Helping Your Senior Select a Post-secondary Option

Jan 20

A worrier by nature, I agonized over choices of babysitters, daycares, and schools for my children well before they entered the world or the corresponding grade. These are big decisions, and the selection criteria change with each developmental stage and school level.

Of course, the educational choice game — not game — became more complicated in 2020. Starting with the oldest kid category today, here are twelve questions to consider when helping your high school senior figure out his or her next steps. Let’s remember that the options are varied, as they should be.

1) Do your child’s career goals seem consistent with his or her high school performance?

During my school counseling career, I spoke with many kids about their future goals and career dreams. Unfortunately, some students were unrealistic when setting their sights on a career. There was a period a decade or so ago when it seemed lots of students wanted to be “sports doctors” or marine biologists. Both admirable careers, they require a rigorous collection of science courses, and sometimes these aspiring young people weren’t feelin’ the science subjects.

Before you picture a stereotypical counselor from an 80’s or 90’s teen movie — the ones who crush the hopes and hearts of America’s precious youth without the slightest reservation or a smidge of warmth — let me assure you, that was not me or any of the professionals I’ve been blessed to work with.

I do, however, believe that failing to speak truth to students (and, their parents) about the academic demands and expectations relative to a student’s innate ability, observed motivation, and past performance is unfair and unkind.

Likewise, I think suggesting that every graduate should immediately head to a traditional college or university is short-sided and misguided.

2) Would a career college, technical school, or trade school make sense for your student?

In recent years, there has been considerable attention placed on skilled trades and technical careers. These jobs are in high demand, and many pay well. Students choosing this route are through school faster, on the job building seniority sooner, moving forward in their careers earlier, and paying off school debt before their college-educated peers. In addition, there are often opportunities for high school graduates to participate in apprenticeship-type programs, completing their training while already employed by industry or employers in the field.

Here’s a sampling of high-paying and high-demand jobs in skilled trades:

Dental Hygienist
Respiratory Therapist
Welder
HVAC Technician
Licensed Practical Nurse
Home Inspector
Landscape Designer
Legal Assistant
Crane Operator
Skin Care Specialist

The John Holland Self-Directed Search is an assessment tool frequently used in high schools to help students identify careers or a career path that is consistent with their overall interests and skills. If you child has not taken it through their school, you may consider having him or her complete it. Here are two links to the SDS:

The price for taking the test with these two is $9.95 and $15, respectively.

I suggest not researching the test prior to completing it; I think that going in cold for an assessment like this prevents bias when answering or attempting to manipulate the test for a certain result.

3) What institutional scholarships are available to your student?

Colleges and universities generally have an assortment of scholarships that are available to students based solely on their ACT (or SAT) scores and grade point average (GPA). Your student may be eligible for one or more of these.

Your student may be offered a scholarship for participation in an activity or a sports team at the college he or she is considering. Balance those awards with the overall cost of the school in order to determine how it compares with regard to price. A great scholarship for attendance at the small, private school may not be that valuable if the tuition there far exceeds the yearly cost at a public, state school.

4) What supports are available to your student if he or she needs academic assistance?

Hopefully, your child has been academically challenged along the way. Those who have learned to study likely have a leg up on their peers who may never have had to prior to entering college. However, if your student needs tutoring with those difficult subjects that will inevitably be part of his or her schedule, you want to know there is a place where help is available. Ask about these resources when you visit.

5) What is the reputation of the school? What are the employment rates?

While it’s important to research the quality of all the schools being considered, this is more important when your teen is considering a career, technical, or trade school. Graduates from these programs expect to go quickly into their field of study, having completed specialized training. Research the employment rates and wage rates for the school’s graduates. Ask industry professionals which schools they like. It is better to spend a bit more on the superior program if it will garner your son or daughter a better wage within a better company.

6) Is the cost of the college or university reasonable in comparison with expected earnings?

College debt can be a real burden. If your student is seeking a medical career, that debt may not be such an overwhelming prospect. If the anticipated degree is in social work or education, it makes sense to settle at an institution that is not terribly expensive. High paying jobs can handle huge college debt; paying off debt with modest income is more challenging.

I have not read A Starter Guide to College for Clueless Students & Parents, but several reviews comment on the book as an excellent research in terms of finding the best buy and finding financial resources for school.

It might be worth checking out.

7) Will transfer credits earned during high school be accepted?

