college & career planning€¦ · imagine if you had to decide right now what you would do for...

High School and Beyond Plan Discover you strengths, skills, and talents.

Consider your unique interests and abilities.

Create a high-school curriculum that will allow

you to pursue your dream job after graduation.

College & Career Planning

Resources:

The Way They Learn, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

Pre-SAT/NMSQT prep materials

SAT/ACT prep materials

StrengthsQuest, by Donald O. Clifton, PhD;

Edward “Chip” Anderson, PhD; and Laurie A. Schreiner, PhD.

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the

Secrets of Personality Type, by Paul D. Tieger

What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens, by Carol Christen &

Richard N. Bolles

Interest Inventory/Careers Assessment

Why College Matters to God, by Rick Ostrander

Homeschoolers’ College Admissions Handbook, by Cafi Cohen

TABLE OF CONTENTS

High School and Beyond Plan - 8th Grade ........................................................... 1

Do Grades Matter? .......................................................................................... 2

Plan to take classes that earn you a diploma! .................................................. 3

How Do High School Graduation Requirements Correlate with College

Entrance Requirements ................................................................................... 4

Free College! ................................................................................................... 5

Tentative Four-Year Schedule ......................................................................... 6

Learning Styles ................................................................................................ 7

Community Service .......................................................................................... 8

Awards & Recognition Log ............................................................................... 9

Activity Log ...................................................................................................... 9

High School and Beyond Plan - 9th Grade ......................................................... 11

Planning for your sophomore year ................................................................. 11

Revised Four-Year Schedule ......................................................................... 12

Testing ........................................................................................................... 13

High School and Beyond Plan - 10th Grade ....................................................... 15

Planning for your junior year .......................................................................... 15

What About College? ..................................................................................... 16

Continued Revision of Your Four-Year Schedule ........................................... 18

Choosing A Career ........................................................................................ 19


Planning for your senior year ......................................................................... 31

How to Make Your Dream Career A Reality ................................................... 32

Continued Revision of Your Four-Year Schedule ........................................... 42


Preparing for life after high school ................................................................. 43

Components of a High-Quality High School & Beyond Plan ........................... 45

1

High School and Beyond Plan - 8th Grade

Imagine if you had to decide right now what you would do for a career throughout

your entire adult life! Fortunately, you don’t have to do that yet. You do,

however, get to start thinking about it and preparing so that you will be able to

follow whatever career path you eventually choose.

Since many jobs require a college degree, it is important to take high school

classes that will lead to the option of college admission. Qualifying to attend

college does not mean you must go, just that it will be an option. It would be a

shame to miss out on your dream job simply because your high school

curriculum was lacking.

As you now start planning which classes you will take during the next four years,

select courses that fulfill college entrance requirements – meeting or exceeding

the minimum standards.

English – 4 years

Math – 3 (4) years

Science – 3 (4) years

Social Science – 3 (4) years

Fine Arts – 1 (2-4) years Career & Technical Education (1) year

World Languages – 2 (3-4) years Health & Fitness (2) years

2

Do Grades Matter?

If your goal is to flip burgers the rest of your life, grades might not matter

(although I know one fast food manager who does consider grades in hiring

because he has found that good students tend to be good employees). Most

people want more options (and money).

If you goal is to learn to drive, grades are important. Insurance companies have learned that students who get good grades are better drivers, get in fewer accidents, and have fewer tickets than students with average (or poor) grades. Because they are less likely to have to pay a claim on good students, insurance companies give a significant discount to students with good grades – therefore many parents will only allow their teenagers to get a driver’s license if they have a high enough GPA to qualify for a good student discount.

Grades are also important if you want to get into college, since there are more

students trying to get into college than there are spots available. Colleges can

be selective, and one criteria they use is grades.

3

Plan to take classes that earn you a diploma!

Despite how it sometimes feels, school is not like jail where you serve your time

and then get released. High schools have very specific requirements, and if you

want to graduate, you must fulfill all those requirements.

Within the graduation requirements, you have some flexibility. Begin thinking

about the different classes you will take throughout your high school years.

