Paying it forward: College and career choices
“College is affordable and available to all,” said Gonzalo Robles of Café con Leche.
One thousand Texas and Florida families understand college availability for their students through Road to College or similar engagements.
Many Wichita Falls ISD families know the rest of his formula for high school seniors, “Apply for 50 scholarships. Go to the school that costs you the least.”
Graduations in May are a turning point in our students’ lives. High school education and the right to vote are symbols of passage toward adulthood. Texas continues to grow and create jobs. Most jobs require a college degree or at least certification of skills beyond those of secondary schools.
This year’s simplified FAFSA rollout is another obstacle facing seniors. Free Application for Federal Student Aid submissions are down 25% nationally, as well as for Texas compared to April 26, 2023, (though required for graduation).
WFISD data for the same time frame shows 30-34% of students have completed FAFSA as compared to 45-49% at this time one year ago.
“Colleges and universities could see a 20% drop in enrollment this year,” said U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah, the Republican chair of the House Higher Education Subcommittee.
Once your FAFSA is complete, apply for scholarships; numerous scholarships go unclaimed every year. The FAFSA deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year is June 30.
Colleges and universities are working to accommodate the schedule issues with the FAFSA rollout, but students need to keep applying for aid. Find the schools that work with you, address your questions and want you to attend.
Our young high school seniors consider future career choices based on their limited experiences in paying for food, shelter and transportation, much less providing for a family. Fewer yet consider that they are likely to work through age 70 as life expectancy continues to increase due to medical advances and lifestyle choices.
Workers migrating from other states are more likely to have a college education than Texas residents. Many of the most popular jobs didn’t exist five years ago. Continuing advances in technology and artificial intelligence create even more knowledge-worker demand.
Without a post-secondary education, Texas high school graduates enjoy less financial success than Texans with a college degree. A few years of post-secondary education enables a much different lifestyle while providing fulfillment of another generation’s dreams of a better life.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former tech sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing? Visit his website at www.newcollarcoach.com.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Browne Paying it forward: College and career choices
