Where are students getting career advice?

Students make important career-related decisions as early as high school, including if and where to go to college, and what to study. But who has the most influence on these decisions? Below, data from the US Department of Education show where students are getting their advice.

Percentage distribution of high school freshman when asked who influenced their thinking about careers.

  • Parents or family member – 40.6%
  • Self – 35.3%
  • Teacher – 6.2%
  • Friends – 3.3%
  • High school counselor or personal college counselor – 2.7%
  • Employer, military recruiter, coach or scout – 2.7%

Data source: US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS: 09)