It's Graduation Season- Another Failing Grade
Most colleges and universities hold their commencement weekends right around this time each year. In spite of increasing numbers of students '“opting out” of the ceremonies every year, it is still a big deal in most places. It is a time of celebration. That is, if you have something to celebrate. Today, the national average graduation rate after four years of college is a National Disgrace.
Barely 4 in 10 freshman students will graduate at the end of four years.
The reasons are myriad; financial difficulties, academic unpreparedness, emotional unpreparedness, lack of focus, etc. The question is not Why. The question should be, Why is this acceptable? Why aren’t we rising up to solve this horrible issue?
This is absolute systemic failure. It starts with our local public schools. I don’t believe teachers are allowed to teach. They have turned into monitors, social workers, and safety officers. I believe parents are not teaching their children expectations about going to school and learning. In my house, reasonable grades governed all other options. I was not a top student. But I had to bring home decent grades.
A couple of blogs ago I revealed the underbelly of the admissions process. It remains about the money, which we have suspected for decades. They have a set pot of scholarship money, and it is doled out very, very carefully. Then the parent or student borrows heavily, with only a 41 % chance of graduating in four years? Those are terrible odds.
The national average after SIX years of college (?!?) is a paltry 61% graduation rate. How is THAT acceptable? That leaves 4 out of 10 freshman with no degree, but very likely a pile of debt.
Do you know even know YOUR student’s school graduation rate? Check out the Department of Education’s college scorecard. On the front page of EVERY college & university’s data page is their graduation rate. In my backyard, we have a range of 39% to 69%. All within a 25-mile radius. I’m willing to bet there is a wide range where you live, too. As you choose your school, their individual 4 year graduation rate is an important part of your decision process.
Don’t send your student off to college if they are not motivated, determined, and funded.
You know your student. Can they self-manage? Make friends? Make the RIGHT friends? Get up and go to class? Do they have good study skills? Can they manage their time? If you can’t think of at least three examples of self-managing, your student may not be ready. That is ok. Go to plan B. A gap year or a work year are all are designed to help a young person mature and be ready for the next phase.
Set boundaries- maintain your grades in order to continue attending.
I didn’t like these boundaries when they were set for me. But it was one whale of a motivator. I didn’t want to fail and leave college. I liked it a lot better than heading home to some ratty job. So, I made sure to put in the work. BTW, if you treat college like a 35-hour-a-week job, you should be able to graduate on time. That still leaves fun times.
I want every student to get the education they want and need, and graduate on time with the least possible debt. I want you to choose the right school, the right major, graduate in four years or less, and do it all on the skinny, financially.
College or University shouldn’t haunt your finances for the rest of your life.
But, once you get going, stay the course and get that degree!
Congratulations to all the graduates, and best wishes!
