Ever wonder why colleges post six-year graduation rates for an undergraduate degree? Transferring schools, changing majors, work - even factors outside of student control - greatly impact four-year graduation rates. ‪

Here's why one academic dean recommends that students work with advisers and career counselors early on so they can develop a clear plan for their time in college and increase the odds of graduating within less than six years:

The Myth of the Four-Year College Degree

By Victor Luckerson @TIMEBusiness, Jan. 10, 2013

Another graduation ceremony has come and gone, and Chauncey Woodard is still a student at the University of Alabama. He came to UA in the spring of 2008 after some time in community college, expecting to spend, at most, four years at the school. After being forced to take a semester off in 2010 to save up more money for his education, he expects to graduate in August 2013 at the earliest.  “For me to get my education, I either have to go deep in debt or drag it out like I’m doing now,” Woodard, a construction-engineering major, says. “You get to see a lot of people move on, and you’re still here. That kind of gets to you around graduation.”

Woodard’s not alone in extending his university studies beyond a typical senior year. While undergraduate education is typically billed as a four-year experience, many students, particularly at public universities, actually take five, six or even more years to attain a degree. According to the Department of Education, fewer than 40% of students who enter college each year graduate within four years, while almost 60% of students graduate in six years. At public schools, less than a third of students graduate on time.

“It’s a huge issue for society,” says Matthew Chingos, an author of Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities. “It’s a huge issue for the individual students who are spending more money on tuition than they need to. The longer they wait to graduate and get a job, those are extra years of their careers when they’re in college and not working and not making money.” Chingos points out that delayed graduation at public schools also affects taxpayers who are subsidizing students’ education.

Reasons for delaying graduation are numerous. For students who choose to participate in co-ops or internships during the school year, it can be tough to fit in all the necessary courses. Overcrowded classes can make it impossible for students to fulfill degree requirements in a timely manner. And the common practice of changing majors midway through college can make a four-year degree impractical.

For schools themselves, there are advantages to shuttling students through efficiently. Four-year graduation rates can affect colleges’ national rankings, which are used heavily in recruiting students. A shorter time to degree also means more students receive an education from a given school, and it can potentially mean a less crowded campus.

At Purdue University, improving the four-year graduation rate is a priority for administrators. The school hopes to improve its four-year rate from 42% to 50% by 2014 and to 70% in the coming decade. “The biggest thing we can do to lower cost is make sure that every student who wants to finish in four years has the ability do so,” says Tim Sands, acting president of Purdue. “If we can increase our graduation rate and decrease time to degree modestly … we give more students an opportunity to get a Purdue degree.”

In recent years Purdue has launched a battery of exploratory courses across disciplines to help students get a better idea of their interests before they commit to a major. An academic boot camp in the summer before freshman year is aimed at students who didn’t have access to advanced courses in high school to ensure they’ll be prepared for college coursework. The school is even considering switching to a trimester system, which would aim to shorten students’ time to degree by making more courses available during the summer months.

Other schools have also adopted inventive methods to promote graduating in four years. At the University of North Carolina, where the four-year graduation rate exceeds 80%, students must graduate in eight regular semesters to have additional majors and minors recognized on their transcripts.

“We decided that we would embrace the fact that we are a four-year university,” says Bobbi Owen, UNC’s senior associate dean for undergraduate education. “If you look at the statistics, something like 29,000 students applied to be part of the fall entering class in 2012. If there’s that many students seeking 3,900 spaces in a class, if the seniors are graduating, you actually have room to bring in those 3,900 students.”

With schools focused on getting students through, the national four-year graduation rate has crept upward in recent years, from 34% of the 1996 starting cohort to 39% of the 2005 starting cohort. Still, schools acknowledge that there’s more they could do.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Purdue’s Sands says. He recommends that students take advantage of advisers and career counselors starting in their freshman year so that they can develop a coherent plan for their time in college, whether it be short or long. “Don’t just go semester to semester. Really think ahead. If they do that right off the bat, they’re much more likely to be successful and complete their studies in a reasonable amount of time.”

"Meaningful interaction" was the core of my workshop last week with parents learning about the college admission process.  The announcement of this new application makes my focus even more critical.

Notice anything about the figure below?  Despite all the discussion about parental (over)involvement, students remain steadfast in relying on parents and family members for career support.  

So what's a parent to do when seeking to provide tools and support while encouraging full independence and accountability?  The parents and students with whom I work identify three approaches to ensure student career development success:

1)  Students - Start early in the academic year (now!) to clarify interests, set career goals, and connect with mentors

2)  Parents - Encourage ongoing student development for long-term success with multiple plans to identify options 

3)  Both (Students and Parents) - Welcome professional services that can provide expert guidance and support

A frustrating but common element in the workplace. Good advice if you are feeling sabotaged by a coworker.

Question of the day:  Our 22-year-old son is set to graduate this May with a degree in Political Science.  He has not expressed any clear path he wants to take professionally. As much as we are frustrated by his lack of focus and planning, we are more worried about his future.  How do we help him find a job?

