Help your student find the right college fit - page one
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My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Five Simple Steps to Picking a Major!
When you’re down to your final choices of a college, it’s time for you to really scrutinize their academic offerings (courses and majors).
Purchase an easy search tool like “Major Decisions”, published by Wintergreen Orchard House to take with you on college visits. In an easy- to-read and easy-to-carry thin handbook, it describes 150 of the most popular majors and describes the plan of study in plain English.
Compare your college’s offerings with the core subject areas and typical course titles described in the book. This can help you make your final college choice, and to ask better questions when you visit all of your top college choices.
Again, make sure you talk to the faculty of the academic programs, if you have a major field or fields picked out. However, if you’re one of the 30% of freshmen who don’t know what your major will be, at least understand what’s offered and make plans to further explore the majors and career paths, as you enter college.
The college (faculty, your advisor or the career and academic advising departments) can help you get clarity, as you move into your freshman and sophomore years. “Major Decisions” lists career possibilities. Explore them with your career center, and also talk to people in those professions to truly understand the quality of life that you can expect in this job.
In these conversations with the college and working professionals, prepare the right questions to ask. For example, “Major Decisions” tells you what skill areas are critical for success in the major and career. If this field is a passing interest and not a passion, and the skills required seem daunting to you, you need to think carefully about whether this is the right path for you. Consider taking an aptitude assessment such as DAT for PCA to verify your skill level in specific areas like math or language. The career center or psychology department at your college may be able to refer you to a testing center.
You can approach your search for a major three ways:
- A limited search (to learn about all the majors in a given field, such as psychology or engineering).
- An extended search (to also learn about the entries in the “related majors” sections of the “Major Decisions” handbook.
- Or just random reading - to get acquainted with the scope of majors in the Table of Contents and then read deeper into areas that sound interesting.
Purchase an easy search tool like “Major Decisions”, published by Wintergreen Orchard House to take with you on college visits. In an easy- to-read and easy-to-carry thin handbook, it describes 150 of the most popular majors and describes the plan of study in plain English.
Compare your college’s offerings with the core subject areas and typical course titles described in the book. This can help you make your final college choice, and to ask better questions when you visit all of your top college choices.
Again, make sure you talk to the faculty of the academic programs, if you have a major field or fields picked out. However, if you’re one of the 30% of freshmen who don’t know what your major will be, at least understand what’s offered and make plans to further explore the majors and career paths, as you enter college.
The college (faculty, your advisor or the career and academic advising departments) can help you get clarity, as you move into your freshman and sophomore years. “Major Decisions” lists career possibilities. Explore them with your career center, and also talk to people in those professions to truly understand the quality of life that you can expect in this job.
In these conversations with the college and working professionals, prepare the right questions to ask. For example, “Major Decisions” tells you what skill areas are critical for success in the major and career. If this field is a passing interest and not a passion, and the skills required seem daunting to you, you need to think carefully about whether this is the right path for you. Consider taking an aptitude assessment such as DAT for PCA to verify your skill level in specific areas like math or language. The career center or psychology department at your college may be able to refer you to a testing center.
You can approach your search for a major three ways:
- A limited search (to learn about all the majors in a given field, such as psychology or engineering).
- An extended search (to also learn about the entries in the “related majors” sections of the “Major Decisions” handbook.
- Or just random reading - to get acquainted with the scope of majors in the Table of Contents and then read deeper into areas that sound interesting.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Linking Majors and Careers was Never Easier! (Still, You Have to Do Some Legwork)
It’s never too soon for students to explore careers; and conversely, it’s never too late for an adult. You can learn about the types of high school and college coursework needed, and -- whether or not you go to college -- the types of jobs that you can prepare for, in each cluster. At the States Career Clusters Initiative, there are 16 Career Cluster Plans of Study; and 81 Pathway Plans of Study across them.
According to the site, “A Plan of Study can serve as a guide, along with other career planning materials, as learners continue on a career path.” Course recommendations should be individualized to meet each learner’s educational and career goals and each school’s entrance and graduation requirements.
Knowledge and Skills Charts are available at the links provided for each Cluster and under the "Resources" tab on the site. Secondary and post-secondary coursework is detailed “across the disciplines” of math, science, social studies and English/Language Arts. Other required courses, electives and learner activities are also provided.
