Guide to Post-Secondary Planning

What are you hoping to accomplish before you finish at NBHS?  Academic  Social  Goal Setting/ Future Planning Goal Setting  Athletic & Co-curricular  Service

Finishing at NBHS  Graduation Requirements  Honors Diploma  Finishing Strong [GPA Trends]  Are You on Track?

Post-Secondary Options  What Options are You Considering? [Poll]  Available Options:  More “Formal” Learning  4-year Colleges and Universities  2-Year Colleges  Technical or Trade/Vocational Schools  Apprenticeships  Military

Post-Secondary Options  More “Informal” Learning  Direct to World of Work  On-the-Job Training

Formal – 4-Year Colleges & Universities  32% of NBHS Student go to a 4-Year School  Most Popular Choices  Private  Ashford University Ashford University  Bradley University Bradley University  Augustana College Augustana College  Carthage College Carthage College  Public  Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University  Illinois State University Illinois State University  Western Illinois University Western Illinois University  University of Wisconsin – Platteville University of Wisconsin – Platteville  University of Wisconsin - Whitewater University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Formal – 4 Year Colleges & Universities  Admission (Non-selective to very selective)  Back-up  Sure Thing  Reach/Dream School  When to Apply – Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!!  How to Apply (know the difference) How to Apply  Regular or Rolling Admission  Early Action or Priority  Early Decision (1 Choice – Binding)  Paper versus online Paper versus online

Formal – 4 Year Colleges & Universities Why a 4-year  Seeking Bachelor’s degree or beyond  Know your major/program/career field  NCAA athletics NCAA athletics  Non-commuter – live on campus  Freshman scholarship opportunities  Full-time student Why not  Can be more costly  Farther away  Work/school balance

Formal – 2 Year Colleges Otherwise known as Community College  41% of NBHS Student go to a 2-Year School  Most Popular 2-Year Choices  Rock Valley College Rock Valley College  Kishwaukee College Kishwaukee College  McHenry County Community College McHenry County Community College  Enrollment Form versus Application  Placement Testing (Accuplacer)Accuplacer  Deadlines

Formal – Tech/Trade/Voc Cert Vocational Certification Options  College Credits  Many at RVC  Fire Science  MET (Manufacturing Engineering Tech)  Auto Tech Certification  Certified Nursing (CNA)  Welding Technical & Trade Programs  Longer than Voc Cert (12-24 months) or Associates Degree  Specialization/Industry Standard  Rockford Career College (Vet Tech, Pharmacy Tech, Massage Therapy) Rockford Career College  Educ. of Beauty/ Tricoci University (Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Tech) Educ. of BeautyTricoci University  Ranken Tech, Wyotech (Diesel Mech., Import Auto, Performance Racing) Ranken TechWyotech  Blackhawk Technical College (Dental Asst., Auto Tech, Medical Coding) Blackhawk Technical College

Formal - Apprenticeships  Apprenticeship qualifications vary from one trade to the next, but most require a high school diploma or GED  2000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom training  Transportation  Physical ability to perform the work of the trade and the ability to work with your hands  Building Trades Expo Experience (Spring) Building Trades Expo Experience  Programs in Rockford Region Programs in Rockford Region  Bricklayers  Carpenters  Painters  Electricians  Ironworkers  Laborers & Contractors  Masons  Plumbing and Pipefitting  Roofers  Sheet Metal  Operating Engineers  Tooling and Machining

Formal - Military Branches  Army  Navy  Air Force  Marines  Coast Guard Types of Service  Active Duty Active Duty  Most time intensive (Full Time) 2-6 year commitment  Stationed Domestically or Abroad  Reserves Reserves  Newest Option (Part-time) 1 weekend/mo + two weeks  College or Career  National Guard National Guard  Similar to reserve (Part-time) 1 weekend/mo + two weeks  Only Army & Air  Controlled by the State – used for emergencies and natural disaster relief  Academies & Military Colleges Academies & Military Colleges  Highly Selective College Academies  Application requires congressional recommendation and physical fitness  Enter service as an officer (5 year commitment)  ROTC – Reserve Officer Training Corp ROTC – Reserve Officer Training Corp  At many colleges (160)  Regular college classes and degrees/military classes  Enter service as an officer

What are some of the reasons to pursue “formal” education beyond high school?  Achievement of a personal goal  Career preparation  Learning opportunities  Influence of family & friends  Involvement in extracurricular activities  To become more independent  Opportunity  Increase earning potential

What are some of the BARRIERS of pursuing formal education after high school?  Too expensive  Nobody in my family ever went to college  I won’t be able to keep up academically  I can get a job without a college degree  There’s too much work involved in applying

Informal – World of Work  Part-time to full-time  New job  Temp to hire  Family business  On-the-job training

Resources Who to talk to:  School counselor (Lunch & Learn)  College representatives  Parents, students, alumni Paper/Electronic Resources:  College catalogs and guidebooks  College/university websites  Overgrad account Overgrad  Career Cruising (free NBHS user account) Career Cruising  What’s Next Illinois What’s Next Illinois