First, I want to start off by saying that if you are trying to encourage your child, I hope that this is well before their junior or senior year in high-school, where they are already their own person and have to make decisions on their own. Encouraging your child to do the very best with their life is every parent's role, but college is certainly not for everyone. In fact, there are so many other options out there for your child to consider that I don't believe you should only stress the college route.

I recently graduated from college ... something that was never MY dream, but something that I was told was expected of me and that I should do if I wanted to be "normal" and succeed. Truth is, I never even questioned the other possibilites as equal choices but rather as sub-standard choices that I would "settle" for if I could not attend college. My mother insisted that I attend a local university, but knew we didn't have the necessary funds to send me. Thus, I racked up thousands of dollars in student loans and personal loans that I'm now struggling to pay off. To top it all off, while I have a degree, our unemployment rate is still rather high, and the demand for my chosen field is fairly low, so jobs are scarce. What I'm getting at is to just be as open to all of your child's options, and make sure that THEY know that college is not the only route.

The second point I would like to make is that college is NOT for everyone, and it certainly is not the only way to succeed. The options are endless for success, but if you are insisting on a route that includes furthering their skills or education, consider these: Trade or Technical School, certifications, associate degrees in place of 4 year degrees, serving in the military, or taking enhancement classes at a community college.

Now, back to the question ... "How to encourage children to choose the college route" ... You first want to make sure that you know everything you need to about the college route yourself, what makes a child marketable to a college? does your child possess qualities that would make them eligible for scholarships? What interests does your child have that might make a great career? What are the requirements for admission to colleges? Can you afford higher education or would they need loans?

The earlier you think about these questions, the better prepared you can be when you are trying to plead a case for the college route. If your child is anti-college, the more information you are able to present in a non-invasive manner the better your chances of breaking through. If you have a child who is at least curious about what college could do for their lives, you have it a little easier. Schedule appointments to visit local campuses or sign your child up for a "college experience" if your area has it. Many universities offer this to junior and senior year students to come to the campus and tag along with a college student and see what their classes are like.

Asking for help is always a good route to go when you don't know about the options that are available for your child, and having them talk with an admissions counselor or a teacher can help to answer many of the questions both you and your child may have.

Most importantly when trying to encourage a child to follow a certain path is to make sure you are not being pushy, and not using the word "I' ... Remember that it is not your life that you are leading... Your child will have to make the decision to enroll by theirselves in the end, and you can only help by providing the information in a positive and friendly way.

Good luck! College is a wonderful growing experience and can open many doors for your child in their social and financial lives. Encourage on.... !!!