For lots of young Americans, college is largely a waste of time. They have to study things they’re poorly prepared for and aren’t interested in. Even if they graduate, they’re apt to wind up working in jobs they could have done while in high school.

A new, privately funded program in North Carolina seeks to change that. In today’s Martin Center article, Sophia Damian writes about “Boost,” aimed at lower-income students who want marketable skills and guidance in maximizing their employability.

She writes:

For each enrolled student, the program provides access to childcare, a $600 stipend for textbooks, and $100 for regular meetings with advisors. With a lower student-to-advisor ratio than average (150:1), Boost allows advisors to dedicate sufficient time to each student, permitting them to more effectively assist enrollees in their endeavors.

Similar programs in other states have shown considerable gains for students. This is yet another way for students to bypass the traditional college credential for a potentially more useful learning experience.

Read the whole thing.