Success After High School: Whose Job Is It?

Many students don’t go right to college and also don’t have vocational training. Once graduated, they’re “off the radar screen”.

According to a December 2009 study by The Public Agenda, post-secondary students have complex issues that undercut their ability to completion their education and training:

• Among students in four-year schools, 45 percent work more than 20 hours a week.

• Among those attending community colleges, 6 in 10 work more than 20 hours a week, and
more than a quarter work more than 35 hours a week.

• Twenty-three percent of college students have dependent children.

They are desperate for enhanced guidance and we are desperate to give it to them. In an article for the National Career Development Association, Dr. Janet Wall points out that the US ranks 20 of out 28 in high school graduation rates and 12th in college graduation, the likely long-range impact to our economy is frightening.

It’s not academics that hold these folks back; according to research, it’s stress, problems with work/life/school balance and costs. They don’t lack potential; They lack support.

And the problem starts early: It’s no secret that high school counselors are overworked; particularly in public schools. In private schools, they often focus on admission into prestigious colleges. Few have the resources to intervene with the average student, who may not know how to advocate for him or herself; who doesn’t know the job and college/training options that are out there. They can’t even ask the right questions to get actionable information.

How criminal that they often must struggle only to fail and leave training with a greater, not lesser, burden: student loans

But they can tell us what they need: They need college and training to be more convenient and more affordable. A great majority say part-time financial aid and flexible course scheduling would be key to their success.

Many of us can help: Rather than dropping this societal issue in the laps of high school counselors, the whole school staff should be focused on it. Employers, community, politicians, parents, foundations, nonprofits share the vision and can share programming resources.

Contact us for college and career planning.

What is Academic Coaching?

The best coaches listen actively to a student's concerns and ask powerful questions to help him or her:

• Get ready to learn
• Leverage strengths and learning styles
• Address weaknesses
• Use emotional and social intelligence to excel at school and work
• Think creatively and critically
• Understand the global landscape
• Develop and fulfill goals in learning and life.

How is Coaching Delivered?

We offer one-to-one coaching and affordable training workshops for parents, teachers, and counselors. Both formats offer a complete coaching experience, built on activities, reading and writing assignments.

For Students:

Manage resources, match your abilities and interests to career fields, understand the global landscape, rebound from setbacks and prepare for the real world of work.

For Parents, Teachers and Counselors:

We train professionals who are serious about making major improvements in K-12 education through coaching, district seminars, parent sessions and teacher training to:

• Improve their interpersonal (and managerial) effectiveness using coaching skills as a primary communication and motivational tool.
• Utilize the LifeBound line of books and curricula, giving teacher training sessions and developing your own coaching practice with students, parents and faculty.

Contact us for our individual and small group coaching and training!

Overcoming the First Obstacle to Attending College: Money

Whether you’ve saved for college or not, don’t let your financial limitations stop you from considering college; any college. There are many colleges and universities that offer different educational experiences and they charge different prices. The majority of college students get financial aid to help pay for college costs. Much of that aid is based on financial need rather than grades. But grades are a big consideration in the type and amount of the award. Being knowledgeable and proactive will help you overcome the obstacle of money for college.

Working with the Admissions Department to Budget for College

If costs are a great concern, you should inquire with the admissions department about “nontraditional”, “articulation”, “early college” programs and scholarships; all of which can reduce costs significantly.

If you’re a desirable student, due to your grades, “legacy” status or athletic record, you may have more options.

Every institution has “recruitment goals” and you might fit the profile of what it’s looking for this year; particular if you are a “first generation” or “diverse” (minority or international) student.

If you’re very clear about your major, and you have good grades, make sure you let the faculty of your future academic program know about your interest in the college. Talk with them by phone or meet with them in person, and send them an email. Then, send a copy to the admissions departments, who usually keep track of your level of “expressed interest”. This may have some influence on the admission or financial aid decisions.

Communicate with the Financial Aid Department to Maximize Your Award

Soon after the admission decision is made by the college, the financial aid award will be determined. The financial aid awards begin right after January 1, The college’s federal aid allocations start to get tapped then, so apply early for the best chance to maximize your award.

Some colleges offer a special rate if you commit early (called “Early Decision”) to attending. However, this may affect your ability to compare aid packages from several institutions.

The financial aid policy of the school could become a major factor in your final college choice. Some schools will not meet all of your eligibility for financial aid, leaving you with an unmet need and requiring you to tap more of your family’s resources. Ask the financial aid department for its average “merit-based” (scholarships) and “need-based” financial aid award statistics, or look them up online. Merit-based awards are usually determined by the Admissions department, so it’s important to keep talking with your contacts there, too.

