Youscience emphasizes the standby gap between high school graduates

Provo, Utah – May 20, 2025

A strong decline in the enrollment of universities signals behavioral shift, not just demographic data

If the enrollment of four years drops to 35%, the students rethink their future-most people say that they are not on what comes next.

Youscience, an education technology company based in Provo, Utah, which changes college and career leaves through its award-winning platform Brightpath, has published its third year today Standby report after the conclusion. The results show a growing separation between what students learn at school and what they need to be successful in the real world.

Based on a national survey under over 500 high school graduates from the classes from 2021 to 2024 – and trends from 2019 – the report discovered an in -depth crisis: the students navigate in a rapidly changing world with outdated tools and minimal guidance.

“It shows something we have already known,” said Edson Barton, CEO from Youscience. “The students can see that their world shifted directly under their feet. They not only feel unprepared for this change, but they ask:” What is my role? “

Amazing findings underline the standby gap

Under the most urgent insights in the report:

• Only 35% of the class of 2024 graduates plan to take part in a four -year -old college, compared to 55% in 2019.
• 72% state that they are only moderate, light or not at all for life after the high school.
• 77% say that they would have been more at school if they had better understood their strengths and career opportunities.
• Only 56% of university visitors have explained a major-and 42% of them have changed it more than once.
• 50% of the students lacked work -related learning experiences, and 45% wanted better access to career advice.

“This is not just a demographic cliff – it is a psychological change,” said Barton. “The students wonder if the college is worth it. It is not just the cost – it's the relevance.”

He continued: “Today, ask an adult whether his job matches your college major. Most will say no. And our children take it up.”

The failure of outdated tools

The report also underlines the defects in the tools that are used for the guidelines of the students. Barton said: “Too many schools are still using outdated, interested surveys. If you have never been a city road, how would you know if you want that? If you have never coded it, how do you know that it is not for you?”

He added: “These tools often reinforce stereotypes. We have to assess what the students may do not only what you think You like. “

Instead, Youscience supports for suitability points that offer the students a meaningful insight into their natural strengths, starting at an earlier age. “In the middle school, the students already form ideas about who they are – and these ideas are often far too narrow,” said Barton. “If we do not help you explore, you will lock yourself into stereotypes. This is harmful.”

He also found that leading students based on perceived personality traits can be restrictive. “A girl to say that she will be a great teacher because she is doing well,” he said. “But why don't you tell her that she could be a great engineer or a surgeon or a welding?”

Career learning is the key

More than anything, the students are looking for relevance for their learning experiences. “Education is always a means for something else,” said Barton. “Most of us have to take care of ourselves. We want our training to lead to a result that we can manifest physically – a job.”

“If we cannot help the students to understand how they dress and eat themselves, then everything else, self-full, purpose, contribution-of each other,” he added. “Work does this for humans. It justifies it.”

He pointed out the need for stronger integration of real experiences into education. “The students don't need any generic advice,” said Barton. “You need real data about your strengths, meaningful career and practical experiences that combine life with life.”

Utah leads – but needs more support

As a company based in Utah, Youscience sees the state as a leader in career and technical training (CTE) but warns that even more support is needed.

“Utah is the gold standard in CTE,” Barton told Techbuzz. “Every school follows consistent standards. Students can earn industry-related certification. Teachers receive real-time feedback. Employers know exactly what skills they get.”

Despite this progress, Barton emphasized that programs can still be undermined by budget uncertainty. “We have built up a nationwide system that most people don't even see that it exists,” he said. “But if we don't be careful, we will underfund or duplicate it in irrelevance.”

He called the nationwide standardization as a key strength: “Without consistency, it is impossible to scale a sensible change. Utah does this incredibly well and gives employers trust.”

What's next?

With outdated career guidelines and vague advice, the students missing, Youscience calls for education, business and political managers to take courageous steps to close the standby gap:

• Start early With the discovery of suitability and interest.
• Ensure access to personalized, suitability -based reviews and advice.
• Expand the learning of the real worldIncluding industry certifications and work -based experiences.
• Equip families Early, informed discussions about career options.

“This report gives us a roadmap,” said Barton. “It is up to all of us to act.”

Read the full report

To read the full 2025 Standby report after the conclusion Or learn how Youscience Brightpath organizes the schools to promote real student results, visit Youscience.com.