Urban Youth
"Life After High School; What’s Your Next Move?"
As a high school senior, I was faced with trying to decide on a college to attend. I had done all the "right" things in terms of my high school career: I was a member of the honor society; I had taken all the "right" classes, like AP math and science; I had even done some work in a special weekend academy program at a local university. As a result, I was in a position to be able to choose where I really wanted to go to college and what program I wanted to study. That was over twenty years ago, and since then, even though there is more information available to parents and students about college and after-high school options, choosing the right path is more challenging than ever.
Over the last 15 years, I have worked as both a high school teacher in Detroit, and a university administrator and instructor in California. Since I have been working in the field of Education, I have noticed a strong trend: college admissions have experienced a true supply-and-demand effect, with more students becoming academically prepared for college and in great number. The game is simple: if you did all the "right" things in high school, then you can consider yourself in the group of the "academically prepared". But, what if you didn't? How do you find out what your options are? Is college even right for you?
The first thing I can tell you is that you are not alone. Believe me, I have met all types of students over the years, and my belief is that college is not for everyone. A handful of high school graduates might want to go straight to college; and, another handful may want to go straight to work after high school. Look at it this way: historically, the United States was founded on a few basic principles---one of which was "hard work for an honest day's wage."
To break this down further, hard work can be translated to work that involves manufacturing, building and growing; again, what this country was founded on. These principles still hold true. In fact, it is predicted that in the next ten years, most job growth will be in the service-providing industries: health care, business services, and social assistance. While manufacturing has decreased in terms of growth, construction is expected to grow at a good pace. The bottom line: these areas of growth will produce a large number of jobs that will not require a college degree. Great news, right? However, these jobs WILL require specialized training and/or certification. So, you WILL need to extend your education beyond high school; that education, however, may not need to take place in a college classroom. With this in mind, if you're unsure about college, just know that there are plenty of other options, and a good start is to take advantage of training programs at community colleges, and local vocational schools.
Training can lead to environmental jobs; working with young people; even, work in the medical field. A few great programs for high school graduates include AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is creating routes to more than just a job, and thanks to federal stimulus money, more of these opportunities are opening to thousands of young adults. Through programs like AmeriCorps and many more like them, you can give something back to your community, and define your career path by what you learn on the job. (http://www.americorps.gov). The most important thing to remember is that you must get some type of training and/or education in order to take advantage of these job trends and find your career after high school. The point is to keep building up your toolbox---your list of real-world skills. So whether or not you finally get a college degree, you'll have something to show employers to let them know that you're ready for work. If you're in the group of high school students who are preparing to go to college, then you need to be aware of a few things that may help you in the admissions process. The most important thing you can do now toward your goal of being admitted to college is develop a solid college admissions strategy. In order to do that, you first need to consider the following as you decide on where to apply for college:
1. Booming enrollments. It's estimated that in 1999, 15 million students were enrolled in American colleges and universities. Today, the number is greater than 23 million. As a result, college enrollment appears to be growing at a rate of more than 5 percent per year. Higher enrollments mean greater competition for new, incoming students. As an aspiring college student, you will, most likely, be subject to higher academic standards, including completion of various Advanced Placement courses, and required minimum scores on standardized college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT.
If you didn't have access to Advanced Placement courses, and have fallen short in mastering college admissions exams, don't worry. There are still plenty of colleges that would be interested in you! In fact, many college admission officers will tell you that they look for new students who bring something different to the table---not just good test scores and high grades. It all comes down to research. You can research tons of schools online at http://www.mycollegeoptions.org and several other sites. You might also take a look at schools with programs geared to students who DON'T meet the usual academic criteria, but bring much-needed diversity to the school. One such program exists at Augusta State University, which aims to enroll and retain more African American male students than any other university in the country (http://www.agu.edu).
