1. What do I do NOW?

2. How do I decide what I am going to do?  Education:  How much do I want? How much do I need?  Interests:  What kinds of careers seem interesting ?  Worksite:  Do I want to work inside or outside? In a large corporation or a small business?  Physical demands:  How much physical activity do you want ? Do you want to travel? Do you want to work overtime?

3. How do I decide what I am going to do?  Temperament:  What careers match my personality?  Aptitude:  Am I able to learn different skills?  Work Environment:  Do I want to work in extreme environmental conditions? Do I want to work in dangerous surroundings?  Earnings potential:  How important is money in my decision? Am I willing to make less money to have a career I really like?

4. How do I decide what I am going to do?  Take a Career Assessment and get some answers!  Counseling Center Careers page on Schoolfusion  VA Education Wizard: www.vawizard.orgwww.vawizard.org  My Next Move: www.mynextmove.orgwww.mynextmove.org  Drive of Your Life: www.driveofyourlife.orgwww.driveofyourlife.org  Mapping Your Future: www.mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer www.mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer

5. Education after High School  Most careers require at least some education or training after high school:  On-the-job training  Apprenticeships  Trade/technical schools: career certificate  Military  2 year community colleges: Associate’s degree or career certificate  4 year colleges and universities: Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degrees  Professional schools: Medical school, Law school

6. How to choose?  College Planning and Financial Aid Workshop  November 1, 2011  Consider:  How much education do you need?  What schools offer your programs?  How far from home do you want to go?  How large or small do you want your school to be?  What kind of housing do the schools offer?  How much does it cost?

7. Get organized and get going!  Do the research !  College search websites:  www.Fastweb.com www.Fastweb.com  www.Collegeboard.com www.Collegeboard.com  www.Vawizard.com www.Vawizard.com  Trade/Technical Schools:  www.khake.com/page4.html www.khake.com/page4.html  Apprenticeships:  www.khake.com/page58.html www.khake.com/page58.html  Military:  www.Todaysmilitary.com www.Todaysmilitary.com

8. Get organized and get going!  Choose 3-5 schools (or more) to apply to.  Get all the information together to fill out your applications first.  Print out a hard copy of the application to use as a rough draft.  Fill out your applications (online or in writing).  Get someone to proofread your applications and essays BEFORE you submit them!

9. Don’t Forget--  Transcripts:  From the Counseling Center  10 days!!  Secondary School Report  Required by many Virginia schools and colleges  Essay  Show the college or school who you are – be concise and creative  Recommendations  From teacher, counselor, boss, pastor, youth leader

10. Senior Survey and Resume  Senior Resume : Look your best!  Highlight the important information about you  Send with your job or college application  Organize your accomplishments  Information for counselors & teachers to write recommendations  Categories: special classes, awards, work experience, activities, athletics, community service

11. Senior Interview  Meet with your counselor to discuss:  Your diploma and credits to graduate  Your career plans  Your post-high school education plans  Applications and transcripts  Financial aid and scholarships  Bring your parents, too!

12. Financial Aid  Need-based: based on income  Merit-based: based on achievement in academics, leadership, athletics, or talent  Sources:  The Federal Government  The State Government  The schools and colleges you apply to  Private Scholarships

13. Financial Aid  FAFSA:  Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Required by all schools/colleges for any type of financial aid– including scholarships  www.fafsa.gov www.fafsa.gov  Fill out AFTER January 1, 2011  SAR: Student Aid Report  College Planning and Financial Aid Workshop: November 1, 2011

14. Scholarships  Available for students going to trade/technical schools, 2 year or 4 year colleges  Based on many different factors:  Need: family income and obligations  Merit: achievement in a specified area  Essay: essay contest  Service: to the school, community, or individual  Awarded to the school or the student  Go to the Counseling Center Scholarships page  List of available scholarships  Links to scholarship search engines

15. Military Service  The military has 23,000 jobs!  An opportunity to  Serve your country  Train for a career in the military and after  Have the military pay for you to attend college  Take the ASVAB  Higher scores = more options, more choices  November 17, 2011 at SHS  Recruiters come every Tuesday at lunch.

16. “Senioritis”— Beware!  Senior year is your most important year– don’t give up!  Take your hardest classes and get your best grades – ever!  Show employers, recruiters, schools and colleges how mature and prepared you are.  Mid-year and final grades are sent to every school you apply to and can impact your admission!