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?
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?
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?
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
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.
______________________
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.
__________
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment