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.

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