Passion to Profession: Colleges Role in Career Readiness
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Malcolm X
Has higher education peaked? In 2010, there were 18.1 million undergraduate college students. In 2021, there were 15.4 million, a drop of 15% per https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cha. We can’t just blame COVID. This trend started long before the epidemic. Is this a trend, or is it possible that the direction will reverse with an enrollment increase of 9% to 16.8 million by 2031, as projected in the same article?
The impending 2025 enrollment cliff with a further 15% drop in available traditional-age college students further exacerbates the challenge. Higher education professionals have been aware of this “cliff,” where available traditional-age students will drop because of the decrease in birth rates influenced by the Great Recession of 2008, and have been working to address this challenge. https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/looming-enrollment-cliff-poses-serious-threat-to-colleges/?
Dropout rates for first-time undergraduate freshmen in 2022 averaged 24%, with 33% on average of all initiating undergraduate education not graduating, per https://educationdata.org/college-dropout-rates. Can any business survive with 33% of its customers “returning” its merchandise or not completing contractual commitments?
First-generation students have higher dropout rates, with the top three causes being 1. Financial Burdens, 2. Lack of Support, and 3. Inequitable Access to Resources. https://www.evan360.net/the-real-reasons-why-33-of-first-generation-students-drop-out/ How can we help these most neediest of students?
About 59% of those dropouts leave with college debt averaging about $14K, and almost half (46.5%) are defaulting on their debt. Though on the bright side, 2/3 indicated that they are “considering” returning to college per https://lendedu.com/blog/college-dropouts-student-loan-debt/. Being of legal age, these students chose to take on the debt, having reached the age to vote, gamble, drink, marry, and sign contracts. Are they responsible for their actions? Obviously, they signed off on these obligations, but are they making informed decisions when taking on this debt, understanding the implications and commitments being made?
Many of these factors are influencing public opinion, resulting in questions about the efficacy and value of these educational opportunities. Politicians overall don’t seem to be helping much either in the debate over the value of a college degree and an educated populace (I will leave it at that for now).
Okay, that’s a lot of facts and figures. But based on the above, the stage is set. What do we do about it?
There are no simple answers. But I might suggest a magic word or two. That word is not please, or even thank you, although kindness acknowledging others with a please, and showing gratitude with a thank you and other expressions of appreciation are magical. I suggest two other magic words: engagement and resilience. Going one step further, I would suggest engagement and resilience can be enhanced by having students discover their passions and being encouraged to pursue those passions. We need to increase retention/graduation rates, foster an environment of success, and promote the vision of a positive long-term future based on short-term actions that result in long-term accomplishment and betterment for all.
So, how do students discover their passions? If left to themselves, most (but not all) will seek easy and fun paths with a very short-term orientation. Perhaps social media and a pervasive culture of everybody winning encourage this. The reality is that the road to success has twists, turns, setbacks, and amazing leaps forward.
Is Education worth it?
Education Pays:
From: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2023/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
Based on the above, one can see that education DOES pay. College graduate returns exceed high school graduates by 68%, adding over $30,000 a year in earnings. Even some college experience with no degree exceeds high school graduates by almost 10% (9.6%). Our mission is to help maximize student effectiveness and direction, getting the most out of their education and their opportunities.
College students aren’t sure what they want to be when they grow up, so how do we help them? Half of all college students are confident in their career path…actually 49% per https://www.ellucian.com/assets/en/2019-student-success-survey-results.pdf.
Half of all college students report changing their majors two or more times…actually, 45%, while 83% on the same report indicated they would have been more engaged had they understood their own aptitudes and opportunities.
How can we help students help themselves? Let’s consult with GPT-4. The following includes the prompt and response. Overall, the links provided are actually pretty good.
Before including the GPT-4 below, please accept this invitation from our sponsor, the Future Forward Academy (which I do have partial ownership interest in). On Thursday, 10/19, at noon ET. Register here for the Webinar https://www.linkedin.com/events/c3-collegetocareerconvergenceop7110961784009719808/ further highlighting the latest on the C3 (Collee to Career Convergence) Project.
