I love the idea of everyone doing what they love. Why then don’t I advise my clients to pursue passion in all absence of the reality that living life costs $$? Answer: Math.
FACT ONE: Average cost of four years at a public university: $71,188
FACT TWO: Average cost of four years at a private university: $184,056
FACT THREE: Four-year graduation at public institutions: 33.3%
FACT FOUR: Four-year graduation at private institutions: 52.8%
Source: The National Center for Education Statistics
Since college is a significant investment even for the minority of students who graduate in four years, I believe that the main reason to earn a degree is to create fulfilling (personal & financial) career opportunities that translate into the ability to get off the parental payroll.
Since most people spend more time at work than anywhere else, I help my clients identify and explore meaningful degrees and careers to pursue so that they don’t wait until a mid-life crisis to really think about what they want to do! Earning a college degree and finding a career that is fulfilling are too important to do in the absence of forethought and planning.
A way to ensure that one is on the right career path is to learn about the connections between personality and career fit. A good start is understanding Myers Briggs personality types (click HERE to take the free test) and by clicking here to take a free Holland Code Career Test.
To truly understand the real-world implications of personality and career data, investing time and energy into basic career analyses is a worthy use of time and resources. Hint: consider education required, salary, career outlook, and informal shadowing opportunities.
If students are interested in a more comprehensive and strategic college and career exploration process, they should work with a professional who has both the expertise and access to tools and instruments only available to counselors. While I prefer the research supported evidence-based GS120™ to help my clients understand how their abilities, interests, values, and personality intersect to find the best career matches, it is not the cheapest option. That said, I believe so much in the effectiveness of the GS120™ that it is included in most of my comprehensive college counseling packages.
Ultimately, high school students do not need to define exactly what they want to do, but having a a general sense of direction will prevent them wasting expensive time in college and help them hit the ground running so that they help improve, not worsen, four-year graduation rates!
For more information on why and how to explore degree and career options while in high school, feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.
0 Comments