A student does NOT have to go to college right out of high school.
There are other options.
How about:
1. How about getting a job or an internship. Contrary to popular opinion, living on minimum wage is not the best life choice. Just because a kid has money in their pocket doesn't mean they will give up on college. Let them learn it for themselves.
2. Independent travel - money is an issue, but missionaries will accept mature/growing teenagers. There are organizations that will connect willing workers with farms worldwide. WWOOFUSA
3. Study - Try a semester long course in Asia or South America, at sea.
Globalroutes, Seamester
4. Volunteer Work - Americorps operates in 16 U.S. communities and South Africa. Projectsabroad.org, americorps.org
5. Find help - USNEWS, WhereYouHeaded, TakingOff
6. The military - when the student is done, Uncle Sam will foot much if not all the bill.
Chances are, a year doing any one or a combination of these and the student will be ready to study....or not. And, in that case, school would have been a waste anyway.
US NEWS
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