Because every student is different, you'll need to find and employ many different methods of motivating students toward a college education. Motivating a student is typically a four-step process:
- Determine the individual's current attitude toward higher education
- If the attitude is neutral or negative, determine the reason(s)
- Offer reasons for the student to have a more positive attitude about higher education
- Get agreement that your reasoning is valid and that the student will consider additional education after high school
Student's attitudes toward college generally fall in three categories:
- "Of course, I'm going to college"
- "I don't think college is for me"
- "I haven't thought about college"
Don't assume that you know exactly what will motivate a student, or how he or she feels about education after high school. Ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully to the answers. This will help establish credibility with the student, and provide you with a chance to motivate him or her toward postsecondary education.
When asked about the benefits of higher education, students often express a number of different benefits, including:
- Get a good job
- Get away from home
- Earn a lot of money
- Feel better about themselves
- Set an example for their siblings
- Go out on dates
- Explore an interest or hobby
- Great parties
Below are a few methods for helping students to discover and discuss the best reasons for going to college:
- Create two columns on a chalkboard. Label one side "Why Go to College," and the other side, "Why to Not Go to College".
- Have the students make a list of all the reasons someone might go to college on one side, and all the reasons not to go to college on the other.
- Now ask the students if all the reasons listed are accurate, and whether they are good reasons to go to college or stay away from college.
- Through discussion, students discover that most reasons to go to college are good ones, and the reasons to stay away are typically not valid.