2. Skyrocketing tuition. According to the College Board, tuition during the previous academic year was approximately 10 percent higher, at both public and private universities, than it was the year before. If you're worried about how to pay for college, don't let that stop you from achieving your goal of becoming a college student. As a matter of fact, you will be able to benefit from recent increases in Federal Financial Aid under President Obama's pledge of increased funds for higher education. Under the President's most recent plan, $12 billion dollars has been provided to fund increased enrollments in community colleges and universities. In fact, more than 40 percent of U.S. college students are now enrolled at community/junior (two-year) colleges. As a new college student, you want to take advantage of lower tuition rates offered in the community colleges. Community colleges offer an entire menu of classes that are ready for transfer to four-year universities. A great plan to confront the cost of college is to take all required electives at the community college for 2 years, and then transfer and complete your degree at a university. In a sense, this is like getting half of your tuition at a discounted rate. Smart plan, right?
Another way to beat the cost of college is to seek on-campus employment that will help you earn money while you go to school. The money you earn can go toward daily living expenses, and can help ease the burden of having to juggle school with work, because most on-campus employment is flexible and ready to work around your school schedule.
3. New online opportunities. In addition to distance-learning institutions, such as the University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, and Devry University, a number of notable universities have developed selected courses at free, "open courseware" sites. Online opportunities provide more flexibility for new college students, especially working mothers, adult students returning to school, and people looking for a more accelerated path to a college degree. Again, research is key. A few examples of distance learning programs at top-notch schools include: Yale University, oyc.yale.edu. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ocw.mit.org University of California-Berkeley, webcast.berkeley.edu. For a general, worldwide directory visit ocw.consortium.org.
4. First-year experience (FYE) courses and programs. In the past, first-year college students had to "sink or swim" at large universities---with a great number dropping out in the first semester. However, recent attempts to help ease high dropout rates of new college students have resulted in the development of programs specifically aimed at freshman students. As a new, incoming college student, you will definitely want to take advantage of any and all programs available to first-year college students. Programs like these usually include small classes, additional tutoring and discussion groups, and faculty mentoring. Two notable examples of such programs include UCLA's "Fiat Lux" program, and the University of North Carolina's first-year seminar. You may also want to see if you qualify for Educational Opportunity (EOP) programs available at various universities. EOP provides laptop computers and cash grants to their students (http://www.ed.gov/programs/fseog/index.html).
5. Choosing a major. Many schools encourage students to declare majors as soon as they enter the university. On the other hand, most parents might discourage you from considering a major in which there isn't a clear path to a high-paying (or, at least, some kind of) job. If you're unsure of what to major in, colleges have developed several options to help you. In fact, several universities have adapted career planning models which will afford you the opportunity to "explore" several courses and potential majors before deciding on one or more. Another handful of schools allow students to develop their own major--resulting in a multitude of interdisciplinary options. If you are not hitting college with a selected major in hand, you may benefit from programs like these because of the greater emphasis these programs place on establishing major and career connections for students.
6. Study abroad. Most large, urban universities across the country have developed dozens of cooperative arrangements for junior-year (or indeed any-year) study abroad. In fact, employers cite study abroad experience as a top indicator of a well-rounded candidate for employment. As a new college student, you definitely want to stay competitive in the job market, and, therefore, you should check out these opportunities your first year in college. As far as paying for international study, don't worry. Because large universities are financially supportive of study abroad, there are often tons of fellowship and scholarship funds available. Some schools even have programs designed for first-year students; so research, again, is key!
Aspiring college students armed with a solid plan for college admissions, along with an awareness of the many support services available to new college students are more likely to complete their education and move on to successful careers. But going to college has little to do with intelligence. In fact, past studies have revealed that intelligence accounts for only about 25% of a college student’s academic performance. A variety of other factors (motivation for learning, persistence in study habits, emotional well-being, interpersonal skills) have been cited in the research as key determinants of academic success. Unfortunately, these other factors are frequently not acknowledged or remain “mysterious” to many students.
