Madeline Riley with Timothy Parros
Every year we meet with students lacking a clear picture of their future, who want to pursue a liberal arts education coming into conflict with their parents who worry about paying for a degree that isn’t “practical” (business, engineering, nursing, etc.). In guiding a compromise, we first educate families about the benefits of attending a liberal arts college, that liberal arts colleges exist within large schools where students can also attain a more technical major or minor, and that the degree is preferred by many employers.
Next, we introduce them to a program that can give students a more clearly defined goal, while retaining their interest in a well-rounded education. With emerging technologies, students can receive impactful guidance on what career path will prove most fulfilling and the multiple trajectories down their path.
Parros College Planning uses YouScience™, a program that through algorithms and aptitude tests assesses where students may belong. Some of our students have really connected with their results, and have even made college decisions because of their outcomes. YouScience™ isn’t your parent’s personality and interest tests that they took in school; with new programs and procedures, the results of these tests give students truly personalized guidance. In our clients’ experiences, the program opens them up to untapped opportunities and often presents them with unexpected results that force them to explore options they wouldn’t have otherwise.
We have seen that students who use assessments to figure out a career goal very early on give themselves four distinct advantages:
- They get excited about college and academic success earlier.
- They choose colleges, academic programs, and majors with a purposeful career goal, allowing them to be more focused and eventually, more prepared.
- They can start building their resume earlier. Internships, volunteering, and even part-time jobs can be tailored to the student’s career aspirations. Not only will they be more attractive candidates for future jobs on paper, but they’ll also have skills and experience that it will take less focused students much longer to acquire.
- They transfer schools less often. They finish college faster. They pay less for their education.
Don’t wait until your student is a college senior to encourage him/her to start thinking about their career goals. Knowing exactly what one wants to do isn’t necessary or realistic as a teenager, but certainly, with the help of YouScience™ and a college counselor, your son or daughter can have a specific field in mind, and hopefully, a clear direction.
At Parros College Planning, we are here to offer you that direction. We work with each student and design a personalized set of recommendations for their college decision making process (what programs to apply to, what to write about in college essays, what activities to pursue in high school, etc.) based on both YouScience™ and our expert knowledge of colleges and the art of getting accepted to them.
Check out the benefits of our program and set up an appointment here.
