College graduates have higher employment rates and earn more money but college graduation rates in the United States are falling, according to an article published in The New York Times. In addition, more than 70 percent of Americans matriculate at a four-year college but less than two-thirds end up graduating, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
As parents, it’s hard to convey the importance of a college education but you can take some steps to ensure that your high school-aged children are on a path of secondary graduation success and will not become a college dropout.
College Preparation
College dropouts usually decide to quit during their first year of school because of the simple fact they are not prepared for the experience. Part of the problem is many don’t realize how different college is from high school. In addition, the freedom students are given in college can set them up for failure, especially if they are not self-motivated or have not learned self-discipline to manage the rigors of higher academia. One key to preventing your child from becoming a college dropout is to teach them how to prioritize, and know when and how much to study. If they don’t, they will quickly fall behind and decide to leave school.
Summer Prep Programs
A great option for all parents concerned about their children staying in college is to enroll their kids in a college summer prep program. Such programs are offered by some of the most prestigious universities. Yale University, for example, reports an excellent non-dropout success rate, and gives teens a taste of college life as part of its summer session that includes living on campus. Yale also offer the same courses online for those who can’t travel so far away.
Some universities that offer prep programs:
- Brown University
- Yale University
- Harvard University
- Northwestern University
- Boston University
The courses can last anywhere from two- through eight-week sessions, which offer several types of courses to appeal to a variety of students including:
- Neuroscience Writing
- Bioscience Research Computer Science
- Astronomy Business
- Medical Science Arts
- Physics
All interested parents should do a Google search of “secondary school programs” or search the school of your choice online to see if they may offer a high school summer program.
Online Universities
Students who decide on-campus classes are not exactly for them should consider taking online courses. Not only are they exactly the same classes, but students can earn the same degree as if they attended class on a college campus. Most universities offer “distance education” opportunities.
With online classes being so popular, it opens up more opportunities for students and decreases the dropout rate of new college students. Certificates, as well as associate’s, bachelor’s and even master’s degrees are offered. For example, if your child is interested in an associate’s degree in childhood education, they could attend Penn Foster early childhood education online that is equivalent to 63 college credits and takes only four semesters to complete. It is motivating to know within this amount of time, anyone can start a whole new career. Parents should seek out universities for their children that offer programs that are able to be completed around a student’s schedule.