English – 4 Classics of Literature American Literature British Literature Public Speaking (1/2) Mythology (1/2)

Composition

Math – 3 (4)

Algebra 2 Trig/Pre-Calc Calculus

Science – 3 (4) Biology Chemistry Physics Advanced Chemistry Advanced Physics

Social Science – 3 (4) Constitutional Literacy American Government Washington State History (1/2) 20th Century World History

World History Civics (1/2) Geography

Psychology Economics

Fine Arts – 1 (2-4) CTE (1) Drawing Art history Music theory Photography

Typing Microsoft Office

Woodworking Violin

World Languages – 2 (3-4) Health

Any language A&P

Basic Health

Consider not taking health, PE, fine arts, and CTE courses until the end of your

senior year.

4

How Do High School Graduation Requirements Correlate with

College Entrance Requirements

English 4

You must have at least four years of English to graduate from high school. Colleges want to see a minimum of three years of literature and composition. The fourth year can be an additional literature course, or electives such as public speaking or debate. Note that some colleges list public speaking as an admissions requirement.

Math 3 (4)

College admissions officers look for a minimum of two years high school algebra plus one year of geometry. It is worth noting that at the college level, every student (regardless of major) must pass college algebra or a higher level course (i.e. calculus). This means that students should master high school trigonometry/pre-calc so that they are prepared to do well in their required college math class. Student who study algebra 1 and geometry in middle school are prepared to take second year algebra, trigonometry, and calculus before graduating from high school.

Science 3 (4)

Colleges are moving to a three-year minimum requirement, with two of those courses being a lab science. High school students should study one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. Since colleges require every student to pass at least one science course, it is highly recommended that high school students also take an advanced science class in order to be better prepared for their college-level science when the time comes.

Social Science 3 (4)

Most colleges want to see world history, U.S. history, and government/civics on a high school transcript. College-bound students should also consider studying psychology since it is required for many college majors. Other courses in this subject-area include economics, geography, political science, Washington state history, and any other history classes.

Fine Arts 1 (2-4)

Band, orchestra, choir, dance, drama, and theatre qualify as both performing arts and fine arts. Some colleges want to see a performing arts credit, while others will accept fine arts credits that do not involve performance, such as

music theory, photography, art appreciation, ceramics, drawing, fiber arts, graphic arts, metal design, music appreciation, painting, print making, or sculpture. Some colleges want to see 2-4 years.

Career & Technical Education

This subject area is required for high school graduation, but not for college admission. These classes cover useful life skills such as business (typing, accounting, computer), automotive repair, agriculture, engineering, and sports medicine. One credit is required for high school graduation. A second credit is required in either CTE or fine arts.

World Languages 2 (3-4)

Most colleges require at least two years of a single foreign language for admission. Some highly selective schools require four years.

Health & Fitness

Students must take one health class (1/2 credit), which includes earning a first-aid/CPR card. Most high schools also require three semesters of P.E. Neither health nor P.E. are college entrance requirements, but they must be taken to graduate from public high school.

5

Free College!

In Washington, academically prepared students can take college classes as high

school juniors and seniors. The state will pay the tuition. Students pay only for

the cost of textbooks and course fees.

With careful planning, students can graduate from high school with an

Associate’s degree. That will greatly lessen the expense and amount of time it

will take to earn a Bachelor’s degree after graduation.

Students have the option of taking a combination of some classes at the high

school and some classes at a community college. It’s not an all-or-nothing

proposition.

The trick for Running Start students is to make sure that a few graduation

requirements are not taken until the final high school term (spring Running Start

quarter your senior year). Some students who didn’t take this precaution have

unhappily discovered that they lost access to Running Start by fulfilling all of their

high school graduation requirements early.

When scheduling your high school classes, consider not taking health, PE, fine

arts, and CTE courses until the end of your senior year. These classes can

easily be taken at the college level for dual credit, ensuring that you don’t

accidentally graduate early.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCKKp7p6epMgCFU9PiAodf0UBYw&url=http://edtechtimes.com/2012/03/21/degree-compass-predicts-gpa-and-recommends-college-classes/&bvm=bv.104317490,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNGUIh9vaLzIt5myu1U-J6BLfZNxBw&ust=1443890699373819

6

Tentative Four-Year Schedule Those who fail to plan, plan to fail

Fre

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Composition Composition

Algebra 2 Algebra 2

Science: Science:

Social Science: Social Science:

So

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English: English:

Math: Math:

Science: Science:


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7

Learning Styles

Read The Way They Learn, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. Record beside the list

below the date that you read each chapter:

1 – What is a Learning Style?

