"…school reform should include more emphasis on career-driven alternatives to a four-year education…. 

The study (Harvard’s Pathways To Prosperity) recommends that all major occupations be clearly outlined at the start of high school. Students would see directly how their course choices prepare them careers that interest them – but still be able to change their minds. Students should also be given more opportunities for work-based learning, such as job shadowing and internships.
 

Students, the researchers recommend, should get career counseling and work-related opportunities early on – no later than middle school. In high school, students would have access to educational programs designed with the help of industry leaders, and they'd be able to participate in paid internships." (CHRISTINE ARMARIO, Pathways To Prosperity Report: Students Need More Paths To Career Success, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/pathways-to-prosperity-re_n_817374.html