My friend has a wonderful daughter with a lot going for her, but school has
never been her thing. Diagnosed with ADHD and executive functioning
deficits in third grade, she has always felt overwhelmed and unmotivated,
despite above-average intelligence and the help of tutors and support
programs. The big question for my friend is: Should her daughter stay on
the college preparatory track and risk further discouragement, or is it
time to explore other pathways toward her future independence?
According to the 2017 U.S. Census, just over one-third of Americans over
the age of 25 have a four-year college degree. In the DMV, that percentage
is much higher, at just under 50 percent, though it can feel much closer to
100 percent depending on where your child attends school. As the daughter
of two career educators, I struggled with admitting that college might not
be the right option for my own child and also questioned whether it made
sense to invest thousands of dollars to find out. According to Business
Insider, the cost of college increased by 260 percent from 1980 to
2014. And the question exists as to whether it’s worth it. In a 2017 survey
of high school students nationwide (conducted by the College Savings
Foundation), 39 percent of all respondents were considering alternatives to
traditional four-year colleges based strictly on the cost factor. Beyond
cost, even when kids are fully capable of getting into college, school
administrators are finding that students don’t always have the resiliency
and life skills needed to handle college. Some simply don’t really have the
interest or desire to do the work required.
“College is not for everyone, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be living in
the streets,” says Linda Lounsbury, a college consultant and volunteer with
Bridges to Baltimore college admissions program. Joan Wittan, an
independent educational consultant in Rockville, Md. who specializes in
working with students with learning differences, points out that the timing
of college in the United States is unusual. “Automatic high school to
college is not done all over the world,” she says. “Part of the time
between high school and college is for them to explore their interests.”
But in the United States, the focus of the teen years seems to be on
“resume building” to prepare for college applications. Students have little
time for extracurricular activities that explore their true interests and
passions – as well as possible majors or careers – while also gaining life
skills, such as discipline, independence and responsibility.
“If your student is struggling in school and doesn’t enjoy it or like to
study, looking at college alternatives is not a ‘lesser than’ option,”
Lounsbury says. “They can earn as much as they want and be independent and
successful,” Lounsbury says.
Among these alternatives, Wittan and Lounsbury often encourage families and
students to consider the following options:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE)
, offered through community colleges or vocational schools,
provides training and certifications in an incredible variety of
trades, including aircraft mechanics, network systems, data
communication analysis, coding, veterinary technicians, cosmetology
and hospitality. Credible programs offer hands-on training,
internship experience and job placement. The North American Trade
Schools currently lists 2,600 vocational schools east of the
Mississippi, some of which are residential. These programs tend to
be more experiential, with fewer traditional general education
requirements. - Local community colleges
offer students the opportunity to earn two-year associate degrees,
as well as automatic admission into in-state public schools. In
Maryland, tuition is free for qualifying residents. This cheaper
option enables students to get their general education requirements
out of the way while exploring various subjects of interest and
determining if college is the right path for them. - Non-traditional college options
help students learn a trade and become career-ready by earning a
more industry-focused associates or bachelors degree, while also
having a “traditional” college experience. Examples of schools
offering these programs are Penn College of Technology, Johnson
Wales University, Brighton College and Culinary Institute of
America.
Colleges that incorporate additional academic and life-skills
support,
such as Landmark, Lynn and Beacon, or transition-to-college
programs, such as the Connect Program at Davis & Elkins, help
set students up for success. There are also portable private
transition programs, such as the College Internship Program and
Emerge, that provide an additional layer of support at any college
the student chooses to attend.- For-profit training programs
can lead students to a lifetime of career success and fulfillment.
Examples of well-respected, for-profit training programs include:
General Assembly for coding, data and digital design; Les Roches
for international hospitality management; Medix College in Canada
for medical professional training for pharmacy technicians, dental
assistants, medical lab techs and more; and DigiPen Institute of
Technology in Seattle for interactive media and video game
development. - Scheduled gap years
, an option for any student exploring traditional or alternative
post-high school training, are on the rise in the United States.
Studies by U.S. Gap Year Fairs show that students who take a gap
year on average graduate in less time than students who go straight
to college from high school. Verto Education is one formalized gap
year program that combines the best of both worlds, enabling
students to earn college credit while traveling around the world
exploring their interests. “Some students are more than
college-capable but are burnt out and may be better ready to launch
after they’ve had some time to explore,” Wittan says. Often a taste
of real life helps them appreciate being in school.
Financially, participating in any of the above programs can provide a
better return on investment than a traditional college experience. Many
non-traditional college and vocational school options offer financial aid
and may allow payment using funds from 529 plans. Many also offer
residential options for parents who are ready for their teens to leave the
nest or are anxious for them to experience life on their own.
The bottom line is that there are many alternatives to a traditional
college experience that students may want to consider. “It’s a family
decision, but if a child has something in mind, why not give him the
responsibility of researching it and maybe trying it out,” Lounsbury says.
“It can save money and mental health.” Parents’ willingness to let go of
their own college expectations and allow their children room to explore and
consider other options gives kids the chance to consider their personal
expectations and to set and reach their own goals.
As Wittan says: “There can be some grieving involved as parents give up
certain dreams, but then satisfaction as they find the right path for their
child so that no one is being set up for failure.”
