If you ask today’s high school students where they get their college advice, many will say one word: TikTok.
From “day in the life” dorm tours to viral financial aid hacks, social media has become a go-to for students planning their futures. But while #CollegeTok might trend, not everything trending is true.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly one-third of students change their major within three years, often adding semesters, debt, and stress. Meanwhile, the Brookings Institution found that about 50% of students couldn’t accurately state their annual tuition cost.
That’s why today’s educators are more than advisors—they’re myth-busters, guiding students toward fact-based, purpose-driven college and career planning.
With modern platforms like Kuder Navigator® featuring College Match by College Raptor®, counselors can turn misinformation into motivation by grounding students’ choices in real data, self-discovery, and actionable insights.
Dive into the insights below or watch our on-demand webinar here.
The Truth: Career exploration should come before college selection. Students who plan backward, choosing a college or major before defining a career goal often end up mismatched after graduation.
Research from ACT shows that students with clear career goals are twice as likely to graduate.
The Solution:
Kuder’s Career Interests and Skills Confidence Assessments help students discover what drives them early, connecting passions to purpose.
Counselor Tip: Ask, “Who do you want to become?” instead of “Where do you want to go?” It reframes the journey around self-awareness, not status.
The Truth: Prestige doesn’t equal success. According to the Gallup–Purdue Index, graduates’ satisfaction and success depend more on mentorship and real-world learning than college rankings.
The Solution: Use Navigator’s college search and comparison tools to evaluate ROI, outcomes, and program quality, helping students define “best fit” over “best name.”
Counselor Tip: Redefine “best college” as the one that offers the best fit academically, socially, and financially.
The Truth: Admissions today are holistic. Essays, leadership, and mission alignment can weigh as heavily as test scores.
The Solution:
College Match by College Raptor gives realistic admission insights and criteria, empowering students to understand how their personal factors align with schools.
Counselor Tip: Encourage your students to review how their academic standing and extracurricular activities align with a student’s admission criteria before they write a school off! Then, build a balanced list of reach, match, and safety schools.
The Truth: More applications doesn’t necessarily mean safer. Alignment of fit matters more than quantity.
The Solution: Use Navigator’s college comparison tools to create a strategic college list based on fit, cost, and outcomes.
Counselor Tip: Encourage students to thoughtfully approach the application process to best align with their goals and personal factors.
The Truth: Career planning is lifelong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Gen Z workers will experience five or more career changes in their lifetime.
The Solution: Platforms like Kuder Galaxy® and Navigator® normalize exploration and growth. These tools help students understand how their interests and skills connect to real occupations and evolving career paths.
The Truth: Financial aid extends far beyond need-based awards. The National College Attainment Network found that the class of 2022 left $3.6 billion in aid unclaimed simply because many didn’t file the FAFSA.
The Solution: Navigator’s built-in FAFSA Guide and Finance 101 modules educate students on aid options and connect them to a robust scholarship database.
The Truth: Only about 0.1% of students earn a true full-ride scholarship, according to College Raptor.
The Solution: Encourage students to layer financial support by combining federal aid, institutional grants, and private scholarships. College Raptor’s Scholarship Search simplifies this process, while Kuder’s ROI planning tools link degree costs to long-term value.
Counselor Tip: Teach students to stack credentials. For example:
Complete a certification in high school → attend a two-year college → transfer to a four-year program if needed.
The Truth: More than 80% of U.S. colleges are now test-optional or test-free, per FairTest. Essays, coursework, and experiences often weigh more heavily than standardized test scores.
The Solution: Prompt students to review how their test scores compare to admitted students and use Navigator’s College Match feature to find test-optional institutions that align with their strengths.
Counselor Tip: Help students focus on building a well-rounded profile—academic rigor, leadership, and authenticity matter most.
The Truth: Students must take ownership of their process. Engagement drives success.
The Solution:
Students can manage direct college and Common App applications right within Navigator. Counselors can monitor progress, offer feedback, and step in when support is needed.
Counselor Tip: Be a coach, not a concierge. Encourage self-ownership and accountability in the college application process and encourage open communication with parents and guardians.
The Truth: Roughly seven in ten high-demand U.S. jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Solution: Kuder Navigator helps students explore multiple postsecondary pathways, including trade programs, apprenticeships, and certifications, so every learner can see success within reach.
Counselor Tip: Use Kuder’s Career Assessments to help students identify their true interests, then connect them to relevant education and training options.
Even well-meaning advice can mislead. Myths persist due to:
-Outdated information about financial aid and admissions
– Peer and social media influence
– Data overload and misinformation
– Limited counselor time and resources
That’s why modern college and career readiness programs need integrated, data-driven solutions. Kuder Navigator brings exploration, assessment, and planning together, helping educators personalize guidance at scale and turn confusion into clarity.
Traditional college planning starts with choosing a school. Career-centric planning starts with self-discovery, helping students uncover their interests, work values, and goals before deciding on majors or colleges.
When students understand their “why,” everything else falls into place. They gain confidence, persistence, and purpose, making choices that lead to lifelong satisfaction.
With Kuder’s college and career readiness solutions, counselors can guide every student toward meaningful, purpose-driven success, whether that path leads to a four-year degree, technical program, or beyond.
Contact our team to learn more.
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