-year degree; and about 33% are able to earn a 4-year degree.  See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6676894/

During College:

In addition to the risk factors developing before college, students can go off the rails, or quit in college.

• Can't handle the demands of college academics (inadequate preparation)
• Indecisive (or switching) about majors (unclear career goals?)
• Financial problems
• Spends excessive time in non-academic activities

Seriously, Parents
Do you want to spend thousands on your child's college ... and have them not finish? And have them with no career plans? If you're independently wealthy and like to throw money around, be my guest. Otherwise, you need to carefully weight the odds of your child's college success. You will want to set conditions on your financial help towards college.
______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas. Then determine if college is required.
College is an expensive way to find out they:
          Didn't need the degree
          Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)
          Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)
          Hate the career resulting from the degree
          Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."
Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees! Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   
Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers! Stay tuned for the next post.
__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!

Career Awareness Mistakes

My College and Career Decisions -- Mistakes (and Good Breaks)
I grew up in a household of teachers. Other than chores around the house and yard, I never held a job until I was 18. It’s not something I regard with pride, but with regret. As well-meaning as they thought they were, my career awareness was stunted. I lived in an environment where academics alone was valued. Work, jobs, careers, and making a living was not. I wasn’t taught any good things about money, except that it was too scarce, and lots of “crooks” were out to rip you off. Businesses were all crooked.

I didn’t get an allowance, but was sometimes paid 50 cents for mowing front and back lawns with push-mower and hand edger. My dad actually forbade us kids from working during school years. His reasoning was that our “job” was doing well in school. Although that seemed reasonable, I graduated with no practical idea of any career interests or skills. I now realize this was a big mistake, and I lacked any positive guidance at school to counteract that situation. 

Starting Work

In the summer after graduating, I networked through friends to get two outdoor jobs (in 100-degree Fresno heat!): 

1. Selling flowers on a street corner (I was paid for sales only, and lasted a couple of weeks).
2. Digging ditches for home sewer hookups. (I lasted a couple of weeks, and earned one paycheck).

I rode a bicycle in the heat to both job locations. I wasn’t good at either job. Then I went on a family camping and sailing trip before college started, because I didn’t care that much about work. I didn't learn much about work since the jobs were so short-term.

I started Fresno City College (registering late, just before the start of classes) with no clear idea about a job. I had a vague idea about becoming a “Ralph Nader-style” activist. The FCC college counselor (the ONLY one I ever saw, once) suggested a Sociology major. I pursued those studies completely ignorant of any jobs, salary ranges, or work requirements. (Nader, I found later, was actually an attorney).

Luckily, a church friend asked if I wanted a job as a movie usher where she worked (within walking distance). (Note that I wasn’t looking, asking, networking, or even comparing the pluses and minuses of jobs.) Although my relationship with the boss was good, I really didn't learn too much except how to clean bathrooms and pop popcorn (not on the same shift!).

While at FCC, the Placement Office Manager asked me (as I walked past her door) if I wanted work. (Note that I had not been pursuing a job at that point.)  I got a job at the Yosemite National Park concession as a weekend ski lift operator (even though I never skied). This and the subsequent seasonal jobs with the concessionaire over the next two years were great. My food and housing were included at low cost, and my paycheck was “net” of living expenses. I learned how to get to work on time and take care of myself. I learned how to work into a position of trust, so that my boss could leave and know I’d make the sales, do the night deposits, and keep his books.

Remember the "Activist" career aspiration?
Back in Fresno, out of good sense or luck, I volunteered to work with a “community organizer.” (I was “job shadowing” without really knowing it.)  He was paid a meager salary from a consortium of churches and community groups. I learned a little bit about Community Organizing form “George,” but I also learned that it was a lousy-paying career.  It offered no job security (the first time I ever considered that). I learned the contributing nonprofits had limited resources. Activists also tend to rub community leaders the wrong way.

While working seasonal jobs in Yosemite, I transferred to Fresno State (C.S.U., Fresno). I realized the Sociology major and community activism would not pay little with a four-year degree, so I switched my major to Public Administration and Urban Planning. 

I was beginning to realize that the government sector rarely produced anything of value. I could have done research in high school and saved lots of time.  On a positive note, I started to select courses that would qualify me to work in the public OR private sector. I took finance and Real Estate courses (later helped in Title Insurance; and Real Estate Brokerage and Development).  I took Accounting (later taught it), and took a minor in Economics (later taught it).

In my senior year, I did a required internship in the Planning Department of the City of Fresno. I was sloppy with my calculations, and learned that mistakes had more serious ramifications than a lower grade. But I now realized I didn’t want to work in city government. I could have figured that out earlier, because another church friend worked there and could have "clued me in" if I asked!

I still wasn’t too bright. The City job’s funding was running out at the end of the month (June 30) and I still wasn’t looking for work. A friend on the city bus mentioned that a Title company down the street was hiring for a trainee class. I hadn’t researched it, but it was a good match with my studies. I started the next week. I quickly learned that a mistake didn’t mean a lower grade. I had to stay until I figured out what was wrong, why I got it wrong, and how to do it right. My boss “Ernie” was the first manager to mentor me and offer advice. I started to take advice, ask questions and listen, and work hard. He encouraged me to join the company’s Toastmasters™ Group.

From that job, I branched out into Real Estate and Development for a few years. Later, I branched out again into Corporate Training, and eventually into Business and Career Education. But that’s another story!

Reflection
What I did Right I did a little networking, job shadowing and internship. I did look for work, although not systematically or consistently. 

What I did Wrong

My fundamental error, like many people, was not researching specific jobs or careers. I got lots of guidance about school, but almost none about work. I studied many school subjects (with dubious value), yet I never studied the "end game" of work. 

I treated my first jobs as a source of money, but not as a source of job knowledge. I could have asked questions and shown more interest in the structure of work and systems, but considered such after-hours discussion as “unpaid small talk” and “B.S.-ing.”

What Color was My Ignorance?
You might not believe this, but my youth minister even got his famous seminary-friend Richard Nelson Bolles (What Color is Your Parachute?) to give a talk to our little Youth Group in Fresno!  Yet I didn’t apply his lessons.  If I had been open to the value of work, I might have more eagerly used those lessons. Values are critical, because if a young person lacks appreciation of career, work, and contribution, those important lessons don’t sink in.

If I had absorbed the importance of career research and development, I would have wasted less time. True, this was the 1970s, and popular youth culture leaned away from money and careers as “materialism.” But if I had been working and paying bills, I might have realized the necessity of having money and resources (not just hoping they’d float in from somewhere or somebody else).

The “Free” College of My Past

My college was virtually tuition-free.  F.C.C. had minimal registration fees. Fresno State charged about $99 per semester for a full load!  I lived at home, so my living expenses were minimal. My bachelor's degree also cost me four years of time. My degree still limited my career options. 

Today’s college is NOT a low-cost option for a career-ignorant high school Grad.

______________________

Call to Action

First, your child needs to have realistic career ideas. Then determine if college is required.
College is an expensive way to find out they:
          Didn't need the degree
          Couldn't finish the degree (with lots of debt; or less retirement for you -- or both)
          Can't find a job in their major (wasted degree?)
          Hate the career resulting from the degree
          Can't succeed because they lack skills or aptitudes not teachable by "classes."
Each of the above "stages" has probabilities, not guarantees! Many high school graduates fail in one of those five critical areas.

Do you want to gamble years of paying their college tuition for a poor career bet?   
Outsmart College and the Contribution Project will provide the answers! Stay tuned for the next post.
__________

If you are interested in REAL career prep for your child, contact me NOW!