I’m always looking for a hidden gem that will help our Island Trees students. In recent years, the district has taken steps to improve our high school program. In fact, one of our goals is to improve the college admissions process so our students get into colleges that will help set them up for a productive life. Clearly in this economy, we need to our students to attend competitive colleges and universities – the ones the job recruiters covet.
Over the course of my career, I’ve seen too many kids make college/major choices where there will be little, if any, job opportunities. For example, my niece graduates from Duke University this spring – one of the best colleges in the country. When I listen to her tell me that very few of her Duke roommates have job offers – I’m stunned.
However, when I listen to what their college majors are – I’m not that surprised. In fact, their job offers average around $23,000 a year – not much better than what college graduates earned 25 years ago.
In 2013, if this is a dilemma for the so-called “best and brightest”, what is an average student supposed to do to be competitive? The answer for average students may be found at SUNY Maritime College. That’s right, SUNY Maritime College conveniently located on the Bronx side of the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Incredibly, the average starting salary for a SUNY Maritime graduate is $60,000. Admittedly, SUNY Maritime may not for all students; however, with remarkable career placement service and variety of marketable majors, I highly recommend that parents look into this school for their children. In fact, their job placement is ranked in the top 10 of all colleges nationally.
Why is it a “hidden gem”? The college accepts “average” students into their programs. In essence, the SUNY Maritime experience provides “average” students future job opportunities that one would expect from Ivy League caliber schools. Equally important, SUNY Maritime is a “SUNY” school – meaning a SUNY tuition for parents and students concerned about affordability. SUNY Maritime where the average student becomes extraordinary.
To learn more about the school, please visit their website at http://www.sunymaritime.edu/index.aspx or contact your child’s high school guidance counselor.
