career and college planning lesson for juniors

1. Career and College Planning
for Underclassmen: 2018
Objectives:
Students will acquire knowledge
regarding the proper preparation that
is essential in choosing from a wide
range of substantial post-secondary
options, including college.
Students will be provided with information
and materials that will enable them to
employ strategies to achieve future
career success and satisfaction.
PA Career Education and Work Standards 13.1.11.B, C, F
ASCA National Standards I.B, II.A

2. Do You Know…
Do you know how much time you spent last year:
•Preparing your clothes/makeup/hair?
•Messing around on social media?
•Watching Netflix or Hulu?
Is this more or less time than you spent exploring
future careers or majors? Will you change this as
you get closer to graduation and your future?

3. When choosing and
preparing for different
paths after high school, it
won’t happen in a flash.
You may need to take
time to complete a
number of tasks.
Planning your path is a Process.

4. Post-Secondary Options
After graduation from NH, you may wish to pursue:
• Post-secondary education at a college or
community college
• US Armed Services
• Apprenticeship programs or trade school
• Certificate programs
• Entering the workforce or on the job training (OTJ)
Hint: Waiting until graduation to plan for this
may not get you the results you want!

5. Are you prepping for
the ”New Economy?”
• With the rising cost of education and the oversaturation of
some academic majors in the workforce, the college-
bound pathway isn’t for everyone…at least not
immediately after high school.
• Well-intentioned attempts to send more students straight
to the university will not change the types of jobs that
dominate our economy nor will a “college-for-all” mentality
mask these labor market realities. Instead, let’s discuss “a
post-high school credential for all.”

6. “Grey Collar” jobs in
The New Economy
• A college degree is not a guarantee that you will be
prepared for the world of work. You may be highly
educated, but not every degree provides direct
preparation for employment.
• This misalignment between degrees and job skills
causes half of university graduates to be under-
employed in what are called gray-collar jobs; taking
positions that do not require the education they have
received, at a cost that is more than they can afford.

7. Skilled workers needed for
the ”New Economy”
• The income for the top individuals in a wide variety of
skilled jobs that require an industry credential or 2-
year degree is far higher than the average income
for many occupations that claim to require a 4-
year degree; and each of these technicians are in
very high skilled areas that are in great demand.

8. Are you prepping for the jobs
available in the ”New Economy?”

9. Start your career and
college research by…
• Use your personal network. Speak with your
family and family members about your interests.
• Speak with your counselors and teachers.
• Embrace your school gmail account and Google
Classroom!
• Attend admission representative visits in the
Counseling Resource Center (CRC).
• Utilize resources on the internet . For example,
use your College Board account to its fullest!

10. You may wish to explore with…

11. PA Career Zone: Interest assessments,
career and major suggestions
You may wish to explore with…

12. Department of Labor: Career and major
information
You may wish to explore with…

13. BigFuture – Collegeboard: Find colleges
with your criteria
You may wish to explore with…

14. What are your criteria
for an institution?
Determine what factors are important for the type of
program/school you want to attend to have. Do
these matter to you?
• Size
• Location
• Academic program / major
• Reputation
• Cost
• Other?

15. Pittsburgh National College Fair
• “Field trip” February 8, 2018
– 6 pm – How to Make the Most of a College Fair
– 6:15 pm – Buses depart to the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center for the evening session
– 8:20 pm – return to NH
• Counselors will be available to assist on site
Field Trip forms as due by February 2!

16. • At the college fair, don’t waste time
completing multiple information forms for
each school! Go to www.gotomyncf.com
and enter your information and print out a
barcode specifically for you.
• At the fair, schools will “scan” your
information, which will get you on their
radar and mailing lists.
Pittsburgh National College Fair

17. College/Military
Representative Visits TO NH
• Over 100 different schools and branches of the
military visit the CRC in the Fall and Sring. It’s a
great time for you to learn more about a particular
school. Sometimes the representative you meet is
a member of the school’s admission committee!
• Listen to the announcements and check out the
postings in the CRC, in your classrooms, and
online to find out when the college/military
representatives are visiting North Hills.

18. You might have to take some ….
Standardized Testing!

19. The SAT, ACT, and ASVAB
• These are globally recognized admission tests that
let you show organizations what you know and how
well you can apply that knowledge.
• Most students take the ACT and SAT during the
spring of their junior or fall of their senior year of
high school.
• Entrance into the military requires the ASVAB. This
test is offered often at the Federal Building and on
March 23 at NH HS.

20. The SAT and the ACT continued..
• Almost all colleges and universities accept either the
SAT or ACT to make decisions.
• The SAT and ACT scores are one of the most
important factors that colleges consider when
making their admission decisions. Data indicates
that combination of high school grades and
SAT/ACT scores is the best predictor of your
academic success in college.

21. The SAT
• The SAT features 2 required sections –
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing AND Math
and will be scored on a 400 to 1600 point scale
(200 to 800 points on each part)
• This SAT has “rights-only scoring” as there is
NOT a penalty for wrong answers.
• Register online at www.collegeboard.com.

22. ACT
The ACT (American College Test) is another standardized
test that institutions also use for admissions purposes.
ACT is a test of knowledge. It differs from the SAT in the
following ways:
• Has a SCIENCE section
• Scores range from 1-36. (A 36 is equal to a 1600)
• The way to “study” for the ACTs is to do your best in
your classes at NH. The ACT is similar to mid-term or
final exams that you would take at school here.
• Register at www.actstudent.orgwww.actstudent.org..

23. Test Dates
Test Month Registration Deadline
SAT August May
ACT September Mid-August
SAT-I and II October Early September
ACT October Mid September
SAT-I and II November Early October
ACT December Early November
SAT-I and II December Early November
SAT-I and II January Late December
ACT February Late DecemberLate December
SAT-I March Early FebruaryEarly February
ACT April Early MarchEarly March
SAT-I and II May Early April
ACT June Early May
SAT-I and II June Early MayEarly May
ASVABASVAB OctoberOctober Early OctoberEarly October
Offered
at North
Hills

24. Use your PSAT score reports!
• Online Score Reports were made available in Dec.
– If you did not receive an email link to this you
may not have indicated a valid email address
when testing. You can sign up for an account
at www.collegeboard.com.
• Students received their score report and test
booklet in late December.

25. About Those PSAT Scores
Think of the PSAT reports as roadmaps. They show
where you’re doing well and what you should work on.
• Use them to get summaries of your performance on
each test and content area
• Use them to find percentiles that show you how you
did compared to your peers and how you might align
with admissions criteria at post-secondary schools
• Use them with KHAN ACADEMY to create an
individualized study plan!!!

26. NCAA: Becoming a College Athlete
Student athletes who are
hoping to continue athletic
participation at the Division I
or II collegiate level must be
declared eligible through
the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Please alert your
counselor and coach if
this is your intent.

27. Your Online Footprint
• It is not unusual for colleges to do a search for
your name on Google, Facebook, and other
public sites to learn more about who you are.
Please be aware of how you are portraying
yourself online.
• Be sure that your email address will not hurt
your chances for admission. Consider
establishing an additional email address for such
correspondence. Ex. JDoe@gmail.com

28. Survey data indicates that recruiters are looking for:
•information on drug or alcohol use (41%)
• inappropriate photos (40%)
•Poor communication skills reflected through online
interactions (29%)
•bad-mouthing others (28%)
•unprofessional screen names (22%)
•sharing confidential information about others(19%)
Your Online Footprint

29. Begin to Prepare Documents
• Activity List or Resume
• References/Letters of Recommendation
• General portfolios (some majors, honors
programs, etc.)

30. Wrap Up/Questions?