Future planning presentation prepared for teenage volunteers

1. Is College for You?
Andrea Teyssier, M.S.
Clearwater Nature Center
E-mail: andrea.teyssier@pgparks.com
301-297-4575

2. To college, or not to college?
That is the question.

3. Decision-Making Process
• What is your motivation?
• Where do you want to be in 5 years?
10 years?
• What do you already know?
• What resources do you have?
• What factors influence your decision?
• Family, friends, finance, opportunities

4. What are your options?
• No college
• Some college
• Vocational, Technical, and
Certification programs
• Two-year schools (Associate’s)
• Four-year schools (Bachelor’s)
• Other considerations

5. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

6. No College
Not every career field requires a college degree
Benefits Drawbacks
• No student loan • May limit future
debt career choices
• Start earning and change
money right • On average,
away salaries for
positions with a
degree are
higher

7. Some College
Benefits Drawbacks
• Some advanced • May limit future
coursework is career choices
enough for some and change
jobs you can’t • May incur some
get with a debt from loans
diploma/GED

8. Vocational/Technical Education
& Certification Programs
Benefits Drawbacks
• Licensing in field • Qualifications
• Greater earning specific to certain
potential than no fields make it
college harder for later
• Lower cost career change
• May incur some
debt from loans

9. Two-Year Degree
Benefits Drawbacks
• Lower cost than 4 yr. • More limited in
degree qualifications than 4 yr.
• Less time, more-flexible degree in field
class times than at • May incur some debt
traditional college from loans
• Eligibility for more
jobs/pay than without
any degree

10. Four-Year Degree
Benefits Drawbacks
• Greatest earning • More expensive
potential • More time
• General education consuming
can make a
candidate seem
more well-rounded
than others

11. Other
• Military
• National Service/Gap Year
• Part-time status
• Employee Tuition Assistance programs

12. Finding the right fit
• Accreditation – Who accredits the
program/school?
• Size – <1000; >20,000? What is for you?
• Location – Close to home; far, far away?
• Price – What can you afford? What aid is
available to you?
• Community – what is campus culture like?
What opportunities are there for involvement?
• Curriculum – Does the program offer what
you want? Internships? Experiences?

13. Resources
• http://www.careeronestop.org/ -
information on training, certifications,
salaries, job descriptions, etc.
• http://www.bls.gov/k12/index.htm -
Bureau of Labor Statistics Career
Information Page
• www.fastweb.com – scholarship
information
• http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/