What about going straight to work? For some students, going to work immediately after high school is the right option, and it can be combined with education. On-the-job training is valuable, Brasier notes, but suggests teens still take a class or two. “I would encourage students who choose to enter the workforce to also strongly consider seeking highereducation opportunities through the college and university system as most jobs require additional educational attainment (above) the high school degree to gain promotions and job mobility,” he says. At the least, students need a plan before they graduate, no matter what it is. “Our goal as school counselors is for our students to be college and career ready,” Rumbaugh says. “We are not pushing everyone to go to college or even a four-year college. We think it’s very important that our students have a post high-school plan after they graduate.”
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What does the student need?
When should college prep begin?
Over the years, school counselors have changed their approaches to helping students decide which path is best. “In previous years, it was often very set that some students were going to a two-year school and others were better suited for a four-year college,” Rumbaugh says. “Every student has strengths and areas where they can grow, and our jobs as school counselors is to be individually studentminded so we can help them find success with their post-college plan.” He adds that students’ financial needs may be different, but there are plenty of resources available. “Even if there haven’t been family conversations, we can still work towards helping them find and apply to the right colleges and acquire financial help.”
Because colleges often have high school course prerequisites, it’s important to start considering college and career goals as early as middle school, Brasier says. This allows students to get on a path to be “college ready” by the time they graduate high school. Actually researching colleges and universities typically happens in early high school years, he says. “During this phase, the student will have narrowed their career path choices, continued to become academically prepared and begun the review and search of colleges/universities that offers majors/programs to prepare them for their career path,” Brasier says. By junior or senior year, after visiting campuses and reviewing cost and admissions criteria, a student should be ready to pick a school or schools to which they wish to apply.
Students need a plan before they graduate, no matter what it is.
Is it time for a gap year?
More students are opting to take a year off after high school. “Gap years may be beneficial for students who are not sure of their career path/college choice and/or who lack the motivation or desire to enter the college/ university system directly after college,” Brasier says. “Some students may choose to work to save money for tuition and/or do volunteer work in a possible career avenue to inform their career choice.” Rumbaugh cautions that a gap year is great — if there’s a plan behind it. While taking time off from their educational pursuits, many drop the ball on their academics, he says. “I recommend if a student is going to take a break that they at least enroll in one or two courses at a community college. It keeps their brain academically stimulated, and they are more likely to stick to an education plan.” He points out that should a teen then apply to college after that gap year, the admissions office will want to know what that student did during that time off. “So, doing a program like Outward Bound, study abroad or something similar is important,” Rumbaugh says.
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