25 Ways to Make College Pay off : Advice for Anxious Parents From a Professor Who's Seen It All

College is not easy. Staying in and studying when your friends are out having a good time is not easy. Giving up a summer on the beach for an internship is not easy. Getting a good job is not easy. For you as the parent of a college student, paying the bills is not easy. Seeing your child graduate with no direction and with few skills to function in today's highly competitive modern economy is not easy. Your child needs guidance, and you can provide it. This book is designed to be an easy to use, step-by-step guide to help you help your children use their college to prepare for a satisfying career.Here are the gruesome statistics: about 40 percent of students do not graduate from four year programs in six years; only 20 percent of employers say that college graduates are ready for the workforce; about 40 percent of those who graduate college get a job that will allow them to move out of the house permanently; and, less than 28 percent of American adults have a four year undergraduate degree.I 'm not going to sugar coat this information and tell you that little Timmy and Susie will find an excellent job with amazing benefits and stellar opportunity for advancement the moment the diploma is in their hands. That attitude is not going to help anyone and is the reason so many college graduates end up at home, living off minimum wage with little direction or prospect of career success. This book is a strong dose of tough love, which is exactly what I expect you will give your kids once you read the 20 ways to make your child's education pay off. You will become more than just the one who pays the bills or nags about grades. This book provides you with a rational approach which will reduce stress and anxiety for both you and your child over whether or not your huge financial and emotional investment will pay off.In discussing my previous book with parents, "10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College", I realized that writing directly to students was not enough. Students rarely bought the book; their parents and relatives did. Even more disconcerting was the frequent statement made by parents, "Let's see if I can get Johnny to read the book." Moreover, I realized that parents approached their children in a variety of counter-productive ways. It was as if they were at the race track, spending their money and watching from the sidelines.Their primary activity was cheering for high grades or letting go with a torrent of four letter words when the students appeared to be faltering. Parents have to become investors, rather than gamblers, in their children's college education. This book suggests a "no-nonsense" approach toward your child's college experience. You may find it difficult to pursue all of the book's recommendations. Like any self-help book, you can pick and choose from the advice provided here; however, following through on the specific guidelines provided throughout the book will make a huge difference in your child's success. As a main player in your child's college experience, your general goal should be to help your child use college to pursue two specific goals: to develop skills employers want and to explore a variety of career paths.Employers want skillful and hardworking people who have a sense of where they are going with their work life, and since they can't find them, success is practically guaranteed if your child is one of those savvy and determined people. The simplicity of the message is deceiving, but as Voltaire said, "Common sense is not so common." In my 40 years of teaching and advising students, I have found it very difficult to get students to focus on their skill development and career exploration. Students frequently ask me, "what should I major in" and I respond, "It doesn't matter as long as you get the skills and explore career options." Invariably, the next question from the student is "if I major in x, will I get a good job?" Students are so fixated on the degree and the GPA that they fail to understand that it's a general set of professional skills and some understanding of career options that will lead to career success.They look at me like I'm crazy, but suddenly, as they get great jobs right out of college and their friends don't, it magically makes sense. This book is not about finances, dealing with roommate problems, how to get good grades or how to get admitted to the best graduate schools. Many other books and web sites are available for such purposes, and I encourage you to check them out. This book is about how to help your children maximize their college experiences and gain the skills needed to pursue a satisfying career, with or without graduate school. The primary audience for this book is parents whose children are planning to attend a traditional four year undergraduate program; however, much of it can be applied to those planning to attend two year programs or vocational post-secondary programs.Using my 20 guidelines, you will give your children an advantage over those who are confused, discouraged and overwhelmed by the prospects of finding, let alone moving into, a satisfying career path. Those unfortunate students may eventually find a viable path, but not without greater cost, more anxiety and years of delay. The Proposed Book Appeals To Parents Who Are Worried That Their $100,000+ Investment In A College Education Will Not Lead To A Satisfying Career Path For Their Children. Two Chapters Discuss High School With Respect To College Credit Courses In High Schools Like Ap And The Application Process. The Bulk Of The Book Helps Parents Guide Their Children To Make The Right Choices While In College. One Chapter Suggests What Should Happen After College. The Proposed Book Targets An Unfulfilled Segment Of Parent Advice Books - How To Help Their Children Have A College Experience That Will Prepare Them For A Satisfying Career. While There Is No Direct Competition For This Book, There Are Books That Are Relevant Competition. They Can Be Divided Into Three Types: Books Providing General Tips About All Aspects Of College Directed At Students; Books Providing More Specific Advice On Career Development Directed At Students; Books On How Parents Can Cope With Their Children On All Aspects Of College.; There Are Many Books Written For Parents About How To Adjust To The Empty Nest Or Provide General Advice About All Of College Life Such As Carol Barkin's When Your Kid Goes To College: A Parent's Survival Guide (avon Books) And Karen Levin Coburn And Madge Lawrence Treeger's Letting Go: A Parents' Guide To Understanding The College Years (harper Perennial). However, There Is No Book Devoted To How Parents Can Answer The Question: How Can I Make Sure My Child Graduates College Ready To Start A Career Or To Make A Realistic Choice About Graduate Education? Some Of The Books Listed Above Contain Brief Discussions On This Topic, But None Provides A Thorough Set Of Tips For Success.; None Of These Books Are Written By A Veteran College Professor Who Has Devoted Most Of His 40+ Year Teaching Career To Helping Students Acquire The Skills And Perspective To Do Well In Their Careers. None Of These Books Have Input Of Successful College Students Who Have Used These 20 Skills In Their College Career. This Is An Insider's Book On How To Get The Most Out Of College.; I Decided To Write This Book Based On My Experience With My Book, 10 Things Employers Want You To Learn In College Which Was Written Directly To Students. Published By 10 Speed Press, It Has As, The Marketing People At 10 Speed Say, Legs. It Sales Could Be Better If Today's College Students Actually Read Self-help Books And Had Enough Focus And Background To Plan A College Career That Would Set Them Up For A Satisfying Career Path. But They Don't. Moreover, Whenever I Gave A Speech To Professional Educators, Members Of The Audience Would Purchase An Autographed Copy, Not For Their Students, But For Their Kids Or Nieces And Nephew.; Based On That Experience, I Am Writing This Book Directly To Parents. My Trip To Barnes And Nobles Led To Me To Two Spots In The Store. The First Was The Education Section Which Had About 10 Shelves On College Topics But Most Were Either About Getting Into A Good College Or Doing Well Academically. The Second Section Was Called Family And Childcare Which Mostly Contained Books Related To Young Children, Early Teens And Children With Physical And Psychological Challenges.; However, One Book Prominently Displayed In The Section Was Mel Levine's Ready Or Not, Here Life Comes. The Tag Line Said The Book Shows How Today's Society Makes It Hard For Kids To Grow Into Productive Adults - And What We Can Do About It. Levine Does Not Deal Specifically With How To Help Children Get Ready For A Satisfying Career Through College. I Wrote To Levine To Explore A Possible Jointly Authored Book On This Topic.; He Wrote Back I Will Not Be Writing A Book To Parents, But I Hope You Will Do So. I Work Closely With The Head Of The Syracuse University Bookstore Who Has Bought Copies For All Her Nieces And Nephews And Has Also Had Me Make Presentations To A Regional Conference Of The National Association College Bookstores. She Has Had Tremendous Success Selling My 10 Thing

