College to Career

Why Career Planning Should Start Earlier for Connecticut Students

Many parents were shaped by a very different economy. Even in a highly educated state such as Connecticut, those earlier assumptions still influence how families think about college and careers. As a result, the career conversation often begins far later than it should.

What We See at Career Counseling Connecticut

I am in the “fortunate” part of my career.  I am now doing work that is mission-driven.   So, I see that my college to career guidance – perhaps the most life changing advice I give – has provided my clients with the most profound help.

While my college counseling emanates through The Learning Consultants, my expertise stems from starting and running our subsidiary: Career Counseling Connecticut.

Through Career Counseling Connecticut, we regularly work with:

• College students who transfer because their chosen school does not offer the major they ultimately want.

• Students who withdraw, realizing they are spending significant tuition dollars on a field with poor job prospects—or a field they no longer enjoy.

• Twentysomethings struggling to launch, unsure of direction and overwhelmed by the gap between academic experience and workplace demands.

The Common Thread: A Lack of Career Vision

Across all these situations, the same underlying issue appears again and again: little to no career clarity during the high school and early college years. When students choose colleges or majors without understanding their strengths, interests, and future opportunities, the results are predictable—stress, wasted time, and wasted money.

My opinion: early, structured career guidance is one of the most cost-effective interventions a family can make, especially in an era where the return on a college degree varies dramatically by major and institution.

We Can Help Students Build Direction and Confidence

Career vision is not innate; it is developed. With the right guidance, students make more informed decisions, reduce costly missteps, and enter early adulthood with far greater confidence.