Many high school graduates have earned college credit while still in high school; sometimes up to a full year of college credit. Hopefully, students have investigated the transfer potential of classes taken through dual enrollment or other college credit programs beforehand. If not, you certainly want to delve into that before making a college decision.

In my home state of Missouri, high school graduates who have attended an A+ Accredited high school can attend a community college or trade school for two years, tuition paid. This is a fabulous option for students in the “Show-Me State.” Certain eligibility requirements apply. If your student takes advantage of this option, speak to transfer coordinators to ensure no class is wasted when he or she moves on to another institution.

8) Is a Gap Year an appropriate option for your son or daughter?

The traditional thought is that if a student does not start college right after high school, he or she may never go. Or, if a student were to take a year off, that student may never get back at it. I think that concern is exaggerated. Today’s kids are not in the hurry that older generations were. Heck, many kids are perfectly content to wait on getting a driver’s license. They aren’t racing to the next step. And, sometimes taking that year off is actually the wise thing to do.

That may never have been truer than it is now. The freshman experience for most 2020 graduates has been very anti-climactic. With most institutions providing only online classes right now, students often don’t need (nor can they warrant the cost of) leaving home. They can attend college right from their laptop at home. It is certainly not the way I would have wanted to start college.

Students electing to sit out this year and do some other worthy activity may have found that to be much more rewarding. Volunteering locally or on a national level, scoring a shadowing experience at a local business or two, participating in a mission trip, or traveling (if that is an option) can provide meaningful experiences.

The Gap Year Association is an organization designed specifically for helping students get the most our of a gap year.

COVID aside, consider whether your student might benefit from a year off before starting college simply due to maturity. Some students just aren’t ready to tackle school at a higher level, and they need a bit of time to prepare and to really grasp the importance of doing it well. Additionally, taking classes online requires more discipline; some students aren’t ready for that. If your student needs a bit of time to mentally mature before starting school, that is far better than sending him or her to waste a year failing or doing poorly before figuring out it’s time to get serious.

9) What distinguishes one candidate school from another?

Your child may not have settled on a major when starting college, but he or she does likely has potential courses of study in mind or a set of interests. Find out what “special” opportunities or programs are available at those schools being considered.

One school in my state has its own elementary school on campus. Students studying education have a built-in facility at which to learn and study while going through the program. Another has an extensive equine sports program. Of course, they offer lots of degree programs, but this is a perfect option for students that can’t bear leaving their horse behind. By the way, that school also has a nationally-recognized American Sign Language program. Identifying the unique aspects of the school options is fun, and it is best done by taking a visit.

This gets into Question #10.

10) How do you feel about the school after visiting?

Try to visit at least three or four different school options. Unless your child is absolutely set on a large university, visit a smaller school, too. If a trade or technical school is not completely off the table, and, if the desired course of study is available, check out one of them. It’s like trying on a wedding dress. Sometimes, you think you know exactly what you want until you see it on your body. Likewise, being on a campus can provide a whole new prospective or vision for your child. Perhaps, your family has been on a few campuses for sporting events or other reasons. That’s great, but tour some you haven’t seen as well.

When planning to visit, keep these things in mind:

Call ahead, of course, so that your child will have the option to speak with key people. Outside of an admissions representative, your family may want to speak with someone from a particular academic department? A coach or music director? An individual who can discuss Greek life on campus? These may not always be available, but you can certainly ask when arranging a visit.
Allow plenty of time, so you are open to explore further if the need and opportunity presents itself.
Come prepared with a set of items that you want to see or investigate. Use that same rubric for all your visits, and this will certainly help in your decision making. Whether you child applies before visiting several schools or decides to wait until narrowing the field, these evaluations, along with information about anticipated costs and degree options, will help your family find the best fit for your senior.

Download these scoring sheets

So, before you hit the road, download these scoring sheets to help you during your visit. There is one for community and four-year colleges, one for technical and trade schools. Each has twenty questions to consider during a visit, and they are in no particular order.

Make a weekend or spring getaway of it. Visiting a few together or within a week may make your comparisons a little easier. And, note that I left a little room for the specific questions you and your child might have. Maybe, you want to know if they have a bass fishing team? Or, maybe you need to make sure the school colors are ones you can live with for four years? Is there a playhouse in town? Add those extra special questions at the end.

Happy hunting to you and your student!

Hally