As they plan for the future, teens today continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: while the immediate urgency has passed, teens’ choices have been informed by all of the upheaval whether they are aware of it or not. While trying to make sense of this new world, research on teens implied that in a post-COVID world, teens were not putting the same value on higher education – especially four-year college – as they did in the past. Instead, other sorts of education, training, or career paths became popular among teens. Additionally, many studies implied that teens put a high premium on the location of their jobs, arguably more so than they did on other job features.

 

Discover whether today’s teens are conforming to or shaking off these trends – especially about four-year college. When do teens start planning their futures? What are their next steps for their education and why? Why are they motivated to pursue the careers of their choice, and what do they value most in their jobs? Join us on this expedition to uncover the future planning narratives of contemporary teenagers, the influences shaping their decisions, and their visions for their future goals. This information is invaluable for higher education institutions seeking to align their offerings with the preferences and needs of the current generation.