New survey data from the nonprofit American Student Assistance shows that teen interest in college is down while interest in nondegree paths is on the rise.
Meanwhile, parents are skeptical of options outside the traditional college pathway to work.
Nearly half of all students surveyed – 45% – weren’t interested in going to college. About 14% said they planned to attend trade or technical schools, apprenticeships and technical boot camp programs, and 38% were considering those options.
66% of teens surveyed said parents supported their plans to pursue a nondegree route, compared with 82% whose parents encouraged them to attend college.
It’s about how successful your parents were. If your dad is a mechanic, has his own shop, then you might want to consider some form of trade school that also teaches the business side of running a shop. Or becoming a machinist to complement his skills, and still make use of his tools and floor space. If you’re going to be a plumber but end up working for a large corporation, because you don’t have capital to start your own business, things will be tougher. You’ll hours might be bad, the pension they offer might not be good.
Everyone’s situation is different, and the future will be different from now.