+ PARENTS

Preparing Your Teens To Be Successful

THINK ABOUT THIS . . .

Only 25% of all Americans hold a Bachelor’s degree

25% of recent college graduates with Bachelor’s degrees are settling for jobs that do not require one

Only 20% of jobs require a Bachelor’s degree

The cost of college has increased 260% in the past 15 years

It takes the average college student 5 years to complete college

The average salary for a college graduate ranges between $25,000 and $30,000

So What Should You Do?

Develop a plan The plan should be based on your teen’s

interests Education should be seen as a means to

your teen’s goals

Where and When to Begin . . .

The most important thing you as a parent can do is to help your teen focus

78% of junior high school students and 48% of high school students want their parents to talk to them more about school

67% of teachers say that student success is produced by parents who stress education

Help your teen identify their interests and abilities

Help your teen acquire skills

Help your teen plan an appropriate, affordable post-secondary education

Help your teen take advantage of all post-secondary programs available in high school

Remember . . .

Let your teen choose their own career Students need to learn to fill out their own

forms when they begin the application process for post-secondary education

Make sure your teen writes their own application essays

Remember who is really applying to college

Be aware that your teen’s future goals do not reflect on you

Know that a college degree doesn’t always guarantee success

Take your teen to college and career fairs Visit post-secondary institutions with your

teen

Don’t forget . . .

Successful post-secondary education must match your teen’s career goals

College is only one of many post-secondary educational paths. Don’t overlook others: apprenticeships, community colleges, military, and technical colleges

College isn’t the goal, only a means to an end!

Before choosing a college, students need to know if their planned major is competitive or open at the college.

Both high school and college jobs are useful if they’re relevant to a student’s plans for the future.

Finally . . .

Encourage your teen to volunteer Encourage them to take advantage of ‘free’

education while they can by taking any skill classes, or bridging to community college while still in high school

Use the Internet to search for college and career information

To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?

-Katherine Graham