Success after high school isn’t determined by the path a student chooses, it’s determined by how well they are prepared for that path.

Whether a student is heading to college, a Career & Technical Education (CTE) program, the military, or directly into the workforce, the same three factors drive long-term success:

• Academic Readiness – Do they have the knowledge and skills to perform?

• Social Readiness – Can they navigate new environments, build relationships, and advocate for themselves?

• Financial Readiness – Do they understand the cost, value, and long-term impact of their decisions?

Most students are only preparing academically, but that’s only one-third of the equation.

A true Success Plan ensures students are not just ready to take the next step, but ready to succeed once they get there.

Not all colleges will be the right fit, and not all students prioritize the same factors. The Six Keys of College Fit—which consider academic, financial, personal, career, student outcomes, and student support services—help students evaluate schools based on what’s most important to them.

Yet, these rankings continue to play a powerful influencer role in college decision-making. Students and parents use them to narrow college searches and meet their social status and prestige needs. Caught in the middle, what are we to do?

A parent of a graduating 12th grader, who is now deciding on whether or not to major in game development, asked us to look into this and provide them more information. They sent us the names of the top colleges their student has applied to. We used two of the 6 Keys of College Fit (www.collegeunmazed.com) to gather data that would help the student make a more informed decision.

How as a parent, do you help your student see beyond the "emotional appeal" of a college and more objectively at the process?