The big question: How do students plan for a future that’s constantly changing?

High schoolers today face a dizzying set of choices:
➡ What major should I pick?
➡ How do I know what career fits me?
➡ Will AI take over the job I want?
➡ Can I still succeed without a technical background?

In our latest College to Career fireside chat, these real concerns were explored in depth by our co-founders, Vineet Taneja and Gopi Prashanth, along with Angela Byers—a tech industry leader and parent of two college-bound teens.

The result? A conversation filled with practical frameworks, personal stories, and fresh perspectives for both students and parents trying to plan smartly and calmly for the future.

From high school to college and into the workforce, students today face a complicated path. The pressure to choose the “right” major, stand out in competitive college admissions, and prepare for an AI-driven job market can be overwhelming for both students and their parents.

This fireside chat brings together real-world insights from a tech leader, parent, and hiring manager who’s helped students and her children navigate this exact journey.

🎥 Watch the full video

What this fireside chat uncovers

This conversation is packed with practical advice for high school students exploring majors, families thinking through college options, and those wondering what it really takes to land a meaningful, future-proof career.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Choosing a College Major: Why Exploration Matters

Many students enter college without a clear idea of what they want to pursue. And that’s okay. The process of figuring out what excites you and what doesn’t is essential. The chat highlights how students can use college as a space to test ideas, rule things out, and uncover career-aligned interests.

Key Takeaways:

• Students don’t need to have it all figured out in high school
  
• College exploration is part of the academic and personal growth process
  
• Choosing a flexible college environment can help undecided students thrive
  

STEM Majors and Beyond: Understanding Career Pathways

STEM majors remain popular, but not every student needs to be an engineer or coder to succeed in tech. The conversation breaks down how degrees like Industrial Engineering, Management Science, and even liberal arts can open doors in business, consulting, marketing, and analytics roles.

What students and parents will learn:

• Which STEM and STEM-adjacent majors offer strong career foundations
  
• How data, systems thinking, and decision-making shape success in business roles
  
• Why blending technical and human-centered learning creates well-rounded graduates
  

Preparing for the AI Economy: Building Skills That Last

With AI reshaping the workforce, students need more than just academic knowledge. The chat explores how high schoolers and college students can develop AI-proof skills like communication, collaboration, and adaptability that will remain valuable across changing industries.

Skills to prioritize:

• Critical thinking and decision-making
  
• Effective communication and collaboration
  
• Comfort with ambiguity and career pivots
  
• Growth mindset and tech-assisted learning
  

The College Admissions Journey: Planning with Perspective

Applying to college today requires more than grades and test scores. This discussion outlines how students and parents can work together to plan coursework, prepare for applications, and manage the emotional side of admissions, all while staying focused on long-term growth.

Featured advice includes:

• How to structure multi-year planning across academics and extracurriculars
  
• Encouraging self-discovery through college visits, summer programs, and exploration
  
• Decision-making frameworks students can use for evaluating college options
  
• Why college choice is just the beginning, not the definition of success

College Admissions Is a Multi-Year Planning Process

For parents wondering how to support their teens through college admissions, this fireside chat offered actionable advice:

• Start early: Plan coursework and testing timelines in advance
  
• Encourage discovery: Don’t just plan for “top” colleges—find the right fit
  
• Use decision frameworks: Spreadsheets with ranking criteria helped the speaker’s kids choose wisely and feel confident in their final choices
  
• Balance involvement and independence: Guide your teen, but let them lead
  

🌱 The goal isn’t just admission, it’s helping students develop the tools to make big life decisions with clarity and confidence.

Supporting Your Teen Through Exploration

The chat also offers a thoughtful look at how parents can support without overstepping. From planning test schedules to building spreadsheets of college criteria, the strategies shared here focus on empowering students while staying involved in healthy, constructive ways.

For parents wondering:

• How much guidance is too much?
  
• What’s the right balance between structure and independence?
  
• How do I help my teen find a major or path they’ll truly enjoy?
  

You’ll find grounded, experience-backed answers to these questions.

Fast Forward

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to education or careers. But hearing from someone who’s built an impactful life, and helped her kids carve out their own, can help you take the next step with confidence.

Let this video be your starting point.

📌 Want more insights like this? Stay tuned for future episodes in our College to Career series, where we bring you real stories, real professionals, and real answers.

Ready to plan your student’s journey with clarity and confidence?

At Future Forward, we help students go beyond admissions by discovering the right major, building future-proof skills, and shaping a career that fits who they are.

Whether your teen is exploring options or already applying to top colleges, our expert guidance can help them make smarter, more confident choices.

👉 Book a free consultation to learn how we personalize the college-to-career journey for your student. Start by filling the form below.