Whether or not you choose to go to college, your success is based primarily on your ability to craft a well-developed plan for your future and to stick with it!
In the next article, I will attempt to reduce the mystique surrounding success in college and to provide current college students with a structure to assist in succeeding at college and in their careers following graduation.
Robin Lee, EdD.
Over the last 15 years, I have worked as both a high school teacher in Detroit, and a university administrator and instructor in California. Since I have been working in the field of Education, I have noticed a strong trend: college admissions have experienced a true supply-and-demand effect, with more students becoming academically prepared for college and in great number. The game is simple: if you did all the "right" things in high school, then you can consider yourself in the group of the "academically prepared". But, what if you didn't? How do you find out what your options are? Is college even right for you?
The first thing I can tell you is that you are not alone. Believe me, I have met all types of students over the years, and my belief is that college is not for everyone. A handful of high school graduates might want to go straight to college; and, another handful may want to go straight to work after high school. Look at it this way: historically, the United States was founded on a few basic principles---one of which was "hard work for an honest day's wage."
To break this down further, hard work can be translated to work that involves manufacturing, building and growing; again, what this country was founded on. These principles still hold true. In fact, it is predicted that in the next ten years, most job growth will be in the service-providing industries: health care, business services, and social assistance. While manufacturing has decreased in terms of growth, construction is expected to grow at a good pace. The bottom line: these areas of growth will produce a large number of jobs that will not require a college degree. Great news, right? However, these jobs WILL require specialized training and/or certification. So, you WILL need to extend your education beyond high school; that education, however, may not need to take place in a college classroom. With this in mind, if you're unsure about college, just know that there are plenty of other options, and a good start is to take advantage of training programs at community colleges, and local vocational schools.
Training can lead to environmental jobs; working with young people; even, work in the medical field. A few great programs for high school graduates include AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is creating routes to more than just a job, and thanks to federal stimulus money, more of these opportunities are opening to thousands of young adults. Through programs like AmeriCorps and many more like them, you can give something back to your community, and define your career path by what you learn on the job. (http://www.americorps.gov). The most important thing to remember is that you must get some type of training and/or education in order to take advantage of these job trends and find your career after high school. The point is to keep building up your toolbox---your list of real-world skills. So whether or not you finally get a college degree, you'll have something to show employers to let them know that you're ready for work. If you're in the group of high school students who are preparing to go to college, then you need to be aware of a few things that may help you in the admissions process. The most important thing you can do now toward your goal of being admitted to college is develop a solid college admissions strategy. In order to do that, you first need to consider the following as you decide on where to apply for college:
1. Booming enrollments. It's estimated that in 1999, 15 million students were enrolled in American colleges and universities. Today, the number is greater than 23 million. As a result, college enrollment appears to be growing at a rate of more than 5 percent per year. Higher enrollments mean greater competition for new, incoming students. As an aspiring college student, you will, most likely, be subject to higher academic standards, including completion of various Advanced Placement courses, and required minimum scores on standardized college admissions tests like the SAT and ACT.
If you didn't have access to Advanced Placement courses, and have fallen short in mastering college admissions exams, don't worry. There are still plenty of colleges that would be interested in you! In fact, many college admission officers will tell you that they look for new students who bring something different to the table---not just good test scores and high grades. It all comes down to research. You can research tons of schools online at http://www.mycollegeoptions.org and several other sites. You might also take a look at schools with programs geared to students who DON'T meet the usual academic criteria, but bring much-needed diversity to the school. One such program exists at Augusta State University, which aims to enroll and retain more African American male students than any other university in the country (http://www.agu.edu).
