Dear Santa Claus Letter
It was a ritual at my house. Early each December I was sent off to write my “Dear Santa Claus” letter. I would carefully remind him when I‘d been good, then slide in the impressive list of desired items at the end. I remember one year we lived on a street with a bright blue mailbox right at the end of our driveway. I wrote my letter, asked for and got a real stamp to put on the envelope. Just as I was ready to march out to the big box, Dad stepped in and said he’d take it out with some other bills he had to mail. I watched him like a hawk from our kitchen window as he opened the chute & dropped the mail into the box. I was satisfied it would be delivered to Santa himself. After all, it had a real stamp on it!
If Santa Claus could bring a few “presents” to help our students and families as they discern their higher education track, here’s what would be on MY list.
REAL voluntary Career Testing in Junior and Senior High School with multiple options & directions noted.
Europe has made a mess of this idea. They give one test, one time, and sort their students by an educational caste system which is difficult to break. We Americans inherently recoil from this, resisting the idea a single test is the end all and be all. I am NOT advocating their system. I AM saying we must design something to help parents and students sort through higher education options. Perhaps a test over time- one in 6th grade, 9th grade & 11th-grade. A test focused on career DIRECTIONS. Notice the “s” on the end of the word direction. Many options. Always voluntary, and always optionS.
Think of these career tests as the lights on an airport runway. At night, these lights are essential to safely landing a plane in the dark. Career planning for most of us is just like trying to land a plane at night. We need those lights! Let’s set up testing, guidance, and counseling processes that help students see their gifts and possible career options.
American Service Corps option to do good AND get rid of your college loan debt. I mentioned this before, but want to bring it up again. If you MUST borrow for college, then you should be able to join a US-wide American Service Corps to do community non-profit work, earn a modest income, and clear a large chunk of debt for every year of service. Some 78% of all students with loans graduate with less than $30,000 in debt. If you could earn $15,000 in credits each year, just two years of service would knock out a lot of debt. While you are “serving” in this system, no interest should be added, either.
Shopping Alert: Big Business is changing higher education by setting up its OWN processes.
Businesses are not pleased with the skill sets universities and colleges are delivering in the 21st century. It’s not just the degree anymore- you need other skills. You need meaningful negotiation and teamwork skills. You must show initiative and results. You need emotional intelligence and general people skills. Watch Google, Amazon, and other big employers devise their own systems to train AND certify people in the areas THEY need. Adding certification modules to your degree will become commonplace, and will be done by online training throughout your career with various employers footing the bill for what they need. Expect competition to traditional bachelor’s, masters & doctoral pathways. Especially now, as the 21st-century work world demands a different set of skills.
REQUIRE standardized college financial offer letters PLUS a yearly updated repayment report every year you are in school.
The financial impact of borrowing money for college must be revealed upfront in a standardized format. The Federal Government should demand this information be given to every parent and student from any school that disburses Federal Loans. Think about it- whenever you borrow money, you get a standardized statement about the cost of the loan. If you can get a close estimate for your Social Security check, you can devise an estimate for college loan repayment numbers. Yes, it would be a guestimate. Reality WILL vary. But, a well-designed estimate will reveal more truth than you get now. All students and parents should be given this estimated repayment number BEFORE they sign up for the loans each year. Smart colleges and universities will also help their students with less costly methods of earning that degree.
The list could be longer- but these would level the playing field for students and parents alike.
The next two weeks’ blogs land on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (I know- you can’t start your party without them!) So, let’s take a look at the “night before” or the EVE of two huge days in our culture. We see them so differently even though they are just a week apart!
Until next time,
All my Best,
Bonnie Burkett