I’m grateful for this parent’s permission to share her request for help.  As the effects of the recovering economy linger, more and more students are finding themselves living at home and unemployed after graduation much to parent dismay. 

The facts support this continued pilgrimage home.  Take, for example, the findings collected by the folks at Accenture, where more than 2,000 students and companies shared their perceptions of the class of 2014.  When compared with the experiences of recent grads in the working world, more than 38% (or one-third) of the graduating class responded that they were planning to live at home after graduation.  42% of the graduates from 2012 and 2013 said they were also currently living at home (Accenture 2014 College Graduate Employment Survey). 

So what’s a weary and financially exhausted mom to do with no gainful employment for her son on the horizon?  Craft resumes?  Submit job applications?  Collect grad school information?  Cold call friends to find placement?

My response is an enthusiastic YES to all of the above, as long as your student does the work.  Without doing the work himself, there’s nothing to be gained enabling him in this critical process.  Worst yet, you risk sending the message that he isn’t capable.

Feeling torn about the college to career process and how you fit in?  Consider the perspectives of employers and graduate school committees taking calls from a parent.  Is this the best indicator of your student’s ability to communicate with future clients or do graduate level work?

Developmentally-speaking, not all 22 year-olds arrive in the same place at the same time.  Some make clearer career choices earlier while others struggle through a longer period of trial and error.  Wherever your student is on the career development path, your ongoing encouragement and empathy will go a long way to helping him identify his best fit in the world. Setting expectations, encouraging short- and long-term plans, identifying potential contacts and opportunities, and encouraging him to fully utilize campus and professional resources are all appropriate ways to assist. Doing the work for him, overcompensating, defining his career objectives, or even assigning blame are all counter-productive behaviors to avoid.

One last thing:  In my experience, being mom (or dad) is a hard enough gig; adding career coach or college counselor to that job is very seldom a good idea.  Those of us in the profession are the first ones to welcome the assistance of others beside us.  If you do your (developmentally-appropriate) part and insist your son does his, success will often take care of itself.


I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career development and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me.  You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Are you spending more than an hour each day scouring job postings in search of a new job? 

If yes, stop.

These published postings are part of the visual job market and result in the submission of hundreds (even thousands) of resumes.  While searching the visual market may provide leads and land an interview, hiring managers are more likely to prioritize internal candidates and referrals previously identified in the hidden job market. 

That’s the market I want you to shop.

Instead of spending an hour or two daily hunting fresh postings, I want you to re-focus your primary effort on making connections and optimizing your online branding.  Not only will this activity help you learn more about how to break into a job or field but it’s also where recruiters are hoping to find you.

Unsure where to start?  Here are three quick steps you can take today to enter the hidden market:

1. First, review your summary profile (online and print) to ensure a match between your skills and experiences and the job you are seeking.  This step will help make your resume and LinkedIn profile easier for recruiters to find since you will be using the appropriate keywords.  
   


2. Next, edit your public profile URL on LinkedIn to just include your name and add the link to your profile on your resume.  These quick fixes will help drive recruiters to your online record of experiences, achievements, and industry activity.
   


3. Finally, reach out to connections online using a personalized message.  Acknowledge mutual relationships, experiences, and groups and how you hope to help one another.  As someone who receives weekly requests to learn more about my work and organizations I work with, I find these conversations great opportunities to give insight and encouragement as well as receive mutual support.  
   

I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me. You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Question of the day:  My daughter has the flu and cannot attend her prescheduled visits to two of her top schools over break.  Will she hurt her chances of being admitted if she is a no show?  

The fear of not showing adequate interest to a college during the admissions process is a frequent hot topic during this time of the year.  With decisions for admission pending, students rely on campus visits as a primary means to demonstrate their high level of interest in a college.  Behind the scenes, admissions staff use this tracking as a tool to predict yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll in a college).

While these students are correct in their belief that some colleges do track applicant contact to gauge eagerness to attend, not all do.   According to a study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, roughly half of all colleges and universities place either moderate or high importance on an applicant's interest in attending the school.  Those institutions not using demonstrated interest as a factor in the admission process believe campus visits better serve as a means of helping students make an informed choice about their college plans.  

My advice?  Do a little research to find out whether or not the colleges to which you are applying put much weight on demonstrated interest.  If they do, campus visits are merely one of the several ways to achieve this task.  Check out these additional useful options:

High School Visits – Admissions counselors routinely travel throughout the admission season to visit students giving you excellent opportunities to connect with representatives from the colleges of your choice.

Mailing List – If you haven’t had an opportunity to connect with a representative at a college fair, but sure to provide your information online to join the mailing list.  

College Fairs – Stop by the booths of the colleges you are interested in to introduce yourself and provide your contact information.  

College Interviews – If the interview is optional, do it.  The interview is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your interest and fit.  Don’t overlook interview opportunities with a student or alum, too.

