+ PARENTS Preparing Your Teens To Be Successful

THINK ABOUT THIS... w Only 25% of all Americans hold a Bachelor’s degree w 25% of recent college graduates with Bachelor’s degrees are settling for jobs that do not require one w Only 20% of jobs require a Bachelor’s degree

w The cost of college has increased 260% in the past 15 years w It takes the average college student 5 years to complete college w The average salary for a college graduate ranges between $25,000 and $30,000

So What Should You Do? w Develop a plan w The plan should be based on your teen’s interests w Education should be seen as a means to your teen’s goals

Where and When to Begin... w The most important thing you as a parent can do is to help your teen focus w 78% of junior high school students and 48% of high school students want their parents to talk to them more about school w 67% of teachers say that student success is produced by parents who stress education

Help your teen identify their interests and abilities

Help your teen acquire skills

Help your teen plan an appropriate, affordable post- secondary education

Help your teen take advantage of all post-secondary programs available in high school

Remember... w Let your teen choose their own career w Students need to learn to fill out their own forms when they begin the application process for post-secondary education w Make sure your teen writes their own application essays w Remember who is really applying to college

w Be aware that your teen’s future goals do not reflect on you w Know that a college degree doesn’t always guarantee success w Take your teen to college and career fairs w Visit post-secondary institutions with your teen

Don’t forget... w Successful post-secondary education must match your teen’s career goals w College is only one of many post-secondary educational paths. Don’t overlook others: apprenticeships, community colleges, military, and technical colleges

w College isn’t the goal, only a means to an end! w Before choosing a college, students need to know if their planned major is competitive or open at the college. w Both high school and college jobs are useful if they’re relevant to a student’s plans for the future.

Finally... w Encourage your teen to volunteer w Encourage them to take advantage of ‘free’ education while they can by taking any skill classes, or bridging to community college while still in high school w Use the Internet to search for college and career information

To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun? -Katherine Graham