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College/Career Planning Checklist
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Planning Checklist
Planning Checklist
Planning for Life After High School
THE QUESTION: WHAT’S NEXT?
Life is full of questions. Some are relatively easy to answer, such as what to wear or what movie to see; but answering questions about your future can be confusing. There are so many things to think about, it is difficult to know where to start. For instance:
§ Do I want to go to college? Or do I want to go directly to work?
§ Will I be happy with a job I can get right out of high school? Or do I want a job that requires more training?
§ Should I go directly to a four-year college? Or should I go to a community college for two years?
§ Do I want to look only at in-state colleges? Or should I go to look at colleges farther away?
§ Shall I go away to college? Or shall I live at home and commute?
§ Should I go to work to earn money for college? Or should I obtain a loan to pay for college?
§ Should I enlist in military service now? Or should I wait until I am out of school?
§ Do I want to go to a vocational school? Or should I check out the community college?
§ Do I want to live at home? Or should I get an apartment with my friends?
The more you know about your interests and abilities, your career possibilities and education options, the easier it will be to make sound decisions about your future. Since the U.S.Department of Labor predicts that you will make three to four career changes in your lifetime, the decision-making skills you develop now will be valuable to you throughout your life.
THE ANSWER: “FIVE GATEWAYS”
Five options to consider after high school
Life is full of questions. Some are relatively easy to answer, such as what to wear or what movie to see; but answering questions about your future can be confusing. There are so many things to think about, it is difficult to know where to start. For instance:
§ Do I want to go to college? Or do I want to go directly to work?
§ Will I be happy with a job I can get right out of high school? Or do I want a job that requires more training?
§ Should I go directly to a four-year college? Or should I go to a community college for two years?
§ Do I want to look only at in-state colleges? Or should I go to look at colleges farther away?
§ Shall I go away to college? Or shall I live at home and commute?
§ Should I go to work to earn money for college? Or should I obtain a loan to pay for college?
§ Should I enlist in military service now? Or should I wait until I am out of school?
§ Do I want to go to a vocational school? Or should I check out the community college?
§ Do I want to live at home? Or should I get an apartment with my friends?
The more you know about your interests and abilities, your career possibilities and education options, the easier it will be to make sound decisions about your future. Since the U.S.Department of Labor predicts that you will make three to four career changes in your lifetime, the decision-making skills you develop now will be valuable to you throughout your life.
THE ANSWER: “FIVE GATEWAYS”
Five options to consider after high school
- Post-Secondary Education
4 year Colleges and Universities
2 year Colleges and Community Colleges
Technical and Professional schools and colleges
- Military
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
- Workforce
Full-time permanent jobs
Combination of two or more part-time jobs
Contract services on short-term basis
- Apprenticeship and Internships
Carefully monitored work experiences with intentional learning goals.
- Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship
Start a business
Buy a business
Take on a franchise
Consult or freelance
THE PLAN: DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
1. Identify your goals
Think about what you want to achieve and state that as your goal. The goal may be making a decision about what courses to take in school, what to study in college, what vocational school to attend, or what job to take after high school.
2. Gather information
Visit the library, the internet, and talk with the experts.
3. List possible choices.
4. Evaluate each alternative in terms of its consequences.
List the advantages and disadvantages of each choice. Ask yourself:
§ Will I feel good about this choice? How will my parents feel about it?
§ Will certain risks be involved? Am I willing to take such risks?
§ Will it be satisfying for me? How will I feel about this choice five years from now?
5. Make a decision.
6. Develop a plan of action.
Examine your choice. Decide what steps are necessary to accomplish it. If you are not happy with your choice, start the decision-making process again.
PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR SENIOR YEAR
For seniors the college application process falls into three stages:
1. Applying – This will take most, if not all of the first semester. The application process involves visiting colleges, making decisions, taking tests, filling out applications, and meeting deadlines.
2. Waiting – Once all the applications have been sent, it seems as if there is nothing to do but wait for replies. Many won’t arrive until the first week of April.
3. Deciding – This is a time of discussion, revisiting schools, and comparing financial aid packages. Most schools want to be notified of your decision by May 1.
College Vocabulary
View this document for definitions of common college terms.
What Colleges Look for...
College admissions officers are looking for well-rounded students who will be academically successful at their institutions. Since most colleges have more applicants than they have available space, they establish certain criteria for selection:
Academic record Test scores
GPA Activities
Class rank Letters of recommendation
Strength of the program Interviews
Other factors considered:
Athletic ability Diversity
Special talents Summer experience
Legacy Internships
While the criteria may be the same from school to school, their order of importance will vary.
No single factor will determine acceptance or rejection. Some colleges may look only at grades and test scores. Most, however, are interested in more than just the academic record. They want to know about accomplishments, interests, and future goals. The most important thing is to take challenging courses and work hard.
Academic record Test scores
GPA Activities
Class rank Letters of recommendation
Strength of the program Interviews
Other factors considered:
Athletic ability Diversity
Special talents Summer experience
Legacy Internships
While the criteria may be the same from school to school, their order of importance will vary.
No single factor will determine acceptance or rejection. Some colleges may look only at grades and test scores. Most, however, are interested in more than just the academic record. They want to know about accomplishments, interests, and future goals. The most important thing is to take challenging courses and work hard.