Honesty
Be Honest About Attending College
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Could you take a look at some of the facts?
William Bennett, former United States Secretary of Education and author of Is College Worth It?, shares several eye-opening statistics worth considering before making a final college decision.
• The conventional wisdom that everyone should attend college is wrong and has hurt many students who are now wallowing in student-loan debt.
College should be encouraged for those who are financially, educationally, and mentally prepared.
• Although society has accepted the four-year degree as a one-size-fits-all approach, the labor market has demonstrated a need for positions requiring credentials like certificates, technical training, and associate degrees that are not being met.
Jeffrey Selingo, Editor at Large of the Chronicle of Higher Education, shares some similar insights in College (Un) Bound that are worth sharing. Jeffrey J. Selingo, College Unbound, 2013, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• The bachelor's degree, the symbol of success and ticket for the middle class for the post-World War II generations, has slowly become the new high school diploma
• While economists are confident that a college degree is worth more than just a high school diploma, there is less evidence that an expensive college degree is worth it than a cheap one.
The bottom line is that the risks and rewards of attending college will vary by college and the supply and demand of the labor market. Yet there will always be a demand for the services of college-educated graduates and those with lesser degrees and vocational training. As a result, families should understand that it is the first opportunity to make an educated decision that is not predetermined, as it was from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Do You Want to Attend College?
Most of my clients have some idea of which colleges and majors they want to pursue, yet all too often, I encounter other students who shrug their shoulders and display a puzzled look of confusion. Whatever the reason, it would be best to ease the confusion by empowering them to express their feelings by asking them to write an essay about what they hope to get from a college education. This is a fair question that will encourage a spirited discussion about how they feel and why it may be worthwhile to consider specific colleges and other options.
Their answers may or may not surprise you, but should include the ABC Criteria:
A stand for Achievements. Students should plan to leverage their credentials while researching which colleges offer a wide array of majors and comfortable environments that will lead to well-paying and satisfying careers. Without a goal, the student’s future will be less specific and more limiting, especially if they are saddled with student loan debt.
B is for a strong belief in oneself and conducting independent research beyond the standard college lists. The bottom line is that students must be empowered to present their choices to parents (contributors) and negotiate the best options.
C stands for Commitment. Whatever the decision, the student must work hard to succeed. This result will determine if a college education was worth it.
Just be honest and justify whether college or other choices will satisfy your pursuit of happiness.