Majority of high schoolers say they don’t feel prepared for post-graduation

In a survey, about half of students said they’ve never had a job or internship, and more than a third said they’ve never gone for a college visit.

Published June 18, 2025

By Carolyn Crist

Education Dive

A recent Gallup poll conducted alongside Jobs for the Future (JFF) and funded by the Walton Family Foundation reveals that fewer than 30% of high school students feel “very prepared” to pursue any postsecondary pathway—whether college, the workforce, or alternative routes like apprenticeships. Even among those interested in a specific pathway, only 46% feel very prepared.

This striking lack of readiness has educators and policymakers concerned. Maria Flynn, CEO of JFF, emphasizes the need for early support in exploring diverse career and education options: “Young people need support exploring their career interests and education pathways at a much earlier age so they graduate high school with a tangible understanding of the kind of training and skills they’ll need for the jobs of tomorrow” .

🚀 Students & Parents Know Only the Usual Paths

The survey shows students and their families are deeply familiar with only two pathways: four-year college and paid employment.

• ~33% of students and >50% of parents report knowing “a great deal” about bachelor’s programs or jobs 

• However, awareness of alternative options—such as community college, certifications, internships, apprenticeships, military service, or entrepreneurship—remains low. Only 15–20% of students feel well-informed about them, and half of parents know “little or nothing” 

🤝 Trust Is There, Guidance Is Not

When navigating life after graduation, students rely most heavily on:

1. Parents – 90% say they depend on them for advice

2. Teachers – 54%

3. Other family, 52%

4. School counselors, 48%

In contrast, fewer than a third depend on online career resources or social media. Despite these trusted support structures, infrequent or narrow conversations limit students’ preparedness.

📉 Real-World Exposure Is Rare

Students rank college visits, internships, or part-time jobs as the most helpful experiences in understanding postsecondary options:

• Yet ~50% of students have never held a job or internship

• More than 1 in 3 have never visited a college campus 

Among those who did participate, nearly 40% reported these experiences as pivotal in shaping their future plans .

🏢 Employers Notice the Gap

Feedback from employers echoes these concerns. Over half report recent graduates lack workplace readiness—especially in professionalism, time management, and responsible phone use. This mismatch reflects both incomplete student preparation and limited employer engagement with schools.

🌱 The Path Forward: Broaden Awareness and Build Experience

Data shows that simply increasing awareness of alternative pathways significantly boosts student interest—by as much as 3×. Thus, the following strategies emerge:

• Broaden engagement early to include apprenticeships, certifications, military, entrepreneurship

• Support families and educators with accessible information on multiple pathways

• Expand hands-on experiences—internships, college visits, volunteer roles

• Connect schools with employers and higher-ed institutions via programs like JFF’s Center for Career Navigation, which develops career tools and guidance platforms 

These initiatives can help students and parents break free from traditional narratives and enable more informed decisions.

🎯 Key Takeaways for Educators

• Students trust adults most—but those adults need better, earlier training on all postsecondary options

• Provide early exposure to a diversity of career pathways across grade levels

• Integrate workshops, field visits, internship planning into high school curricula

• Collaborate with counselors to broaden conversations beyond college

• Partner with employers, nonprofits, and higher-ed to create real-world connection points

• Utilize resources like JFF’s Center for Career Navigation to supplement local efforts

Closing the preparation gap is critical not only for student success but for workforce resiliency and economic growth. By proactively expanding awareness and facilitating experience, educators can ensure students graduate both informed and ready.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com