Career and technical education
Hands-on programs can begin in high school and lead to industry credentials, practical experience, and workforce readiness.
Published 2024
For parents, students, and recent graduates
College is one path. It should never be the only path.
The Higher Education Scam challenges the assumption that every successful future must begin with a four-year degree.
This practical, research-informed book helps families look beyond expectations, compare the real costs and benefits, and choose an education or career path that fits the student.
Paperback available through Amazon. Purchases are completed on Amazon.com.
A better starting question
Not “Where are you going to college?” but “What future are you trying to build?”
About the book
An informed decision starts with more than one option.
A four-year degree can be the right choice when a clear goal requires it. The problem is treating college as the automatic next step for everyone.
Drawing on research, interviews, and real-world stories, Duane McHodgkins examines the pressure students face, the financial and career questions families should ask, and the many routes that can lead to meaningful work.
The book is especially written for students who do not thrive in a traditional classroom, families concerned about cost and debt, and anyone who wants to make a deliberate choice instead of simply following the crowd.
Before signing on the dotted line
Choose the destination before choosing the route.
Admissions representatives, training programs, and recruiters are offering a product or opportunity. Families should slow down, ask detailed questions, and verify the answers independently.
- 01
Define the goal
What career, lifestyle, or skill is the student actually working toward?
- 02
Compare every viable path
Degree, certification, trade, apprenticeship, employment, military service, or business ownership.
- 03
Understand the full cost
Include tuition, fees, time, debt, completion rates, and realistic starting wages.
- 04
Talk to people doing the work
Ask employers and working professionals which credentials and skills truly matter.
Who this book is for
A more useful conversation about life after high school.
For parents
Support the student, not a predetermined path.
Use the book to discuss costs, goals, learning styles, career requirements, and what success means for your family.
For high school students
Not loving the classroom does not mean you are not smart.
Explore hands-on and career-focused choices without assuming that one educational model fits everyone.
For recent graduates
You are allowed to pause, research, and change direction.
A gap year, entry-level work, focused training, or a new plan can be a deliberate step—not a failure to move forward.
Inside the book
Start with the current system. Finish with practical choices.
The current situation
Why college became the default, how the message starts early, and the roles played by employers, parents, and popular culture.
Alternatives every student should consider
Options within high school and routes after graduation that may be faster, less expensive, or better suited to the student.
What matters after the choice
How to keep learning, change direction when necessary, develop strong work habits, and make the most of every opportunity.
Make the choice deliberately