Planning is the Next Step. Wherever You are in Age or Stage, Good Planning Keeps your Goals in Sight and Keeps You on the Right Track.
Whether your plan includes vocational training or continuing your education at a college or university, the military, or starting a job search program, it is now time to learn how to develop the skills to implement your plan. Remember that career planning is a journey, not a destination. You will need to periodically reassess where you are and where you want to go by asking yourself: "Have I set unrealistic goals?'' "Have I under- or over-estimated my abilities?" "Have I developed new interests or skills?" "Have my priorities changed?" "Have I acquired additional information which needs to be considered?"
Assess what you're good at; know your own educational and personal strengths.
Develop a four-year educational plan for the courses you intend to take in high school. These courses should be chosen in order to meet your future career goals as well as your educational aspirations.
Talk with parents and other adults about your goals.
Explore educational/training needs for your potential careers.
Ask your counselor about taking interest and aptitude tests.
Meet with your counselor to discuss the results of your achievement, interest, and aptitude tests. Discuss how the results relate to your career-goals.
Review your four-year plan to insure that you are taking courses consistent with your educational and career goals.
Look at catalogs for postsecondary institutions; explore all types of training and educational options.
Consider taking the PSAT or the PLAN, whichever your school offers. Both will help you with career choices and help you to assess your postsecondary educational potential.
Begin the decision making process for your postsecondary educational choice. Explore program options with teachers, parents, and counselors since college choices should begin with CAREER goals.
Attend college and career fairs to help you finalize your post-secondary educational choice.This will allow you to ask questions of representatives from colleges and the military that you may not be able to visit.
Review your four-year plan to ensure that you have taken the courses required by your postsecondary educational choice.
Prepare to take the ACT or SAT. Some experts suggest taking these tests at the end of your junior year or during the summer between your junior and senior years. Some colleges and military academies require a minimum ACT score for admittance. Taking the test early will allow you time to retake the test if you don't score as high as you think you are capable of scoring.
Visit with your counselor about financial aid and scholarships. This information will help your parents prepare to fill out financial aid applications in your senior year. Planning now will make your senior year much less stressful.
Attend college and career fairs to help you finalize your post-secondary educational choice.
If you haven't already visited your college choices, try to do so in the fall. You will want to make your college decision early enough to ensure meeting all deadlines.
Take the ACT or SAT as early as possible. Some colleges and scholarship organizations require an ACT or SAT score in order to finalize your admission or to consider you for a scholarship.
If applying at a military academy or for a ROTC scholarship, submit your application by the fall deadlines.
Stop by the counseling center periodically to check on available scholarships.
Fill out applications for admission, housing, and your college's scholarship programs. Be sure to meet the deadlines! Allow teachers and counselors two weeks to prepare recommendations for you. Have your ACT or SAT scores forwarded to the postsecondary institutions where you are applying. Make sure you sign a transcript request form so that your high school will send a high school transcript to the college.
Attend financial aid information sessions with your parents.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form with your parents, and submit it sometime after January 1; but by April 15. Know your college's priority deadlines for financial aid.
Keep copies of everything you send to your college. Make sure you respond to whatever notices you receive regarding your financial aid. If you have questions about your Student Aid Report or your award notification, ask your high school counselor or call the Financial Aid Office at your college.