Be a Sounding Board.When we are talking about career planning there's a lot of just general brainstorming that needs to happen. Help your student through the process by discussing ALL the options available to them. There are many careers that are growing, leading our economic growth, that students don't know exist. There are many career opportunities that exist that don't require a full four-year degree but lead to strong and stable income levels higher than some four-year degree career paths. Ensure they have considered all their options and help them explore through internet research, career assessments, job shadows, and activities or extra-curricular that have a similar focus to their interests. Finding a career that fits their personality and interests will lead to the best first career experience, and potentially a live-long passion for their work.
Discuss Finances.Paying for college isn't what it used to be. It's difficult with today's tuition prices for a student to 'work their way through' college successfully and part-time work just doesn't go as far in today's world. Begin conversations early with your students and be truthful. What are you as a family able to afford? Will you be able to contribute or should the student plan on picking an education or training option that does not entirely depend on a parental contribution. Knowing in advance will make those decisions about where to go and what to study easier. The worst thing for a student is to not know what the family can or can't afford until the end of their senior year when they have the acceptance letter and not enough financial aid to cover all their expenses and they have to be told no. If they know their college budget going into senior year, it makes the decision a little easier to understand. It may still be hard, but they see it coming and can make alternative plans along the way.
Be OK Not Knowing All the Answers.Sometimes it's ok to say "I don't know, we'll have to figure that out together." Many times you may not know what they should expect or how the financial aid process works and that's ok. You may have friends or family that say one thing and it turns out completely different for you. That's typical. Don't let your student compare themselves to anyone else because every family is different and where you live or what car you drive has little bearing on the financial aid formula used by colleges. Anecdotal advice is ok, but don't rely on a friend to give you the final advice you need to help your student success.
Seek Out Advice.Don't be afraid to ask those who do know - the school counselor, the admissions or financial aid office at the colleges your student is interested in. You can always call ICAN as well. Call us with any questions you have (877-272-4692), or visit an ICAN center for an advising session with one of our student success advisors.
You can also receive tailored advice through SP3 - Student Planning Pointers for Parents - a free series of monthly emails tailored to your student's grade level. And by participating you can also address the cost of college we discussed earlier. SP3 offers participants the change to earn 529 College Savings Plan deposits each quarter. To register for the free service visit www.sp3.org.
Be Supportive and Open Minded
The final piece of advice I can give parents is to be open-minded about the path your student is interested in exploring. You may have an idea of your student's future and they may have others. Be supportive of their ideas and listen. Ask them questions that ensure they have truly explored their options and interests. Have they looked at career outlook? What does the career starting salary look like. Does it make sense in terms of their education/college interests - meaning does the degree cost fit into the career outlook? These are questions to ask that will help your student understand the depth of their decision without making them feel that you don't approve of their interests or that you would prefer a different outcome. You may be correct in your feeling that a choice isn't the right one, help them reach that conclusion in a positive way, but also be prepared to let them go if their research is sound and they simply disagree.
There's so much pressure on today's students, and on parents to ensure they are meeting every need. Sometimes it's ok to let yourself breathe and know that you are doing everything you can to help. Remember to ask for help when you need it and that the best help you can be on any given day is to simply make them feel loved and supported for the unique individual they are becoming.
Brittania - ICAN Hiawatha Center