In the next few years, parents can expect to spend more than $40,000 per year on their child's college tuition. While that number may seem frightening, it is not as grim as the statistics that predict their child's chances of actually finding a job after graduation. Only about 20% of employers believe college graduates are ready for the workforce, and only 40% of graduates will find a job that will ensure their financial independence. The good news is that with the right advice, parents can turn their pricey investment into one that truly yields a high return and a rewarding career for their son or daughter. Professor Coplin offers honest advice for parents who want their child's college experience to ensure future success- both financially and emotionally. Parents will learn how to help their college-bound student:
* develop skills employers actually want
* get their first job
* treat career services as their best ally
* explore a variety of career paths
* realize the importance of the unpaid internship
* and more.

A unique and no-nonsense blueprint, 25 Ways to Make College Pay Off will show parents how to mentor and guide their child through college so that he or she gets the most out of the experience and leaves prepared for the real world.

In the next few years, parents can expect to spend more than $40,000 per year on their childs college tuition. While that number may seem frightening, it is not as grim as the statistics that predict their childs chances of actually finding a job after graduation. Only about 20% of employers believe college graduates are ready for the workforce, and only 40% of graduates will find a job that will ensure their financial independence. The good news is that with the right advice, parents can turn their pricey investment into one that truly yields a high return and a rewarding career for their son or daughter. Professor Coplin offers honest advice for parents who want their childs college experience to ensure future success both financially and emotionally. Parents will learn how to help their college-bound * develop skills employers actually want * get their first job * treat career services as their best ally * explore a variety of career paths * realize the importance of the unpaid internship * and more. A unique and no-nonsense blueprint, 25 Ways to Make College Pay Off will show parents how to mentor and guide their child through college so that he or she gets the most out of the experience and leaves prepared for the real world. A guide to help parents help their children use their college to prepare for a satisfying career. It provides an approach that reduces stress and anxiety for parents and children over whether or not the huge financial and emotional investment will pay off. "Witty, easy to read, and surprisingly honest, 25 Ways to Make College Pay Off will help put your child on the path to growing up, taking charge of the future, and achieving a rewarding career and self-sufficient life"--Page 4 of cover