Career and College Planning for Underclassmen: 2018

Objectives: Students will acquire knowledge

regarding the proper preparation that is essential in choosing from a wide range of substantial post-secondary options, including college.

Students will be provided with information and materials that will enable them to employ strategies to achieve future career success and satisfaction.

PA Career Education and Work Standards 13.1.11.B, C, FASCA National Standards I.B, II.A

Do You Know…

Do you know how much time you spent last year:•Preparing your clothes/makeup/hair?•Messing around on social media?•Watching Netflix or Hulu?

Is this more or less time than you spent exploring future careers or majors? Will you change this as

you get closer to graduation and your future?

When choosing and preparing for different paths after high school, it won’t happen in a flash. You may need to take time to complete a number of tasks.

Planning your path is a Process.

Post-Secondary Options

After graduation from NH, you may wish to pursue:• Post-secondary education at a college or

community college• US Armed Services• Apprenticeship programs or trade school• Certificate programs• Entering the workforce or on the job training (OTJ)

Hint: Waiting until graduation to plan for this may not get you the results you want!

Are you prepping for the ”New Economy?”

• With the rising cost of education and the oversaturation of some academic majors in the workforce, the college-bound pathway isn’t for everyone…at least not immediately after high school.

• Well-intentioned attempts to send more students straight to the university will not change the types of jobs that dominate our economy nor will a “college-for-all” mentality mask these labor market realities. Instead, let’s discuss “a post-high school credential for all.”

“Grey Collar” jobs in The New Economy

• A college degree is not a guarantee that you will be prepared for the world of work. You may be highly educated, but not every degree provides direct preparation for employment.

• This misalignment between degrees and job skills causes half of university graduates to be under-employed in what are called gray-collar jobs; taking positions that do not require the education they have received, at a cost that is more than they can afford.

Skilled workers needed for the ”New Economy”

• The income for the top individuals in a wide variety of skilled jobs that require an industry credential or 2-year degree is far higher than the average income for many occupations that claim to require a 4-year degree; and each of these technicians are in very high skilled areas that are in great demand.

Are you prepping for the jobs available in the ”New Economy?”

Start your career and college research by…

• Use your personal network. Speak with your family and family members about your interests.

• Speak with your counselors and teachers.• Embrace your school gmail account and Google

Classroom! • Attend admission representative visits in the

Counseling Resource Center (CRC).• Utilize resources on the internet . For example,

use your College Board account to its fullest!

You may wish to explore with…

PA Career Zone: Interest assessments, career and major suggestions

You may wish to explore with…

Department of Labor: Career and major information

You may wish to explore with…

BigFuture – Collegeboard: Find colleges with your criteria

You may wish to explore with…

What are your criteria for an institution?

Determine what factors are important for the type of program/school you want to attend to have. Do these matter to you?

• Size • Location• Academic program / major• Reputation• Cost• Other?

Pittsburgh National College Fair

• “Field trip” February 8, 2018– 6 pm – How to Make the Most of a College Fair– 6:15 pm – Buses depart to the David L. Lawrence

Convention Center for the evening session – 8:20 pm – return to NH

• Counselors will be available to assist on site

Field Trip forms as due by February 2!

• At the college fair, don’t waste time completing multiple information forms for each school! Go to www.gotomyncf.com and enter your information and print out a barcode specifically for you.

• At the fair, schools will “scan” your information, which will get you on their radar and mailing lists.

Pittsburgh National College Fair

College/Military Representative Visits TO NH

• Over 100 different schools and branches of the military visit the CRC in the Fall and Sring. It’s a great time for you to learn more about a particular school. Sometimes the representative you meet is a member of the school’s admission committee!

• Listen to the announcements and check out the postings in the CRC, in your classrooms, and online to find out when the college/military representatives are visiting North Hills.

You might have to take some …. Standardized Testing!

The SAT, ACT, and ASVAB

• These are globally recognized admission tests that let you show organizations what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge.

• Most students take the ACT and SAT during the spring of their junior or fall of their senior year of high school.

• Entrance into the military requires the ASVAB. This test is offered often at the Federal Building and on March 23 at NH HS.

The SAT and the ACT continued..

• Almost all colleges and universities accept either the SAT or ACT to make decisions.

• The SAT and ACT scores are one of the most important factors that colleges consider when making their admission decisions. Data indicates that combination of high school grades and SAT/ACT scores is the best predictor of your academic success in college.

The SAT

• The SAT features 2 required sections – Evidence-Based Reading & Writing AND Math and will be scored on a 400 to 1600 point scale (200 to 800 points on each part)

• This SAT has “rights-only scoring” as there is NOT a penalty for wrong answers.

• Register online at www.collegeboard.com.

ACT

The ACT (American College Test) is another standardized test that institutions also use for admissions purposes. ACT is a test of knowledge. It differs from the SAT in the following ways:

• Has a SCIENCE section• Scores range from 1-36. (A 36 is equal to a 1600)• The way to “study” for the ACTs is to do your best in

your classes at NH. The ACT is similar to mid-term or final exams that you would take at school here.

• Register at www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org. .

Test Dates

Test Month Registration DeadlineSAT August MayACT September Mid-AugustSAT-I and II October Early SeptemberACT October Mid SeptemberSAT-I and II November Early OctoberACT December Early NovemberSAT-I and II December Early NovemberSAT-I and II January Late DecemberACT February Late DecemberLate DecemberSAT-I March Early FebruaryEarly FebruaryACT April Early MarchEarly MarchSAT-I and II May Early AprilACT June Early MaySAT-I and II June Early MayEarly May

ASVABASVAB OctoberOctober Early OctoberEarly OctoberASVABASVAB March/AprilMarch/April Early MarchEarly March

Offered at North

Hills

Use your PSAT score reports!

• Online Score Reports were made available in Dec.– If you did not receive an email link to this you

may not have indicated a valid email address when testing. You can sign up for an account at www.collegeboard.com.

• Students received their score report and test booklet in late December.

About Those PSAT Scores

Think of the PSAT reports as roadmaps. They show where you’re doing well and what you should work on.• Use them to get summaries of your performance on each test and content area• Use them to find percentiles that show you how you did compared to your peers and how you might align with admissions criteria at post-secondary schools• Use them with KHAN ACADEMY to create an individualized study plan!!!

NCAA: Becoming a College Athlete

Student athletes who are hoping to continue athletic participation at the Division I or II collegiate level must be declared eligible through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Please alert your counselor and coach if this is your intent.

Your Online Footprint

• It is not unusual for colleges to do a search for your name on Google, Facebook, and other public sites to learn more about who you are. Please be aware of how you are portraying yourself online.

• Be sure that your email address will not hurt your chances for admission. Consider establishing an additional email address for such correspondence. Ex. JDoe@gmail.com

Survey data indicates that recruiters are looking for: •information on drug or alcohol use (41%)• inappropriate photos (40%)•Poor communication skills reflected through online interactions (29%)•bad-mouthing others (28%)•unprofessional screen names (22%)•sharing confidential information about others(19%)

Your Online Footprint

Begin to Prepare Documents

• Activity List or Resume • References/Letters of Recommendation

• General portfolios (some majors, honors programs, etc.)

Wrap Up/Questions?