Since many professional jobs these days don’t require a college degree, coursework in both career and technical programs and degree major courses are provided for each cluster. A sample listing of job titles gives you an idea of the types of jobs that can result from following these study programs. For example, in the Marketing, Sales and Service cluster, common job titles include:
►Copywriter/Designer
►E-Commerce Director
►Entrepreneur
►Field Marketing Representative
►Forecasting Manager
►Interactive Media Specialist
►Inventory Manager/Analyst
►Logistics Manager
►Merchandise Buyer
►On-line Market Researcher
►Public Relations Manager
►Promotions Manager
►Retail Marketing Coordinator
►Sales Executive
►Shipping/Receiving Clerk
►Telemarketer
►Trade Show Manager
►Warehouse Manager
►Webmaster
Armed with this information, you can jump over to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook to learn about salaries, what the jobs are like, and the growth projections in your region. Contact me at jill@whatsyourmajor.net for help with streamlining this process.
According to the site, “A Plan of Study can serve as a guide, along with other career planning materials, as learners continue on a career path.” Course recommendations should be individualized to meet each learner’s educational and career goals and each school’s entrance and graduation requirements.
Knowledge and Skills Charts are available at the links provided for each Cluster and under the "Resources" tab on the site. Secondary and post-secondary coursework is detailed “across the disciplines” of math, science, social studies and English/Language Arts. Other required courses, electives and learner activities are also provided.
Since many professional jobs these days don’t require a college degree, coursework in both career and technical programs and degree major courses are provided for each cluster. A sample listing of job titles gives you an idea of the types of jobs that can result from following these study programs. For example, in the Marketing, Sales and Service cluster, common job titles include:
►Copywriter/Designer
►E-Commerce Director
►Entrepreneur
►Field Marketing Representative
►Forecasting Manager
►Interactive Media Specialist
►Inventory Manager/Analyst
►Logistics Manager
►Merchandise Buyer
►On-line Market Researcher
►Public Relations Manager
►Promotions Manager
►Retail Marketing Coordinator
►Sales Executive
►Shipping/Receiving Clerk
►Telemarketer
►Trade Show Manager
►Warehouse Manager
►Webmaster
Armed with this information, you can jump over to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook to learn about salaries, what the jobs are like, and the growth projections in your region. Contact me at jill@whatsyourmajor.net for help with streamlining this process.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Look and See! Use the New Interactive College Search Tools to Understand the Intangibles
Data are great, but when push comes to shove, your choice of college will most likely be based on intangibles: a feeling of connection that's hard to describe.
When your college meets your hard academic, financial and logistical requirements, AND just feels right, you've found your "best fit".
College search road trips can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Prepare yourself with a "look and see" approach before getting in the car:
1. Start with the usual list of 20-some schools on your consideration list. You'll wind up with fewer than ten at decision time. Contact me at http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/index.php/Contact-Us.html for free advice about how to compile your list.
2. Use student-directed interactive tools to develop an understanding about what life is really like at your first 20 choices.
US News and World Report, for example, now offers online videos of 150 campuses, with student commentary and blogs .
Collegeconfidential.com offers a topic-specific forum where parents and students can share impressions and experiences openly. You can submit a question about your colleges and someone with experience is very likely to respond quickly.
Some printed college guides are written from a student's point of view, such as "The Insider's Guide to the Colleges," and "Students' Guide to the Colleges". These are great places to do a first screening of your list of 20 colleges.
3. Visit five to ten schools on your list during the first go-around. Through the visits, you'll find yourself developing the criteria for the intangibles that matter to you: The social culture on campus, the teaching philosophy of the faculty you will meet, and more.
4. If a faculty presentation is not on your campus visit agenda, make sure you make an appointment with a faculty member from either the core curriculum or your field of interest. Ask about the teaching philosophy on campus and how it's realized in the classroom. Inquire about job opportunties and hiring trends in the field.
5. Don't omit any colleges from your list based on indirect internet or book resources. Look and see for yourself! But be sure to get details from college officials about any areas of special interest or concern.
Happy Hunting!
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