We get a lot of questions in the counseling office from students and parents about when to start college planning and what steps they should be taking. For the most part, it's never too early to start looking at potential careers and postsecondary institutions that may align with those careers. Granted, most students will change their minds several times before they make their "final" decision (and even then they may change once they hit the college scene), but it's good to start somewhere. This might mean doing some research online on O'Net or I Have a Plan Iowa, it might mean talking to relatives or friend's parents about their careers, or it might just mean being more observant about all the different occupations that one can come into contact with on a daily basis- your doctor, nurse, mailman, police officer, teacher, etc.
In 2008, the state legislators mandated a student core curriculum plan be developed in 8th grade- meaning our junior high kids are identifying a career area of interest and mapping out their four years of high school to make sure they fulfill graduation requirements and electives to match with their career area of interest. Despite the panic that students and their parents can feel about making these choices, it's helpful to keep in mind that students revisit these plans every single year and are able to make changes based on their current plans. The state system also has students complete self-assessments each year to help them identify possible careers that align with their interests and abilities.
For the most part, we encourage students to actively start searching during their junior year. This is the year in which students will take the ACT test if a four year institution might be in their future, they will be taking the COMPASS test which is used by Iowa's two year community colleges, and they have the option of taking the ASVAB if they are interested in joining one of the nation's military branches.
College recruiters usually make two rounds to high schools- one in the fall geared towards seniors and one in the spring geared towards juniors. Students are able to sit down with the recruiters to learn more about the campus, programs, and activities available.
Most colleges also have junior visit days in the spring which are geared toward junior students. We allow juniors to take a college visit day that doesn't count against attendance. Getting on campus remains one of the most important ways a student can see if a particular college will be a good fit for them. It helps students get a feel for the size of campus, size of classes, and see where they would live while parents can get information about cost, safety, and completion and job placement rates (since kids sometimes forget to ask these things).
Keep in mind- not all students can/should/want/need to go to a four year school. About half of all available jobs today require education after high school, but NOT a four year degree. Check out vocational and apprenticeship programs as well.
The important thing is to not limit yourself too early on- keep your options open by taking challenging courses and a variety of electives to find things you like (or don't like).
During the fall of senior year, students and their parents have an individual meeting with their counselor to discuss the plan for after graduation and to walk through all the necessary steps to get there.
We're here to help, so please don't hesitate to call, email, or stop in with questions at any time!
Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Heidemann, High School Counselors
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