MLLD- Late Adolescence Becoming Independent MLLD- Late Adolescence

Late Adolescence (17-19 years old) Physical- past puberty, similar to adult body Intellectual- Piaget: Formal operations- more logical and can process abstract thought during this stage, can make predictions about cause and effect

Late Adolescence Social-emotional- Moral- Erikson: Identity vs identity confusion- teens meeting multiple roles in life, if a core identity is not established= role confusion exists Moral- Kohlberg: Conventional morality- make decisions based on how others perceive them

1st Step Towards Independence- Choosing a College that is Right for You

First things first…. College is not for everyone! Plenty of other options to build career Expensive and a huge decision…do no go simply because everyone else is doing it! Important to research all options

Step 1: Thinking About Your Major Research a few possible fields of study that you may want to pursue in college. Majors/minors 50% of college students change their major 1-3 times! Tips for choosing possible majors: Here are a few questions you should ask yourselves… What are my favorite classes? What are my favorite hobbies/extracurricular activities? What do career/personality assessment tests suggest? What do I love doing? Where do I see myself for the rest of my life? What do I see myself doing for the rest of my life?

Step 2: Make-or-Break Criteria Public Private Vocational/specialized 4-year 2-year Class size Extracurricular options Urban vs rural Financial aid options Distance from home Out of state vs in state Can I see myself living here for 2-4 years?

Create your make-or break list Create your make-or break list *List must have at least 4 criteria for comparison

Step 3: Wish list Criteria that isn’t essential for your success/happiness But you would still really enjoy having it

Create your wish list *List must have at least 4 criteria for comparison

Research colleges and choose your top 2 Step 4: Research Research colleges and choose your top 2 Research should be on a separate sheet of paper that you will turn in College #1- History of School- Campus life- (Make or break) MOB #1- MOB #2- MOB #3- MOB #4- (Wish list) WL #1- WL #2- College #2- History of School- Campus life- (Make or break) MOB #1- MOB #2- MOB #3- MOB #4- (Wish list) WL #1- WL #2-

College Pennant Sign Choose top college Sign must include… Front: School name, symbols, mascots, decor- 15 points Back: Campus life info- 10 points History of school- 10 points 4 other aspects about the school (from your lists) that make you want to attend- 20 points Neat, colorful, organized, easy to read- 15 points *Worth 70 points total

Step 5: Campus Visits Visit the campus website– many have “virtual tours”. Research online for campus history, statistics, and interesting facts. Email or call faculty and staff by looking for the Contacts page on the campus website. Acquaint yourself with the classes offered by reading syllabi posted online. Read the campus and community newspapers to get a sense of local issues and activities.

Step 6: Apply to Colleges Know the application window Fill out FAFSA Talk to parents, teachers, and advisors

Step 7: Choose your College Time to make your decision! Talk to financial aid advisor Go to orientation Register for classes Set up housing Start making connections in your new town

Final Tips… Always try to visit your campus choices. Don’t rely on name recognition. Find your best fit! Don’t accept generalizations about colleges (i.e. “hard to get into,” “party school,” “too expensive”). Do your own research. Don’t be afraid to apply to “reach schools.” But, always have a few back-up plans. Don’t pick campuses just because your friends are going there. Make your own decisions! Don’t rule out colleges because of cost. There is financial aid available. And, remember, college is an investment in your future. Talk with your family, teachers, counselors, and advisors about your choices. We are here to help!