#Bangkokeducation

Thai families celebrating their children’s excellent high school grades may be unprepared for what awaits at university level, according to alarming new educational research from the United States. A comprehensive investigation by leading parenting experts reveals that record numbers of high-achieving high school graduates are arriving at universities academically unprepared, despite earning mostly A’s and B’s throughout secondary education. These students face scholarship losses, academic probation, and course repetition at unprecedented rates, creating financial strain and emotional devastation for unprepared families.

A Slate parenting column this week captured a growing concern for families: more recent high school graduates are arriving at college underprepared for the academic demands they face, losing scholarships, ending up on academic probation, or needing to repeat introductory courses — even when they left high school with mostly A’s and B’s (Slate parenting column). New research from U.S. education organizations confirms the columnist’s anecdote and shows a wider pattern: high school grades have risen while standardized test scores and some measures of college performance have dropped, leaving many students — and their families — shocked by the rigour of college-level work (College Board report; ACT/EdWeek coverage). For Thai parents planning university paths for their children, these findings underline practical steps families and schools must take now to avoid similar shocks when Thai students transfer to provincial, private, or overseas universities.

A growing gap between high school success and university demands is raising alarms for Thai families who celebrate excellent grades but may be unprepared for college life. New insights from U.S. education researchers show that many top high school graduates enter university with insufficient preparation, risking scholarship loss, probation, or delayed graduation. The effects reach families financially and emotionally, underscoring the need for proactive planning in Thailand.

Recent analyses from major U.S. testing and college organisations indicate a rising grade point average in high school, paired with stagnating or declining college performance. This paradox can create a false sense of readiness among students and parents who rely on stellar transcripts alone. Thailand’s education landscape mirrors these concerns, as regional disparities in secondary schooling leave some students less prepared for rigorous university coursework.