Thank You Notes - If you connect with a college representative, do send an email the next day to thank him/her for meeting with you.  Be sure to include one or two aspects of the college that appeal to you.  Want to make a great impression?  Send a handwritten note. 

Apply Early –  If you are very certain about your college list, applying early is a clear sign of interest.  With two options available in the early admission process, Early Decision and Early Action, be sure you are clear about the objectives of each.  While both options involve an earlier application deadline than regular admissions and earlier notification of admissions decisions, Early Decision programs are usually binding.

Supplemental Essays – While Common App essays can be used for any school accepting the application, supplemental essays are an opportunity to let you shine and demonstrate your interest.  As with any writing you are submitting during the application process, be sure to answer the question you are being asked in the supplemental essay with a concise, well-crafted response.


I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career development and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me.  You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Have you heard the story about the $5 haircut?  The story goes that there is a small town barber (let’s call him Barber Smith) who has most of the town’s business for many years charging $7 per haircut. 

One day, a new barber (Barber Jones) moves to town and sets up shop directly across from Barber Smith.  Barber Jones promptly places a “$5 Haircut” sign on the front of his store.

As can be expected, many of Barber Smith’s long-time customers stray to Barber Jones to save $2 on a haircut.  Not surprisingly, the cheaper haircuts turn out to be substandard with the cuts growing out uneven and unmanageable. 

Of course, none of this surprises Barber Smith, who puts up a new sign of his own:  “We fix $5 haircuts.”

The moral of the story:  Sometimes the cheapest option is not the best choice.

Sometimes I feel like Barber Smith when meeting clients unhappy with resumes prepared by a service promising to undercut the competition.  In an effort to save money, they have settled for a service unable to provide high-quality goods.  In the end, no one wins as the job seeker fails to get maximum results, and the resume service develops a reputation for falling short of professional standards.

Let's face it:  The hours you have spent working jobs you’ve loved or hated and early years studying and training have been an enormous investment. Your resume should reflect this investment and help you define your value to the marketplace. 

When searching for career development services, be sure to invest your time with a professional who has the formal training and background to identify the right strategy for your job search.  The best will have years of experience in career development including expertise in hiring cycles and recruiting best practices.  More importantly, these professionals have invested enormously into their personal development in order to help you craft a resume that will open doors and interview with confidence. 

The moral of your career development story?  Time spent up front collaborating with the right career professional will not only save you money and heartache in the long run, but will also provide you with the competitive edge needed to stand out. 

 
I really appreciate that you are reading my post. I regularly write about career development and college success. If you would like to read my regular posts, please visit my Facebook page and click the "like" button to follow me.  You can also connect with me via Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. 

Liz is a married mother of three and soon-to-be empty nester.  With her youngest about to accept an early admission decision to her dream school and twins in their second year at the local state university, Liz is both excited and anxious about the transition ahead. 

Eager to tackle a new challenge beyond the inconsistent part-time work she has juggled since leaving the workforce 17 years ago, Liz yearns to land a full-time position to invest her time and energy.  Of equal importance to her is the ability to increase her earnings to help contribute to the family’s growing tuition needs.  Having spent the past few months helping Liz explore the logistics of her return to full-time work and roles that she would find fulfilling, we are now ready to bring her resume into the 21st century.

Our first session dusting off her document starts easy enough with a nostalgic trip down memory lane.  After narrating her career path from college graduate to parenthood, some self-doubt creeps in:

Liz:  Look at the dates on this.  I’m a dinosaur. 

MH:  If I told you that we were nearing five generations in the workplace at once, would that reassure you about your place in the world?

Liz:  Um, maybe.  Should I just leave off the dates and use that functional kind of format you talked about?

MH:  We’re definitely going to combine a functional and chronological approach to help you leverage your skills and experiences, but the dates are important, too.  

Since my private college and career practice frequently involves working with clients from the same family, I often find myself in the fantastic task of helping clients of all ages navigate the stages of career development from education and exploration to the job search.  Having helped Liz’s children discover their own place in today’s ever-changing world, my focus now shifts to helping “Mom” develop her own sure footing:

Liz:  I totally trust you, but tell me:  Are the dates a way to ensure I’m not lying?

MH:  More than anything, sharing the dates of your education and experience demonstrates how open and honest you are.  My first reaction when reading a resume with missing dates is that the candidate is hiding something.  When reviewing resumes with omitted dates, I urge clients to use transparency so no one feels deceived during the job search process.

Liz:  But how do I prevent discrimination? 

MH:  We can’t prevent age bias – it’s a risk and reality of the job search.  What we can control however, is the ability to present your dynamic skills and qualifications in way that engages the reader, proves your value to the workforce, and initiates an interview. 

Liz:  Got it.  I’m still a dinosaur, though. 

MH:  Okay, as long as you don’t use that reference in an interview.  Remind me to start your mock interview session sooner than later.  I’m eager to debunk that myth for you, too!