2 – What Style Are You?

3 – The Dominant Concrete-Sequential Learning Style

4 – Dominant Abstract-Sequential Learning Style

5 – Dominant Abstract-Random Learning Style

6 – Dominant Concrete-Random Learning Style

7 – How Do We Concentrate?

8 – How Do We Remember?

9 – How Do We Understand?

10 – How Many Ways Can We Be Smart?

11 – Putting It All Together

12 – The Difference Between Learning Style and Learning Disability

Everyone is at least a little bit sequential and a little bit random. However, you

will tend to prefer one over the other. The question is, which is dominant for

you?

Likewise, everyone is a little bit concrete and a little bit abstract, but one will be

stronger than the other. Which is dominant for you?

The Way They Learn presents what is known about how people organize

information: Concrete vs. abstract, and sequential vs. random. Another theory

of learning differentiates the senses that people rely on to take in information:

auditory, visual, or tactile/kinesthetic. Which is your dominant sense for taking in

information?

Use a search engine to search for free learning style assessments. Ideally you

will find tests from different theories to help you discover your dominant learning

style. Print out any results and insert them into this notebook here.

8

Community Service

You are expected to perform community service. Keep track of your hours. Not

only are volunteer hours a graduation requirement, but colleges like to see well-

rounded individuals who get involved in life.

Options are available for many different types of interests: coach a recreational

league sports team, referee, volunteer at the food bank or nursing home, do

storm clean-up for a senior citizen, help with a literacy program at the library…

Date Time Activity Supervisor

9

Awards & Recognition Log

College applications (and some job applications) will ask about honors and

awards received. It is best to keep a running log, rather than try to remember

everything years later. Whenever you earn an award, write it down.

Award Year

9th 10th 11th 12th

Activity Log

Employers and colleges are looking for well-rounded individuals. Keep track

now, so that when it’s time to write your resume’ or complete college

applications, you have the necessary information.

Activity Organization Description Year

9th 10

th 11

th 12

th

11


Planning for your sophomore year

Start by filling in the classes you studied your freshman year.


Composition

Math – 3 (4)








Woodworking Violin


Any language A&P

Basic Health

Review the plan you made last year, and update this year’s plan based on any

changes in your interests or circumstances.

12

Revised Four-Year Schedule

Fre

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Composition Composition

Algebra 2 Algebra 2

Science: Science:


So

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ore

English: English:

Math: Math:

Science: Science:


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13

Testing

No matter how rigorous your high school curriculum, you must do well on college

placement tests. Therefore, you should study to prepare for these tests which

must usually be taken before students have even decided whether or not they

want to attend college.

Pre-SAT/NMSQT

The first test option is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which

prepares students for the SAT and also qualifies exceptional test-takers for

scholarships. It is usually given on Wednesday in the middle of October at your

local high school, and you must preregister. You will take this test your junior

year of high school. It is recommended that you also do a practiceyou’re your

sophomore year.

College Admissions & Placement Tests

Next you will take either the SAT or the ACT. The test is usually taken in the

spring of your junior year. Some students retake the test in the fall of their senior

year after spending the summer studying to improve their score. Which test you

choose should be based on the preferences of your chosen college(s).

SAT

Originally, this test was known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Eventually

the name changed to Scholastic Assessment Test, then to just the

SAT. Do not confuse this with the Stanford Achievement Test, which has

the same initials but is given to elementary and secondary students and

has no bearing on college admissions. The SAT is given by College

Board. From the SAT website, effective March 2016, the test sections

are:

Reading Read passages and interpret informational graphics, sometimes comparing two paired passages, to answer comprehension questions. Some questions ask you to locate a piece of information or an idea stated directly. But you’ll also need to understand what the author’s words imply. In other words, you have to read between the lines.

Writing & Language

Edit and improve passages that were written especially for the test — and that include deliberate errors.

Math Problem Solving and Data Analysis focuses on ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning to solve problems in science, social science, and career contexts Heart of Algebra focuses on the mastery of linear equations and systems Passport to Advanced Math focuses on more complex equations and the manipulation they require; geometric and trigonometric skills

Essay In the revised SAT, the essay is optional

14

ACT

An alternate to the SAT is a similar standardized test from American

College Testing. In contrast to the SAT, this test tends to be based on

expected high school curriculum. From the ACT website:

English 75 questions 45 minutes Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills.

