7 th Grade PEP Post-Secondary & Financial Planning

Overview 1.Introduce post-secondary options 2.Introduce overlap between skills employers and colleges look for in an applicant 3.Review “Education Pays” information, including salary and employment benefits 4.Review common misconceptions about college

As you watch the video, pay attention to the words and the changing background scene. &feature=youtu.be &feature=youtu.be What do the 2 different background scenes represent?

Compare - Contrast

Career vs. Job CareerJob Pursuit of a lifelong ambition. Work for a paycheck. A progression toward life long goals. Little opportunity for advancement Usually requires education or special training. Education or special training may or may not be required. Long term Short term Personally invested and connected to the work. “Just a job.” The work is personally satisfying. Jobs can help start careers – experience, knowledge, find what you like and dislike

Many Options Direct to work Military Apprenticeship Technical College 2-Year College 4-Year College

Military or Work Military: o Also called the Armed Forces. There are five major types or branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force. As part of the military you serve to protect the country and our country’s freedoms. The military offers funds/money to help pay for college after your military service is over. Work: o An occupation. The primary activity you do to earn money.

Apprenticeship Apprenticeship: o System of paid on-the-job training. Individual works under an employer who teaches a skill, trade, or profession in exchange for continued employment with them for a period of time.

Technical School (Certificate) Technical School (Certificate): o Schools that offer training for a particular field or career. Often these programs can be completed in 2 to 18 months. Examples: Emily Griffith Opportunity School, Warren Tech/Red Rocks, ITT Tech…

2-Year College (Associate’s Degree) 2-Year College o These are often called community colleges. They offer associate’s degrees, certificates, and/or training to prepare students for skilled jobs. Students who attend 2- year colleges can transfer to a 4-year college or university if they wish to earn a bachelor’s degree. A community college tuition is often less expensive than university tuition. Students usually live off campus. Examples: Community of College of Denver, Front Range Community College…..

4-Year College (Bachelor’s Degree) 4-Year College o These are often called colleges or universities. They offer bachelor’s degrees and prepare students for professional careers as well as graduate school. Students receive a broad education which can open doors to many opportunities later on. Often students live on the campus in dormitories. Examples: Harvard University, Metro State, The University of Colorado…

No matter which option you choose… Both colleges and employers are looking for similar qualities and skills in their applicants Top 10 qualities Employers look for (According to survey by National Association of Colleges & Employers): Communication skills Honesty/Integrity Teamwork skills Interpersonal skills Motivation Initiative Strong work ethic Analytical skills Flexibility/adaptability Computer skills Self-Confidence

No matter which option you choose… Both colleges and employers are looking for similar qualities in an applicant Top qualities colleges look for (According to the Common Application Teacher Recommendation Form) Communication skills Strong work ethic Motivation Initiative Honesty/Integrity Interpersonal skills Self-confidence

Is college worth it? Military, technical school, apprenticeships, 2-year college, and/or 4-year college can all be great ways to receive postsecondary or college training. You may be thinking: “If completing college or post- secondary training is really worth it, then “show me the money!” o Play clip from Jerry Maguire: Well, as we will see (next slide) it does pay to stay in school.

Education pays in more ways than 1 &feature=relmfu (Ed pays) &feature=relmfu

Unemployment Rates by Education Level

Where the Jobs Are

Taken from report by Colorado Succeeds, “The Business Case for Education Reform.” Each year in Colorado, there are… 1.Twice as many high school dropouts as there are jobs available for them 2.More jobs available for HS graduates than there are students who graduate 3.Twice as many job openings for those with some college education as there are students who complete at least some college training What does this mean for you?

Myth or Reality? If I want a career in medicine, I have to get a four year degree.

MYTH! Career ClusterHighest level of EducationOccupationMedian Annual Salary* MedicineHigh school diplomaNurse Aide$24,040 CertificatePractical Nurse$39,820 Associate of Applied Science Degree AAS Nursing$63,750 4 year Bachelor DegreeBSN Nursing$63,750 Master’s DegreeNurse Practitioner$65,220 4 year medical school after 4 year Bachelor Degree Primary Care Doctor$160,530 * Salary Information from Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009 data

Myth or Reality? Students from families who cannot pay tuition won’t be able to go to college

Myth! Money is often the biggest barrier to college, but is actually one of the easiest to overcome! Ways for students and families to pay for a college education include o scholarships o grants o loans o other financial aid o College Opportunity Fund (COF)

Myth or Reality? If I am struggling in school, I might as well not even worry about college. College is expensive, and classes will only get harder.

Myth! Everyone experiences times when they don’t do something as well as they’d like. Failure isn’t the problem – it’s how you respond to it. Failure provides a learning opportunity – think about what you can do differently so future attempts bring success. If a semester doesn't go well, seek out resources at the school – they want you to succeed, too. Remember that we can learn all through our lives, and we often learn best when we fail first. Plus, colleges look at the entire student, including positive trends when considering students for admission. They look at grades, test scores, rigor of course work, clubs, sports, volunteer activities, arts, music, drama, and recommendation letters - not just GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

Myth or Reality? We don’t need to worry about college until our senior year.

Myth! Getting ready for college begins in elementary school as students learn foundational reading and math skills. Throughout elementary and middle school, students learn critical study skills and personal qualities that will help make them successful in school, college, and/or career. In middle school, students need to start exploring careers and what kind of college education is needed for different careers. Prior to high school (and each year in HS), students should develop a plan for their courses and extracurricular activities that will help them get into the kind of college and program they want.

Myth or Reality? You can take college classes while you are still in high school.

Reality! High school students can take advantage of Concurrent Enrollment (courses that count for both college and high school credit at the same time) They can take college classes at local community colleges, University of Colorado at Denver (UCD), Metro, or technical colleges such as Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Some high school courses, taught by a high school teacher, can count for college credit. DPS pays up to the community college tuition rate; additional tuition is the student’s responsibility.

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