Fixing College and Career Guidance for Parents, Students, and Schools
As college costs rise and the pressure to pick a successful career path intensifies, families are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex system with inadequate career guidance and support. Nationally, the average student-to-counselor ratio is 376:1—far from the recommended 250:1, leaving many students and parents adrift at a critical decision-making moment. Meanwhile, a study found more than 50% of recent college grads to be underemployed just a year after earning their degrees. The finding underscores how poorly the current system equips students for meaningful, career-aligned opportunities.
So, how can parents, schools, and students get the personalized, practical guidance they need, without overburdening school counselors or relying on outdated tools?
Welcome to The Future of Education. In this episode, host Michael Horn welcomes Jon Carson, co-founder and CEO of the College Guidance Network (CGN). They explore the shortcomings of traditional college and career guidance, the potential of AI-driven solutions to personalize support, and the critical role families can play in helping students navigate their future.
Key takeaways from the episode…
- The System is Broken: Carson breaks down the systemic issues plaguing high school guidance—too few counselors, limited expertise across career domains, and a near-total lack of support for parents.
- A New Model for Guidance: CGN offers a content-driven solution powered by AI assistant AVA, personalized roadmaps, and access to over 300 expert contributors, enabling 24/7 guidance beyond the traditional school year.
- Parents as the Missing Link: CGN recognizes parents as untapped allies, equipping them with tools to become “counseling assistants” at home, without needing them to become experts themselves.
Jon Carson is a seasoned education entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience launching and scaling tech-enabled impact ventures. He built and exited several major companies, including FamilyEducation Network (acquired by Pearson), BiddingForGood (raised over $700M for nonprofits), and CollegeVine, which he scaled to a $10M run rate. Currently, as Co-Founder of College Guidance Network, he’s leading the development of an AI-powered platform transforming college and career guidance for students, families, and schools.
