It is difficult to be a parent these days and escape the constant peer parent pressure of getting your kid into the right preschool, then the right grammar school, etc., until Junior is in the right college and you can start partying because you’ve accomplished an important milestone, right?  After all, once your child is accepted to a good college, you know they’ll get a good job, and everyone can take a deep breath.  Apparently, getting into college is only half the battle, according to this CNN article.  In the United States, just over 50% of college entrants actually graduate, and the results vary wildly between universities.  Researchers are starting to take a hard look at the reasons for this trend, but as parents, we need to help our children enter college prepared for the experience as much as possible. 

As more information becomes available on this topic, it should be extremely helpful for parents in guiding their children’s college choices.  For instance, some children may be academically prepared for an elite four-year school, but just not mature enough to handle living on their own yet.  For these students, a small school or a school closer to home may be a better choice.  Other students may be perfectly ready for the living experience, but need some assistance in certain subject areas.  Don’t get me wrong, I still think it is despicable that U.S. students are so ill-prepared for college, as I’ve mentioned in other posts, but maybe a little parental guidance can help fill in the blanks.  While the research will continue, and college trustees will consistently place graduation rates as a “top priority,” we as parents are the ones who ultimately care the most, and can have the greatest effect on the paths our children take.