College isn’t a golden ticket to success, and it’s no longer the default option. For today’s teens, life after high school could mean a university campus, a welding apprenticeship, a military contract, or launching a small business. The real challenge isn’t choosing college—it’s choosing the right fit.
A recent survey found that 90 percent of Gen Z students say they trust their parents to advise them on next steps after high school. The bad news? Parents say they don’t know enough about the vast majority of valuable education and training options their child could pursue and are especially in the dark about anything that isn’t either pursuing a career directly or getting a bachelor’s degree.
After all, there are a finite number of traditional colleges, but a seemingly infinite number of pathways beyond college. And it’s not a glass slipper moment—several options could fit just as well.
The Big Decision
Thinking about college seriously starts in high school. Todd Rinehart, the vice chancellor for enrollment at Denver University (DU), says even though many higher education schools visit high schools, there is a lot of information out there about applications, financial aid, and what a school is like right on a school’s website.
Rinehart says national enrollment in colleges has been trending down recently. He cites a decline in the number of high school seniors and smaller graduating classes as a reason, coming from the birth rates that have not returned since the 2007 recession.
“I think what’s concerning in recent years, even before we started to see the decline in seniors in high school, you started to see a smaller percentage of graduating seniors going to college. So in recent years, maybe 70 percent of high school graduates would go directly to college, and in the last couple of years, that’s been closer to 60 percent,” he says.
But maybe your student doubts if they could succeed at college. Rinehart thinks otherwise. He says students should try to avoid imposter syndrome and questioning whether they are good enough to go to college. He believes they are.
“I’m not saying that college is the right match for every person. It certainly isn’t, but I think for most students who really want a pathway to college, there’s a way to get there, and they can definitely do it,” explains Rinehart
Local school systems are expanding opportunities beyond the traditional four-year degrees for the students who may choose a different path. The Denver Public Schools have a Career & College Success page where students starting in 8th grade can turn to find ways to prepare for their futures. They offer a Career Success Guideline aimed at helping students become prepared academically, socially, and emotionally through different classes and programs.
Questions to Ask
As a parent, all you want is to see your child succeed. You can help by starting conversations on self-reflections of their goals, researching options, and discussing finances openly. Encourage them to explore career interests, think about what they are good at doing and what they find joy and passion in, visit different types of campuses, and consider alternatives like trade schools or a gap year. Act like a sounding board and guide them toward a school or path that fits best for them, rather than one with prestige.
“I think families need to be evaluating colleges on three levels,” says Rinehart. “Is this particular school a personal match for me, is it an academic match, and is it a financial match?”
And if a school, or even college in general, is not a fit — it’s ok! If your child is unsure, a gap year is perfect to work and explore interests, helping them mature and define their goals. Recent studies show that 90% of students who take a gap year before going to college return to school.
If College is Right
In Colorado, Rinehart says there are numerous great colleges and universities that families should go explore. He encourages families to hop in the car and visit all different types of schools—public, private, small, medium, large. “You can start to get a feel for what resonates with you and what excites you,” he says.
Rinehart emphasizes that families should not expect college to be a golden ticket to success—a student is not automatically transformed, guaranteed with a job, promised a certain salary, and set for a successful life and career until they retire.
“Life is a journey, it’s not as simple,” he explains. “You should come into college eyes wide open to know that you will transform personally and academically, but you still have another 60 years of your life and your career that will also be influenced by a lot of other things besides that you went to college.”
Career Alternatives
You spend 18 years preparing your child for the world after high school, so what do you do when your child comes home and says, “I don’t want to go to college”?
First, make sure it isn’t just nerves—have them meet with a college counselor or their high school counselor to help alleviate some misguided expectations and ease the nerves. If it truly is that the traditional four-year college route is not for your child, but they still want to continue their education, there are other options. Many accredited online and community colleges also offer associate or bachelor’s degrees.
Vocational fields and jobs in construction, manufacturing, welding, electricians, mechanics, and plumbers are facing personnel shortages due to an aging workforce, according to Stephen Tave, president and CEO of American Higher Education Development Corporation. These hands-on jobs also come with a built-in advantage—they’re essentially AI-proof.
Not to mention that vocational colleges are significantly more affordable than other universities, require less time to earn a degree, and graduates enter the workplace sooner.
But no matter what decision is made, Rinehart says to just enjoy the process and try not to stress over it. “I think people get discouraged and stressed out of the gate, and really, they should just enjoy it. There’s nothing more fun than being on a college campus and just visiting different schools,” he explains.
The goal to help your child succeed isn’t necessarily to chase prestige or follow tradition, it’s to help your teen choose a path that fits who they are and who they’re still becoming.
