For Parents, Guardians,and Families
For Middle School Families...
It is never too early to start preparing for college.
If you're looking for ways to help your student stay on track check out College Board's site For Parents & Guardians. They have a lot of resources to help you guide your students as they prepare academically. They also host free webinars and discussion boards on college preparation topics. You can actually view recordings of past webinars on College Board's Parent Webinar Series Youtube channel.
Figuring out what to do after high school can be a daunting process for students and they need support from those closest to them, but knowing what to do for your student and when can be equally daunting! These resources and the rest of the Gear Up website can give you a good starting point.
What Should My Student Do After High School?
There are many options for students once they graduate high school, but the most common are
Enter the work force
Join the Military
Attend a 4-year college
Attend a community college
Obtain trade certificates or other job training
Obtain an Associates Degree
Obtain general education requirement credit to transfer to a 4 year degree at lower
costs.
Which of these paths is right for your student depends on a number of factors such as your student's professional goals, academic proficiency, or financial need.
Why is Education Past High School Important?
Though higher education might not be necessary 100% of the time, more often than not, some form of additional training can have a dramatic effect of students' future earnings, security, and quality of life.
Some of the top reasons for pursing higher education are:
Higher lifetime earning potential
Higher employment rates
Greater overall job security
Broader qualifications yield more job opportunities
Exposure to new ideas and experiences
Development of soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, & problem solving
Development of professional networks
It is a stepping stone to complete independence