Preparing for College May Be Easier Than You Think: The Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H & Youth Development Unit Offers a College Prep Workshop Series for 8th- 12th Graders

Oprah Winfrey once remarked, “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” Oprah’s quote is not unique. Many people agree education is essential. However, according to the 2017 National Center for Educational Statistics, during the 2017-2018 school year, approximately 3.6 million high school youth are expected to graduate. Although the overall drop-out rate declined in the United States, between 2000 and 2015, only 70% of the 2014-2015 graduates enrolled in college directly after completing high school.

Without a college education, it will become increasingly difficult to get a job soon. Since the recovery of the recession in 2010, there has been a creation of 11.6 million jobs, but 11.5 million of those jobs went to employees who had some college education. Also, individuals with at least a Bachelor’s degree accounted for 8.4 million positions developed in the recovery, according to the 2016 Center on Education and the Workforce.

There are more surprising statistics than just the number of jobs created. The more education a person has attained may determine how likely the person will be employed. In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported people with only a high school diploma were almost twice as likely to be unemployed compared to a person with a Bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, a person who has earned a Bachelor’s degree make almost twice the median usual weekly earnings as a high school diploma earner. By making more money, those individuals are more likely to save a portion of their wages, have extra leisure time, and live longer lives, as stated in Convergence: Trends Threatening to Narrow College Opportunity in America.

To stress the importance of education and career pathways, National 4-H Headquarters released a new strategic plan with an outcome of preparing youth for college and career. This outcome is created to promote first-generation college access; to provide exposure to college and career opportunities, and to offer youth engagement in college and career readiness activities and programs. To address this outcome, the Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H and Youth Development (CEP 4HYD) Unit, along with Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Services, held the first ever College Prep 101 Workshop Series Monday, February 19th. The workshop series is a semi-annual event for 8th-12th graders to participate in workshops designed to provide pre-college outreach to 4-H participants.

The topic of this inaugural workshop was Preparing for College and included workshop sessions on college preparation timelines, selecting a college major, writing personal statements for college, and transferring from a community college to a four-year university. Because this event was marketing through the Texas A & M AgriLife County Extension offices, more than 50 youth and parents attended this event from several counties throughout the state. As a result of the workshop, 97% of participants surveyed agreed they (or their child) were more likely to apply and attend a college or university. One participant stated they learned “going to college is worth it and not a waste of time.”

Although the first workshop has already passed, there are things that you can do now to begin the college preparation process. First, review the College Pathway Timeline developed by the CEP 4HYD Unit for high school students. This timeline provides information on what youth in high school should consider at every grade level. Next, calculate the costs of attending college. In addition to tuition, room, and board (meals), be sure to include the price of books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses such as laundry and cell phone bills. The final and most crucial step is to create a plan. Creating a strategy will help you to stay organized and focused while achieving your goal.

The next workshop will take place as CEP 4HYD celebrates National 4-H Week on Monday, October 8, 2018. The topic is Paying for College which includes reviewing the FAFSA application submission process, 4-H scholarships and researching available scholarships.

 

Written by:
Joaquina Scott Kankam
Extension Program Specialist II
Cooperative Extension Program, 4-H and Youth Development