Help all teenagers to define realistic goals, develop career direction, and find their future! This revised edition of the bestseller offers educators a six-step plan for helping all students and their parents develop alternative plans for post high school success that may or may not involve a college degree. Getting Real compares the disparity between students’ preconceived beliefs and aspirations and the new economic and labor markets they will face as adults, and calls on educators to improve the odds for every young person. Emphasizing the importance of exploring all options, the updated second edition covers critical topics such as: occupational race and gender stereotypes; updated labor market projections that highlight technician-level careers and new middle level skill occupations; the strong link between academic maturity, career direction, and postsecondary success; and, the unique career development needs of potential dropouts and of high school graduates who go to work.