Can 9th graders start preparing for the job market? Yes!

At my conference, I attended a session that emphasized why students should begin having hands-on work experiences and building business skills as early as 9th grade. I’m all for helping students find internship opportunities, develop resumes, and create LinkedIn pages when they're ready, but the real skills that businesses say they want--communication and critical thinking--happen organically if students become engaged in their classes, clubs, and outside-school activities.

How to build communication skills? Effective teamwork in classes and clubs like mock trial, Model UN, and student government will help you navigate awkward conversations with teachers and even make you more confident asking someone to prom. Writing papers and DBQ’s will prepare you to write better emails, speak well in meetings, write a great cover letter, and ace the interview to land that job. 

Critical thinking? When you learn to analyze information and question what you hear in English or history class, you're not just preparing for college essays or workplace problem-solving. You're also becoming the friend who can spot fake news, figure out why your group project is falling apart, or help your friend think through that complicated relationship drama.

Here’s a few more:

Time management? Learn how to make time for both studying and hanging out with friends without feeling stressed about either one. In the future, that will help you manage work deadlines.

What about technical skills? Increase your digital fluency by taking computer science, CAD, and engineering courses, but understand that those you master today will completely change by the time you enter the job market. Being adaptable matters more.

How can you, as a high school student, prepare now to enter the work world? Look up from your phone and start now! The best career skills are good people skills.

Two reasons to download your transcript at the end of junior year

Are you applying to any of the colleges on this list?

Then you'll need a copy of your transcript to fill in your high school courses, credits, and grades on the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). These colleges want this information from you, not your school counselor. Many high schools shut the systems down over the summer, so act quickly.

• Baylor University

• Clemson University

• Duquesne University

• Florida A & M University

• Florida Atlantic University

• Florida Polytechnic University

• Florida State University

• Kean University

• Louisiana State University

• Montclair State University 

• New College of Florida

• New York University (NYU)

• Pennsylvania State University

• Rutgers University, Camden

• Rutgers University, Newark

• Rutgers University, New Brunswick

• Temple University

• Texas A&M University

• United State Air Force Academy

• University at Buffalo, State University of New York

• University of Connecticut

• University of Delaware

• University of Florida

• University of Massachusetts Amherst

• University of Minnesota Twin Cities

• University of North Florida

• University of Oregon

• University of Pittsburgh

• University of Rhode Island 

• University of South Florida

• University of Tampa

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• University of Texas at Arlington 

• University of Texas at San Antonio

• University of West Florida

• Virginia Tech

Even if you are not applying to these colleges, you'll need your transcript to apply to a number of others that require you to enter your grades in the Common Application. Here are a few popular ones:

Amherst College, Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Loyola Marymount University, Purdue University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Oregon, University of Southern California, University of Washington, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

More Students are Going to College: Spring 2025 Stats

I like to share any current statistics, since much of the data about the high school class of 2025 will not be revealed until August. 

Despite financial losses and continued economic volatility, Americans still believe that investing in a college education is worth it.

But money matters. I’ve written several times about families opting for more reasonably-priced public universities over expensive private institutions that give little or no non-need based merit aid. We also see an increased interest in international options, with Canada, the UK, and Ireland the top college destinations. Why? As many students and families approach college vocationally (beginning college with the specific intention of getting a job in a particular field), the European model of choosing a major and earning a degree in 3 years instead of 4 is increasingly attractive. We know that international students comprise roughly 6% of students at US colleges, and there is significant data on how many US students study abroad while enrolled in a US-based college, but statistics are unclear on the percentage of Americans pursuing their entire college education abroad. (Please let me know if you discover any reliable stats).

Here are the statistics on US college enrollment for Spring 2025.

• Total postsecondary enrollment is up 3.2 percent this spring (+562,000), compared to spring 2024. Undergraduate enrollment grew 3.5 percent, reaching 15.3 million but remains below pre-pandemic levels (-2.4%, -378,000). Graduate enrollment also increased 1.5 percent, now 7.2 percent (+209,000) higher than in 2020.

• Undergraduate enrollment increased across major institutional sectors, with community colleges (Public two-year and Public PABs-those offering one BA/BS degree and mostly Associates degrees)) seeing the largest growth (+5.4%, +288,000).

• Enrollment increased for all undergraduate credential types. Bachelor’s and associate programs grew by 2.1 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, but remain below spring 2020 levels. Undergraduate certificate program enrollment continued to grow this spring (+4.8%) and is now 20 percent above 2020.