High School Academies - How do Colleges Look at Academies?

     A while back I visited the topic of academies and career paths but felt I was not complete in my discussion.  Many high schools focus on academies - career paths - as a way to keep student interest, keep it real, and give students exposure to careers and career paths.   How do colleges feel about this emphasis?  Ofcourse, every college will have their own take and as a parent or student who is interested in a specific college and major, they should call the department of that university.   When I was involved in the opening of a new high school several years back, one hat I wore was academy coordinator.  I worked with community members and major colleges to create the focus of our academies.  The colleges appreciated our work for several reasons:
1.  It exposed students to their field of interest. If a student "loved" what was learned in high school, the major that was chosen was out of experience and not from what the student "heard".
2.  If the student found that this path was not for them, the student did not waste time and money or the university's efforts in accepting him/her.  The student was able to pick a different path and major before starting college.
     The second reason is especially important.  If a student is accepted to a 4 year college right after high school, nothing is more expensive for the university than if the student drops out by Christmas and returns to the local junior college.   Not only has the university given up a space to the student, but it had turned down other strong prospects who now are at other choice campuses.
     Ultimately, career paths and academies help a student to pick their colleges and their majors a little more wisely.  The colleges are provided with some insight of the student's exposure to the major, their success in the high school classes and their passion for what the student wants to do as a field and a career.