Collaborators of CollegeAlternative.org, experts Shayna Abraham, MA, CEP, andtrai gave a virtual presentation titled, The College Alternative: Creating a Plan B, on June 9, 2021. This presentation was part of the virtual Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Conference.

CollegeAlternative.org came after 2020 required the long-standing Alternative to College Fair (“Alt Fair”), which originated in Northern California in 2015, to pivot to a digital platform and now available on YouTube. Between 15-20% of incoming college students alone reconsidered their enrollment and looked to “gap year” options for Fall 2020. Shayna and Joanna knew they had to get this digital information in front of families and professionals. The National Commit to College Day on May 1 just passed and young people were asked to commit to college as the route for them. For a lot of young people, the decision still has not been made. The IECA presentation was designed for this exact reason: helping professionals to help students in creating that Plan B. This is particularly important with the spike in anxiety, depression, and lack of motivation for young adults. For those students, college may not be the best option right now.

“Success looks different for every student. Throughout the college application process, it might have been glaringly obvious that a student was not ready for college just yet,” said Abraham. For any referring professional or parent, it is important to help students navigate finding what feels right. College is not going anywhere, however, the path to receive college credit or education is evolving, and understanding the vast options that are available to high school graduates is key to the new form of success
Lilley said, “This was an important presentation to have for IECA members, more families are reaching out for all levels of treatment or therapeutic support or alternative options for college.” #CollegeCanWait.”

For those who were not able to attend this IECA training session and are looking for more information, please contact Joanna or Shayna through their websites.

About Lilley Consulting and Prepare to Bloom

Since 2016, Lilley Consulting has been helping families and young adults find treatment options during a time of transition or crisis. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel before going to college, when they land on a college campus, or right after college graduation. Young Adulthood can be messy, but it doesn’t have to be if you find the best treatment resources at the time that you need them. Lilley also has a podcast ‘Success is Subjective’.

Prepare To Bloom is a San Francisco Bay Area-based therapeutic and educational consulting firm devoted to helping families make sound therapeutic, and educational choices, assisting families and their children to find treatment options regionally or out of the home. Founded in the spring of 2011, by Shayna Abraham, MA, CEP, Prepare to Bloom consultants visit over 50 different treatment programs per year. The team works with families around the United States and around the globe.