Math 60 questions 60 minutes Measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12.

Reading 40 questions 35 minutes Measures reading comprehension

Science 40 questions 35 minutes Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.

Writing 1 prompt 40 minutes Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.

Accuplacer

Community colleges do not require or consider SAT or ACT scores.

Instead, all students must take an Accuplacer test, which the college uses

to determine readiness for college-level work. Students who score below

the minimum acceptable level must pass remedial courses before

registering for college-level classes.

You should now begin spending time every day studying for the Pre-SAT.

15


Planning for your junior year

Start by filling in the classes you studied previous years.


Composition

Math – 3 (4)








Woodworking Violin


Any language A&P

Basic Health

16

What About College?

Now is the time to consider whether you want to take any college classes while

you are still in high school.

Although a high-school schedule is six or seven classes, a full-time college load

would typically be around 15 credits, which is three 5-credit classes at colleges

on the quarter system.

If You Want to Choose Classes for Running Start

Just as high schools require courses to be taken across a broad range of

subjects, you’ll see the same thing in college. At the community college level,

students consider General Education Requirements. The exact number of

credits required in each area depends on the specific type of associates degree

sought, and your plans afterward.

Here is an overview of specific courses needed for various associates degrees.

There are, of course, other options, but illustrates the idea that there are some

basic classes that can apply to a number of different degrees.

AAS-DTA Business Construction Mgmt EMS

Communications 10 ENGL 101

10 ENGL 101 ENGL 102 or 107

10 ENGL 101 ENGL 102 or 235

ENL 101 & ENGL 102

Quantitative Skills 5 10

MATH 147 MATH 148

5 MATH 151 MATH 107 or BUS 110

Humanities 15 (3 subjects) 15 15

CMST 220 CMST 220 or 101

Social Science 15 (3 subjects) 15

ECON 201 ECON 202

15 BUS 201 ECON 201 or 202

PSYC 100 SOC 101

Natural Science 15 (3 subjects) 15-18

MATH 146 15-30

BIOL 175

General Transfer Electives

15 20 ACCT 201-203 BUS 201

13-18 ACCT 201-202 Any CAD course

HIM 130

Electives 15 5 multicultural 3 PE

5 20 CU105 (Word & Excell) BUS 163 or 164 65 credit paramedic cert

Students not sure about which direction they want to go could take the required

English 101 & 102, speech, one year of college-level foreign language,

psych 100, econ 201, statistics, and business 201 while deciding on a major,

since those classes would fulfill general distribution requirements for most

associates degrees.

17

One possible college schedule for a high school junior would be:

Fall Winter Spring

English 101 English 102 Speech (CMST 220)

Foreign language Foreign language Foreign language

Statistics (MATH 146) Econ 201 Business 201

18

Many students prefer to take high school classes during their high school years,

and save college until after high school graduation. Pray about what is best for

you.

Continued Revision of Your Four-Year Schedule

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19

Choosing A Career

On the following pages, you will learn to explore your strengths, interests, and

talents, and discover how they can combine to lead you to the perfect career for

your unique temperament and skills.

Recognizing Your Strengths

You are gifted! God gives everyone unique abilities and strengths. Discovering

yours can help you in your studies, in your career choice, and in how you relate

with other people. Following is one possible schedule for working through the

book StrengthsQuest, by Donald O. Clifton, PhD; Edward “Chip” Anderson, PhD;

and Laurie A. Schreiner, PhD.

Read the preface, then go to www.strengthsquest.com and take the Clifton

StrengthsFinder assessment. Your access code is located at the beginning

of your StregthsQuest book.

Chapter 1 – The Nature of Strengths

Chapter 2 – Gaining Direction for Your Quest

Print your Signature Themes report and follow the directions in the “What

Should You Do With Your Signature Themes Report?” section at the end of

the chapter.

Chapter 3 – Affirming and Celebrating Your Talents

According to the Clifton StrengthsFinder, what are your five most dominant

themes? Print the report(s) available online and insert them into this

notebook here. Mark your top five strengths in the table below.