- At this session, you will witness a live AI demonstration featuring ChatGPT, showcasing how it can revolutionize student success both IN and BEYOND the classroom.
- Get an exclusive opportunity to test GPT-4 using YOUR own prompts, empowering you to better serve your students.
- Sneak a peek into our latest textbook, “Living Your DREAM CAREER,” and be invited to be our special guest at its launch party on Tuesday, 11/14, at 1 PM or 8 PM ET.
- Visit and Join the Membership site. You’ll get free access to our Careeripedia resources and the paid 17-module course, which can be accessed via https://futureforwardacademymembers.com/?aff=DrScott.
The Future Forward Academy (FFA) is not just about learning; it’s about igniting passions and carving pathways to dreams! Imagine a future where you’re not just earning but THRIVING in a career you’re madly in love with. Together with the FFA, you can unlock that door for your students and pave their way to a job that doesn’t just pay but truly resonates with their hearts. See you on 10/19 as we shape dream careers together!
You are also invited to participate in a special 3-session AI training program that I will be conducting titled AI SuperPowers for Career Counselors/Coaches: Leveraging Generative AI Tools Like ChatGPT, Saving You Time, and Making You More Effective and Productive. Total investment is $125 for the 3 sessions on 10/30, 11/6, and 11/13 at 6:30-7:30 ET. Recordings will also be available at no additional charge to those who register directly at https://careerplanningacademy.com/courses/ai-superpowers-for-career-counselors-coaches-leveraging-tools-like-chatgpt-saving-you-time-and-making-you-more-productive/
Now for the GPT-4 conversation:
Prompt: As a data analyst and statistician with 20 years of experience, find online resources that describe college students and career readiness.
(Used VoxScript)
Response: Certainly! Here are some online resources that describe college students and career readiness:
- Resources and Downloads to Support College Readiness This resource provides information related to developing the awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will prepare students to enroll and succeed in college.
- Career Readiness – Career Hub | Duke University This article emphasizes that career readiness is the new career currency and provides a framework for addressing career-related goals and outcomes.
- College and Career Readiness Framework – ConnectED (PDF) This framework connects practices for outlining and assessing college, career, and community preparedness.
- 11 College and Career Readiness Resources – Council for Aid to Education This resource highlights the importance of college and career readiness and provides guidance for students.
- Assessing Career Readiness in College Students | Watermark This article describes a college graduate’s ability to enter the workforce successfully and provides a framework for addressing outcomes.
- College Readiness Resources – College and Career Readiness – PTA This resource offers articles and information to help students confidently select, prepare, apply, enroll, and succeed in college.
- Career Readiness Resources – College and Career Readiness – PTA This resource provides articles and information to help students transition to their next developmental step, whether it’s work, job training, or finding the right career.
- Career Guides, Handouts, and Worksheets | Undergraduate Students This guide covers all career-related topics for liberal arts students and offers an internship guide.
- College and Career Readiness | American Institutes for Research This article emphasizes the importance of readiness for postsecondary training and education for students’ future success.
- Readiness – Council for Aid to Education
- This resource has been assessing college and career readiness skills since 2002, focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective written communication.
I hope these resources provide valuable insights into college students and their career readiness. If you need further information or specific details from any of these resources, please let me know!
NOTE: ALL of the above links are NOT hallucinations and ARE valid!
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.
Hope you enjoyed this edition! May we continue to Learn, Share, and GROW together in these interesting times!
If you want to discuss anything further or would like to share insights, please feel free to comment directly on this newsletter post and/or reach out at https://Calendly.com/DrScottCPA.
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P.S. Mark your calendars for “Living Your DREAM CAREER” book launch party on Tuesday, 11/14, at 1 PM or 8 PM ET at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/futureforwardacademy_launch-party-introducing-your-next-book-activity-7118584462170324992–Cf6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop and
C3 Project Webinar on Thursday, 10/19, at noon ET. Register via https://www.linkedin.com/events/c3-collegetocareerconvergenceop7110961784009719808/