| As High School students approach their senior | | | | to graduate with a cumulative average that is |
| year, an important question sometimes arises. | | | | completely unimpressive to potential employers. |
| Are they ready for college? | | | | There isn't a high demand for college dropouts |
| Students will always be apprehensive about | | | | and underachievers. |
| leaving home to attend college. They usually | | | | When students delay entering college, they should |
| worry about the amount of work, fitting in and | | | | plan to do something with their time to get better |
| making the grades. Parents worry about the | | | | prepared. Summer jobs are great motivators. |
| expense and whether their children will do well. | | | | They help students understand the importance of |
| While many students head off to college without | | | | a good education and a good job. Taking a year |
| resolving these issues, others take time off to | | | | long vacation will seldom resolve anything. |
| look at options and alternatives. Reasons for | | | | Therefore, parents would be wise to help the |
| hesitation or delay may include: | | | | student lay out a plan. That plan should include: |
| - Need time to mature | | | | - Specific goals and objectives (What will be |
| - Want to travel | | | | evaluated and learned?) |
| - Volunteer for community service | | | | - Testing and career counseling can be helpful. |
| - Want to support a cause | | | | (Include as an objective.) |
| - Need to work to earn money for college | | | | - A job. (Hard work clarifies choices, builds |
| - Want to gain some experience or training | | | | motivation and improves life skills.) |
| - Lack of motivation | | | | - A deadline / time limit for each objective (How |
| - Need time to figure out what they want to do | | | | much time will be allowed?) |
| - Want to join the military | | | | - A method for measuring outcomes (Rating |
| Personal decisions usually move people toward | | | | scales are usually helpful.) |
| something or away from something. For high | | | | - Acceptable alternatives to college (Must be |
| school students, their decision to take some time | | | | realistic and career oriented.) |
| off is often intended to help them better prepare | | | | Parents play a critical role in each step. However, |
| for college or disclose possible alternatives to | | | | the best results are achieved when the student is |
| college. When the young adult is not a good | | | | fully invested in this process. When a student is |
| student, doesn't have a clue about his/her | | | | simply going through the motions, parents must |
| interests and abilities or needs close supervision | | | | be firm about the process, the goals, the timing |
| and guidance, college may not be right at this | | | | and the outcomes. Otherwise, students will learn |
| time. | | | | little about their capabilities and direction. |
| Opportunities to work, learn and explore should be | | | | For the most focused and capable students, |
| well planned and closely monitored. The time | | | | delaying entrance into college is a viable choice for |
| should be used with a clear purpose in mind. | | | | only a few. However, students with broad |
| Students can use the experiences to expand their | | | | capabilities and experiences may benefit from a |
| viewpoints about their work and career direction, | | | | brief delay that can clarify their direction. Since |
| eliminate areas they dislike and get a good | | | | many students have not yet discovered their |
| understanding of life in the world of work. | | | | talents and skills, they may need some time to |
| However, if the young person decides not to go | | | | explore and mature. This can be done in college, |
| to college, his/her parents should require them to | | | | at work, through counseling and testing or a |
| accept a job and go to work every day. Sitting | | | | combination. |
| around at home should not be an option. | | | | Wise parents work very hard to help their |
| Taking time off for the sake of taking time off is | | | | children gain the perspective and motivation that |
| seldom a good decision. It is usually a sign of | | | | will lead to success when and if they do decide to |
| immaturity and dependency. Yes, it may also | | | | enter college. When the decision is not to attend |
| mean that the student is not ready for college. | | | | college, students must be capable, clear and |
| Parents don't want to send their children off to | | | | passionate about their direction and career |
| college, only to have them fail out in the first or | | | | possibilities. |
| second year. Neither do they want their children | | | | |