Locate the discussions of your five most dominant themes in the text. Read

and think about them. It is not necessary to read about the themes that are

not listed as your top five.

http://www.strengthsquest.com/

20

Achiever – p 26-27 Activator – p 28-29

Adaptability – p29-30

Analytical – p 30-31

Arranger – p32-33

Belief – p33-34

Command – p34-35

Communication – p36-37

Competition – p37-38

Connectedness – p38-39

Consistency – p39-41

Context – p41-42

Deliberative – p42-43

Developer – p44-45

Discipline – p45-46

Empathy – p46-47

Focus – p47-48

Futuristic – p49-50

Harmony – p50-51

Ideation – p51-52

Includer – p52-53

Individualization – p54-55

Input – p55-56

Intellection – p56-57

Learner – p57-58

Maximizer – p59-60

Positivity – p60-61

Relator – p61-62

Responsibility – p62-63

Restorative – p64-65

Self-Assurance – p65-66

Significance – p66-67

Strategic – p67-69

Woo – p69-70

Chapter 4 – Relationships from the Strengths

Begin chapter 5 – Insights into Strengths Development (pages 97 to the

bottom of page 100). Use more space if needed:

1. Know your talents. After reading the material, fill in the table below:

Signature Themes

My talents within these themes

Example

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

21

The following corresponds to sections of the book. Instead of writing in the

book, record your answers in the space below.

2. Value your talents…

3. Personal mission…

5. Reflect on some of your successes…

7. Task

Talent/theme required for this task

Mark your five strongest strengths, then read the related discussions in the

remainder of chapter 5 (page 101 to end of chapter) - Using Your Talents as

the Foundation of Strengths:

Achiever – p 104

Activator – p 105

Adaptability – p106

Analytical – p 107

Arranger – p108

Belief – p109

Command – p110

Communication – p111

Competition – p112

Connectedness – p113

Consistency – p114

Context – p115

Deliberative – p116

Developer – p117

Discipline – p118

Empathy – p119

Focus – p120

Futuristic – p121

Harmony – p122

Ideation – p123

Includer – p124

Individualization – p125

Input – p126

Intellection – p127

Learner – p128

Maximizer – p129

Positivity – p130

Relator – p131

Responsibility – p132

Restorative – p133

Self-Assurance – p134

Significance – p135

Strategic – p136

Woo – p137

22

Begin chapter 6 – Considering Strengths When Planning Your Education

(pages 141-143): answer the questions asked in this chapter. If you have not

decided on a future career or course of study, you might not have definite

answers to some of these questions; but thinking through these things can

help as you are making decisions.

1. Self-Assessment of Talents

2. Motivations, Dreams, and Desires About College

3. Self-Assessments of Intellectual Interest and Curiosities

4. Vocational, Career, and Graduate School Aspirations

5. Time and Energy Demands

6. Self-Assessment of Academic Abilities

7. Degree Structure and Requirements

Set aside this book. Now that you have a good idea of your personal strengths

and talents, you can start investigating careers for which you are uniquely suited.

It is recommended that you finish this book just before heading to college.

23

Finding a Career That Fits You

Begin reading Finding a Career That Fits You, by Larry Burkett & Lee F. Ellis.

Read chapter 1 on the first day of this unit.

The second day, read chapter 2 – Gaining a Biblical View of Work, and do the

Bible study.

Most of this book is geared toward adults seeking a career change, so you will

not use the remainder of this book at this time. You may keep it as a resource to

use if the other resources are not definitive in helping you narrow down some

career options, and you may read it later if you wish.

24

Do What You Are

Please do not write in the book. Make copies as needed, and write on your

copies. Insert those pages here.

Part 1: Unlocking the Secrets of Personality Type

1) Suite Yourself – The secret of career satisfaction

2) Just Who Do You Think You Are? – Discovering your personality type

3) Mirror, Mirror – Verifying your personality type

Part 2: The “Fourmula” for Career Satisfaction

4) What a Character! – The four different temperaments

5) Who’s on First – Identifying your innate strengths

6) The Way You Do the Things You Do – Which strengths you share, and which you

use privately

7) Aged to Perfection – Developing Your Abilities Over Time

Part 3: Getting to Work

Highlight below your personality type, then read only the pertinent chapter.

When you finish that chapter, work through chapter 24.

