It may not always feel like it, but your parents do have your best interests at heart. I find that parents often have a wide range of concerns when it comes to their student selecting a career and college. Their concerns generally revolve around your future happiness, financial stability, and ability to make informed decisions.

Here is a list of key concerns they would like you to know about:

• Cost of College: Tuition, fees, and living expenses can be overwhelming. Parents may worry about how to afford it without burdening their child with excessive debt.
• Return on Investment: Parents often consider whether the chosen career will provide financial stability and make the cost of college worthwhile.
• Scholarships and Aid: Concerns about whether their student is maximizing opportunities for scholarships, grants, or financial aid.

• Job Market Stability: Parents may worry whether the chosen career has long-term viability and job opportunities.
• Earning Potential: They want their child to choose a career that offers sufficient income to support themselves.
• Satisfaction and Growth: Parents may worry about whether the career will bring their child personal satisfaction and opportunities for advancement.

• Lack of Direction: If a student is undecided, parents may worry about delays in progress or additional expenses associated with switching majors.
• Overly Influenced Decisions: Some parents worry their child might choose a career or college due to peer pressure, trends, or a desire to please others rather than personal passion.
• Maturity: Parents might question whether their student is ready to make such significant decisions.

• Academic Quality: They want a college that will challenge their student and prepare them for their chosen career.
• Campus Environment: Concerns about safety, diversity, inclusion, and whether the environment aligns with their family values.
• Support Systems: Availability of career services, mental health resources, and academic support.

• Living Away from Home: Worries about their child’s ability to handle responsibilities like managing time, money, and self-care.
• Social Adjustments: Concerns about whether their child will make friends, find mentors, and feel a sense of belonging.
• Emotional Well-being: Fears about homesickness, stress, or the pressure of college academics and social life.

• Legacy: Some parents may have expectations based on family tradition, such as attending a specific college or pursuing a certain profession.
• Cultural Considerations: Concerns about whether the career choice aligns with cultural or familial values.
• Pride and Achievement: Hoping their child’s choice reflects their hard work and potential.

• Changing Career Trends: Worries that a chosen career may not exist or look the same in 10-20 years.
• Global Competition: Concerns about whether their student will be competitive in an increasingly globalized job market.
• Life Balance: Fears that a chosen career path may lead to burnout or negatively affect their child’s quality of life.

Parents typically want their students to choose a path that balances passion with practicality, and they may struggle with wanting to support their child’s dreams while also ensuring they have a secure future.

Students, you too have concerns, so why not sit down and explore concerns together to ease anxieties on both sides?