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Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam
Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

How to Know If College Is Right for Your Teen (and What to Do If It's Not)

1 tim 2 min•1 juli 2025
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Om avsnittet

Is college right for your teen? If your teen seems unmotivated, disconnected from school, or uninterested in college, you're not alone, and it doesn't mean they're lazy or doomed. They may just be tired of chasing someone else's version of success.

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In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Maruyama, founder of Degree Free, who helps families explore real-world career paths beyond the traditional college route. We talk about why college isn't the right fit for every teen, what employers value now, and how to help your teen build a future that fits them, without unnecessary debt, pressure, or burnout.

Most teens only know a handful of jobs, the ones they can see. Hannah shares how to open their eyes to what's out there, and how to test a path before spending tens of thousands of dollars on it.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

  • Why pushing college as the only option backfires for many teens
  • 5 paths that don't require a degree: getting a job, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training, a license or certification, building or buying a business, and learning a skill
  • The 4 factors to weigh when choosing a path: income, schedule, location, and work environment
  • A simple way to test whether a degree is truly required: apply for real jobs in the field first
  • How to motivate your teen without grades, guilt, or fear

EPISODE CHAPTERS

  • 00:00 Rethinking success beyond college
  • 01:28 Hannah's path from college to career freedom
  • 04:15 The pressure to go to college
  • 05:48 How college became the default
  • 10:10 Student loans and their impact
  • 12:50 Who really benefits from college?
  • 15:39 Job requirements: degrees vs. skills
  • 21:19 How the job market is shifting away from degrees
  • 26:10 Preparing teens for an uncertain job market
  • 32:44 The future of professional credentials
  • 34:24 Rethinking education and career paths
  • 36:36 Planning a career strategically
  • 39:04 Why your teen's individual needs matter
  • 42:25 Helping your teen choose a path
  • 49:36 Empowering parents and teens
  • 52:13 Alternative paths to success

RESOURCES MENTIONED

CONNECT WITH HANNAH MARUYAMA

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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