2. Skyrocketing tuition. According to the College Board, tuition during the previous academic year was approximately 10 percent higher, at both public and private universities, than it was the year before. If you're worried about how to pay for college, don't let that stop you from achieving your goal of becoming a college student. As a matter of fact, you will be able to benefit from recent increases in Federal Financial Aid under President Obama's pledge of increased funds for higher education. Under the President's most recent plan, $12 billion dollars has been provided to fund increased enrollments in community colleges and universities. In fact, more than 40 percent of U.S. college students are now enrolled at community/junior (two-year) colleges. As a new college student, you want to take advantage of lower tuition rates offered in the community colleges. Community colleges offer an entire menu of classes that are ready for transfer to four-year universities. A great plan to confront the cost of college is to take all required electives at the community college for 2 years, and then transfer and complete your degree at a university. In a sense, this is like getting half of your tuition at a discounted rate. Smart plan, right?
Another way to beat the cost of college is to seek on-campus employment that will help you earn money while you go to school. The money you earn can go toward daily living expenses, and can help ease the burden of having to juggle school with work, because most on-campus employment is flexible and ready to work around your school schedule.
3. New online opportunities. In addition to distance-learning institutions, such as the University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, and Devry University, a number of notable universities have developed selected courses at free, "open courseware" sites. Online opportunities provide more flexibility for new college students, especially working mothers, adult students returning to school, and people looking for a more accelerated path to a college degree. Again, research is key. A few examples of distance learning programs at top-notch schools include: Yale University, oyc.yale.edu. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ocw.mit.org University of California-Berkeley, webcast.berkeley.edu. For a general, worldwide directory visit ocw.consortium.org.
4. First-year experience (FYE) courses and programs. In the past, first-year college students had to "sink or swim" at large universities---with a great number dropping out in the first semester. However, recent attempts to help ease high dropout rates of new college students have resulted in the development of programs specifically aimed at freshman students. As a new, incoming college student, you will definitely want to take advantage of any and all programs available to first-year college students. Programs like these usually include small classes, additional tutoring and discussion groups, and faculty mentoring. Two notable examples of such programs include UCLA's "Fiat Lux" program, and the University of North Carolina's first-year seminar. You may also want to see if you qualify for Educational Opportunity (EOP) programs available at various universities. EOP provides laptop computers and cash grants to their students (http://www.ed.gov/programs/fseog/index.html).
5. Choosing a major. Many schools encourage students to declare majors as soon as they enter the university. On the other hand, most parents might discourage you from considering a major in which there isn't a clear path to a high-paying (or, at least, some kind of) job. If you're unsure of what to major in, colleges have developed several options to help you. In fact, several universities have adapted career planning models which will afford you the opportunity to "explore" several courses and potential majors before deciding on one or more. Another handful of schools allow students to develop their own major--resulting in a multitude of interdisciplinary options. If you are not hitting college with a selected major in hand, you may benefit from programs like these because of the greater emphasis these programs place on establishing major and career connections for students.
6. Study abroad. Most large, urban universities across the country have developed dozens of cooperative arrangements for junior-year (or indeed any-year) study abroad. In fact, employers cite study abroad experience as a top indicator of a well-rounded candidate for employment. As a new college student, you definitely want to stay competitive in the job market, and, therefore, you should check out these opportunities your first year in college. As far as paying for international study, don't worry. Because large universities are financially supportive of study abroad, there are often tons of fellowship and scholarship funds available. Some schools even have programs designed for first-year students; so research, again, is key!
Aspiring college students armed with a solid plan for college admissions, along with an awareness of the many support services available to new college students are more likely to complete their education and move on to successful careers. But going to college has little to do with intelligence. In fact, past studies have revealed that intelligence accounts for only about 25% of a college student’s academic performance. A variety of other factors (motivation for learning, persistence in study habits, emotional well-being, interpersonal skills) have been cited in the research as key determinants of academic success. Unfortunately, these other factors are frequently not acknowledged or remain “mysterious” to many students.
Whether or not you choose to go to college, your success is based primarily on your ability to craft a well-developed plan for your future and to stick with it!
In the next article, I will attempt to reduce the mystique surrounding success in college and to provide current college students with a structure to assist in succeeding at college and in their careers following graduation.
Robin Lee, EdD.