8) ENFJ – The public relations specialist

9) INFJ – Catalysts for positive change

10) ENFP – Anything’s possible

11) INFP – Still waters run deep

12) ENTJ – Everything’s fine – I’m in charge

13) INTJ – Competence + independence = perfection

14) ENTP – Life’s entrepreneurs

15) INTP – Ingenious problem solvers

16) ESTJ – Taking care of business

17) ISTJ – Take your time and do it right

18) ESFJ – What can I do for you?

19) ISFJ – On my honor, to do my duty…

20) ESTP – Let’s get busy!

21) ISTP – Doing the best I can with what I’ve got

22) ESFP – Don’t worry; be happy

23) ISFP – It’s the thought that counts

24) Putting It All Together – Creating Your Personal Career Plan

Based on the questionnaires in this chapter, what is your personality type?

25

Based on what you learned while working through this book, what careers are

suggested for you to investigate? If you are having trouble finding information,

google, “jobs for _ _ _ _ personality type.”

Confirmation: Take the free 16-Type Jungian Personality Test at

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/personality/start.php. You should copy and

paste your results into a Word document, then print that page and insert it here.

Did you get the same result as highlighted on the previous page? If not, are

there similarities, or significant differences?

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/personality/start.php

26

What Color Is Your Parachute?

Read What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens, by Carol Christen &

Richard N. Bolles and work through the exercises in the chapters. Do not write in

the book. Copy the Discovery Exercise pages and write on your copy. Insert

those pages into this notebook.

Part 1 – Discover Your Dream Job: and plot to get it

1. What You Love to Do: Your Favorite and Best Skills

2. Who You Love to Work With: Your Favorite Types of People

3. Where You Love to Be: Your Ideal Work Environment

4. Your Parachute Describes Your Dream Jobs

Part 2 – On the Way to Your Future: help if you don’t know where to go

5. What Do I Do Now? Make the most of high school

6. What Do I Do Next? Make the most of the best and least expensive higher

education

7. Goal Setting: keep yourself motivated and move forward

8. Social Media: the new normal

Part 3 – Land Your Dream Job: create your ideal life… and more

9. Search for Your Dream Job: finding the best fit

10. Hiring Interviews: the scoop

11. Trends and Your Career

12. Beyond Your Dream Job: create the life you want

Based on what you learned while working through this book, what careers are

suggested for you to investigate?

27

Holland Occupational Themes

Another theory is the Holland Occupational Themes. You can take the Holland

(RIASEC) test for free at http://personality-testing.info/tests/RIASEC.php. The

test should take less than ten minutes.

Sketch your results. Just be approximate to show their relative strengths:

Realistic

Investigative

Artistic

Social

Entrepreneurial

Conventional

What is your three-letter code? ___________

When you are done with the test, click the link to view careers that tend to

correlate with that combination of personality traits. List those careers below. If

the list is extensive, you may copy and paste it into a document, then print the

document and insert the page into this notebook.

http://personality-testing.info/tests/RIASEC.php

28

Interest/Career Inventory

Locate the inventory in the pocket at the back of this notebook. Complete and

score it. It should help identify careers for which you are suited.

Based on what you learned from this inventory, what careers are suggested for

you?

29

Progress Report

Ideally, you would be able to compare the various lists you’ve developed and find

the same perfect job included on every list. In the real world, that might not

happen. For instance, consider the person whose testing shows the following

possible careers:

Meyers Briggs: ISTJ Holland Code: SCA

Business executives, administrators, and managers Accountants and financial officers Police and detectives Judges Lawyers Medical doctors/dentists Computer programmers or systems analysts Military leaders

Teacher’s assistant Middle school teacher Training & development specialist University professor

Obviously there are distinct shortcomings in brief quizzes that attempt to put

people in a box. There is no overlap between the two columns above, yet this is

supposedly for the same person. Interestingly enough, this individual has

worked as both a computer programmer and a teacher – jobs from each column!

People can be happy and fulfilled in a variety of occupations.

Note your Meyers-Briggs/Jungian personality type, and your Holland code from

the RIASEC test. Then list all of the careers suggested for you in the resources

you have used so far:

Do What You Are Meyers-Briggs/Jungian Type

____ ____ ____ ____

Holland Occupational Themes

____ ____ ____ Interest/Career Inventory WCIY Parachute?

30

As you do this exercise, make note of any careers that appear in all the columns,

but recognize that these are tools to help you find a starting point, not rules to

dictate what you must do.

