What career paths are parents suggesting for high school graduates?
Most modern pathways feel overwhelming because simply landing any entry-level job is a monumental task, let alone choosing between college degrees and trade schools. Parents find it difficult to know what options actually pay off or how to guide their kids when just getting them to graduate is the immediate hurdle.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 12.4× more often in r/Parenting than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1recommending specific career fields like cybersecurity, industrial maintenance, or engineeringDid this help you?
- 2advising kids to get a job first and take a couple of classes while figuring things outDid this help you?
- 3discussing what parents are willing to pay for college and evaluating the financial value propositionDid this help you?
- 4Letting them dream until reality sets inDid this help you?
- 5Telling them what it takes academically to get a degree in journalism or sports mediaDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Over the last few years, I have seen an uptick in my high school male students genuinely thinking they will be professional athletes.”source ↗
“I had a student constantly tell me what D1 baseball team he wanted to play for before going pro. He had an F in my math class and couldnt throw from home to second.”source ↗
“I’m curious what are parents suggesting their kids do after high school right now? Go into the trades? Or if college, study what exactly?”source ↗
“It’s hard either way. Just landing a job feels like a monumental task.”source ↗
“if i can get him to graduate high school, it’ll be a damn miracle. i would LIKE my kids to go to college. so we’ll see.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 23Should I get an accounting certificate or degree while working?
- 12Accounts receivable vs bank teller for a finance degree?
- 4Why doesn't my family understand my career choice?
- 9Can you switch accounting service lines before starting your job?
- 2How to choose a career when you have no passion
- 19Is teaching still a realistic option for me?