Imagine your student waking up in her dorm next August and setting out for her first day of class. As she’s walking, she realizes she really doesn’t have a clue as to why she’s in college and even more puzzling, why she’s at that particular university. Unfortunately, this is a scenario that plays out all over the United States. Is the student seeing the bigger picture or is she there by default and is not really engaged in the experience college can offer? This situation can be avoided with a little forethought and strategic professional planning.

Nearly 50% of college freshman will not graduate. Yes, I said almost 50%, and let me say that the other 50% take, on average, 5.5 years to complete their undergraduate degree. If you accept the fact that a typical private college today (cost of attendance) is approximately $30,000 per year, this endeavor is fraught with peril. A student attending two years and leaving without the degree leaves you around $60,000 lighter in the bank! However, this $60,000 pales in comparison to the potential loss in future income your son or daughter miss out on because the degree was not earned. According to some studies, a person with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, $1,000,000 more than a high school graduate over their working career.

Is degree attainment only an economic consideration? Certainly not. A college degree can also lead to greater personal growth, cultural awareness, and increased social awareness. It is critically important for your student to go to college knowing why he/she is there. Unless the proper steps are taken to ascertain what the goals are (career planning), which institutions are best suited to attain those goals (college search), and which school is the best fit (selection) your student may not graduate.

As parents, we’d like to believe that the present system would not let this happen to our children. However, the reality is that the system is broken. How else to explain the data? College today is BIG business, expensive, and essential. Relying solely on the present system is a recipe for failure.

So what is a parent to do? Many quality companies have stepped forward to take on this challenge and provide needed expertise in the areas of career planning, college search, college selection, and college funding. They exist, not to replace what the high schools and colleges may provide, but to complement their efforts. Most of these companies will begin to work with your student, if you choose, as early as freshman year in high school.

Studies indicate 50% of people are not happy in their career choice. Perhaps many of them showed up on campus like lost sheep or perhaps they left college before completing the task. At this critical stage of their life, taking advantage of professional help can give our children a better future – both financially and mentally