Do any of these careers sound like something you might be interested in? If so,

which ones? If not, have you identified other careers that you would be

interested in?

From your personalized Strengths report, what are your top five strengths and

your talents that correspond to those strengths?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

As you think about careers in which you are interested, can you see how this

collection of strengths are particularly well-suited?

31


Planning for your senior year

Start by filling in the classes you studied previous years.


Composition

Math – 3 (4)








Woodworking Violin


Any language A&P

Basic Health

You should plan to take the Pre-SAT in October. Register in advance in

September.

You should also plan to take either the SAT or the ACT in the spring. Register

online in advance. Study so that you do well on these tests.

32

How to Make Your Dream Career A Reality

Given what you have discovered about a post-high school career direction, do

some research to discover what type of training will be needed to qualify for your

potential careers.

For example, a policeman must graduate from high school and then attend police

academy; a surgeon must graduate from college and medical school, then

complete a residency, an athletic trainer must earn a degree from a college with

an accredited athletic training curriculum.

You should investigate at least three careers. Don’t be surprised if there is some

overlap between the requirements for the various things you are interested in.

Career Training or College Degree Required

Why College Matters to God

Read Rick Ostrander’s Why College Matters to God: When you are done with

this book, write a one-page summary and response.

33

You may set your own schedule. Here is one option

pages 7-28: Preface & Introduction

pages 29-48: Where We Came From

pages 49-60: Living Largely

pages 61-76: Not the Way it’s Supposed to Be

pages 77-92: Broadcasting Mozart

pages 93-110: Integrating Faith and Learning

pages 111-127: An Education That Lasts

Homeschoolers’ College Admissions Handbook

Even if you attend a traditional classroom, there is good information in this book.

Read chapter 4: Shopping for Colleges

Given the training requirements you identified previously, look for colleges

that offer programs that will help you meet your goals.

Aside from programs offered, there are other things to consider.

Do you want to attend a public school or a private one, or does it

matter?

Do you want to attend a Christian school or a secular one, or do you

care?

Do you have a preference for a big city or a rural setting?

Does campus size matter to you? If so, do you prefer a small,

medium, or large-size student population?

Does the school’s sports program matter to you?

Are there other factors that you consider important?

Look at entrance requirements for at least three different colleges that you might

consider attending. Record the information you discover on the worksheet

located on the next page. Some colleges have a separate page on their

websites containing admissions information for homeschoolers.

34

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ACT

SAT

GPA

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ACT

SAT

GPA

Cam

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Medium

Large

Set

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Rural

Suburban

Big City

H.S

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35

As you look at programs, you will be able to eliminate some. Others will sound

good and you’ll want to learn more about them. Learn what you can from the

programs’ websites. Expect it to take a few days as you look more closely at the

different programs you have identified.

Read chapter 11: Campus Visits and Interviews

Many colleges have virtual tours available online. This is a good first step for

schools in which you are interested, but is not a substitute for actually setting

foot on campus, visiting classes, and talking with students.

Are there programs that you would like to visit? Which ones?

Arrange to visit the most promising programs. Record the date(s) and

location(s):

You should be ready to apply to the program(s) of your choice before the

application deadline. Most colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT as

entrance exams, but some have a preference for one or the other.

Application deadlines vary; some programs offer incentives to apply over the

summer between your junior and senior year. Others don’t even begin

looking at applications until January of your senior year. Now is the time to

find out those details. College applications take time to complete. Don’t wait

too long and miss the deadline.

Checklist:

______PSAT/NMSQT score ______SAT score

______ACT score ______SAT Subject Test(s)

Scho

ol #

1

Scho

ol #

2

Scho

ol #

3

Scho

ol #

4

Letters of Recommendation

Application Submitted

Transcript(s) Submitted

Acceptance Letter

36

You might think that if the application deadline is next fall, you don’t need

to be concerned about it yet. That is not true. One thing to especially

work on now is your letters of recommendation.

First, find out what references and recommendations are needed for the

specific program(s) you will be applying to. Some want a general

reference, but many need something very specific.

