First-year students who haven’t declared a major yet still have time to explore new areas of study in their classes next fall (at most schools, the deadline for declaring a major is second semester of sophomore year). Encourage your student to focus on what they want to learn rather than what major sounds “good,” to compare degree plans, and to talk to recent graduates about how they felt about (and enjoyed) their majors. Your student should also take advantage of campus resources and speak regularly with an academic advisor and also a career counselor.
Stepping Away from College There are lots of reasons students decide to take a break from college: academic burnout, uncertainty about their goals and purpose, health or financial issues, and more. You can support your student by helping them navigate the steps necessary to take a leave of absence from their school. Next, you can be a sounding board as they explore options for their time away from the classroom. Work? Travel? Volunteer? Intern? Maybe a combination of part-time job or internship and community college classes would be a good balance. Perhaps they want to turn a hobby or passion into a business!
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Other Ways to Prepare for (or Dive Right into) a Career Your student may have decided that traditional college isn’t for them. The good news: Though a bachelor’s degree is always a solid investment, there are more ways than ever to be a learner and to build skillsets that make a person highly employable in today’s job market. Many community colleges offer associate degrees and certificate programs in technical and skilled trade fields; evening and online classes mean your student can hold down a job at the same time. Trade and technical schools provide instruction for a variety of skilled, in-demand careers most of which require two years or less of training. Make sure the school is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
For a less formal approach, your student can explore the many free and low-cost online classes and certifications available through platforms like EdX, Open Culture, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, MasterClass, Udacity and Codeacademy. And they can learn how to do almost anything for free by watching YouTube videos! The world is full of opportunities and they are all wide open to your student! Find information about alternatives to traditional college, advice for transfer students, dealing with academic probation or dismissal, gap years, online education and more by searching topics on CollegiateParent.com.
Apprenticeships are growing in popularity for good reason! They combine classroom instruction with hands-on training and are a great option for students ready to get straight into real-world work. Learn more at Apprenticeship.gov.
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