Read the “Recommendation Letters” section of chapter 10, Outside

Evaluations, in Homeschoolers’ College Admission Handbook.

Be thinking about who you will ask to write your letters of

recommendation. Complete the form found on the next four pages – write

your draft in pencil, then type the final version that you will give to the

person from whom you ask for a LOR.

Give the form to your referrers this spring, and ask that they work on your

letter over the summer so that you can submit it in the fall with your

applications (unless you are applying to a program with a summer

deadline, in which case you will adjust the dates accordingly). This will

make you look organized, will give people good background information

so that they can write a thoughtful letter, and will give them plenty of time

to do a good job.

After you have made your request (well in advance of the deadline), be sure to

follow up a week before the deadline. If needed, follow up again the day before

the deadline.

School School School School

Referrer Name De

ad

line

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ived

by s

ch

oo

l

De

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line

LO

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by s

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by s

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37

Request for Letter of Recommendation for

College Application

Student

Today’s Date

Test Scores:

SAT:

Reading Writing & Language Math Total

ACT:

English Reading Math Science Composite

GPA:

College(s) to which I am applying:

School Probable Major

Curriculum for college prep:

Rigorous math curriculum through calculus

Physics and advanced physics; chemistry

Transcript attached

Family:

I am #4 of 5 children.

Both of my parents are college graduates, and my three older siblings

have all attended college. My younger brother is in 8th grade.

Four adjectives that best describe me:

1. 2. 3. 4.

38

What do you see as your primary strengths. How have they helped you in life?

What field(s) of study do you intend to pursue in college, and why are you choosing this field?

Do you possess a special talent or quality that I should know about when I write for you?

What hobby or endeavor are you passionate about? Why?

39

What event or activity (positive or negative) has had the most significant impact on you in your life and shaped you as a person? Why?

What makes you a valuable asset to the college you are applying to? What makes you stand out from other applicants?

Are there unusual or personal circumstances that have affected your educational experiences or personal experiences?

Are there any specific areas you would like emphasized on the recommendation?

40

Student Resumé Information

Honor/Award Year

9 10 11 12

Gold Medal of Achievement (Royal Rangers equivalent of BSA’s Eagle Scout) x

Suzuki trophy (what level)

Activities Athletics, fine arts, community service, scouts, employment, etc.

Year

9 10 11 12

I request that you use the information provided when writing a letter of

recommendation.

41

Read chapter 9: Dazzling Application Essays, in Homeschoolers’ College

Admissions Handbook.

Many colleges have specific prompts for the essay portion of their application.

This means that you cannot write one grand essay and use it for every

college. Instead, you must write a unique application essay for every school

to which you apply.

As you begin looking at college applications, keep these tips in mind.

42

Continued Revision of Your Four-Year Schedule

Se

nio

r

One possible college schedule for a high school senior taking one-year of

running start classes would be:

Fall Winter Spring

English 101 English 102 Music theory

Foreign language Foreign language Foreign language

Business 201 Econ 201 Microsoft Office

A high school senior who took running start classes as a junior could earn more

college credits as a senior: Specific classes will depend on the exact Associates

degree desired, as well as your projected 4 Bachelor’s degree.

Fall Winter Spring

Foreign language Health Fine Arts

Math class (depending on major) PE Microsoft Office

Science Science Science

43


Preparing for life after high school

Complete the table below to show the classes you have taken to fulfill both high

school graduation requirements and college entrance requirements.

English – 4

Math – 3 (4)

Science – 3 (4)

Social Science – 3 (4)

Fine Arts – 1 (2-4) CTE (1)

Violin


45

Components of a High-Quality High School & Beyond Plan

• Identify educational goal

•Research requirements to attain goal

• (program entrance requirements)

• (admissions tests)

• (high-school plan to qualify for post-high school goal)

•Learn about financial aid to fund goal

College/Job Training Program

• Identify career goal

•Research requirements to attain goal

•Take interest & skills assessments

• Job-shadow if appropriate

•Create a resumé

Career

• Identify personal goals

•Keep a log of volunteer experiences

•Show development of practical life skills

Life

47

College applications

Presentation of HSBP

Pocket for aptitude inventory

Pocket for test scores

Pocket for college letters

college & career planning€¦ · imagine if you had to decide right now what you would do for...

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