What You Can Control: Planning Your College-Related Expenses

The first step in preparing for a financial aid discussion is to gather your personal expenses and transportation costs. The obvious yearly college expenses are tuition, books and travel or relocation costs. These costs are on the rise for families but the “net cost” of college is actually decreasing. Get a true cost for these by itemizing them.

Beware of hidden costs, such as computers, laundry, parking, gasoline or bus fares. Costs for cell phones, entertainment, groceries, toiletries, clothing and entertainment are often underestimated. Books and supplies for some college majors cost more than others. Other easily forgotten costs include:

• Loan fees
• Study abroad costs
• Dependent care expenses
• Disability-related expenses
• Cooperative education program costs

“Free Money” Sources for College

Many students attend college at no cost; with the help of grants. Grant aid is available from a variety of providers. It’s much better to look for all the grant aid available – and especially to ask about each college’s “institutional grant” practices. Possibilities for grants and federal loans should be exhausted before you borrow money to go to school.

As mentioned, scholarships can be found at each college, but you can search for local or “special interest” scholarships for specific student groups. These may be easier to get, and are not always driven by your grades.

If the college has decided that it wants you, and understands that the costs are out of reach for you, they may offer a “tuition discount”. This practice has become more popular among private schools, as well as public universities.

After you’ve put together these expenses and reported them to your colleges, let the financial aid officer know about any “special circumstances”, especially related to recent changes in family or health status, or job losses. Colleges sometimes offer more financial aid if your family is paying for private high school tuition, nursing-home bills, or the funeral of an immediate family member.

“Independent student” status usually allows for a more generous financial aid package, but it’s only possible if the student is 24 or older, married or a parent, a soldier on active duty, a veteran, or an orphan or ward of the court. However, a “dependency override” is possible if a student has been abandoned or abused by parents.

Middle income families can realize some tax benefits. If you’re not qualified for financial aid, you can still focus on maximizing the tax advantages of saving for college, such as saving in the child's name and gifting capital-gain assets.

If costs still seem insurmountable, you could consider working while going to college. But limit it to 15-20 hours a week, if you’re in college fulltime. Otherwise, research shows that it may take you longer, and cost you more, to complete your degree. Working ten hours or less, though, has been associated with better grades in many cases! You need to keep your academic performance up to maintain or increase your financial aid award.

By law, the college must take all of your resources into account when determining your financial aid awards, including grants/loans, work eligibility or need-based loans. In some rare cases, working can actually reduce your grants or scholarships in your financial aid package. So the best policy is for you to eliminate or reduce your work or loan commitments first, before negotiating your financial aid package.

If you wind up going into the workforce first, you can keep college on your radar screen. You may be able to earn college credit for your employment and life experience. Some schools administer their own tests and standards, while others allow you to take College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests for college credit.

Contact us for help with college and career planning, academic coaching, teacher training, and resources.

See the Forest AND Your "Decision Tree" for Your College and Career

One of the first big decisions you’re going to make on your own is what to do after high school. Like all major life decisions, your choices will have results: it will open the door to new opportunities. But it will also have “consequences”. How can you clearly see both the forest (the possibilities) and the trees (your choices)?

The expression “time is money” is never more true than when it comes to choices about college and work. You’ll have to walk away from other things that you might have enjoyed, and that might have been worthwhile. Going down the wrong path wastes your time, costs you money and shakes your confidence. If you’re not happy in college or work, you can always start over, but it gets increasingly expensive to do so.

The major opportunities and limits in your decision-making are easy to understand. Certain choices will be within your range of possibilities for what you’re willing to do, and what you can afford.

But what makes college and work decisions difficult are all the secondary, related questions about work and college: the tradeoffs that you have to make.

As you think about what exactly you can gain, and what exactly you will give up, to pursue your goal, you must be very specific, and the choices are less clear.

Have you answered all of these questions fully?

 Is it better to work first or go right to college? (How do you define “better”?)

 Should I get a two-year or four-year degree?

 Can I get a two-year degree first, get a better job, and then continue my studies later for a bachelor’s degree? Will a two-year degree get me anything?

 Should I live at home with my parents, get my own place or live on campus?

 (What does “should” mean to you?)

 Which of the colleges that I know about are the best ones? What other colleges should I consider? How can I know what college is best for me?

 (What does “best” mean to you?)

 Should I consider transferring from one college to another?

 How can I pick a major? How can I compare the major at one college and another?

 Can I handle the demands of my college studies at this school? Am I ready for college-level work? What if I do ok at first, and then it gets too tough when I’m a junior or senior? What kind of help can I get with my studies?

As you can see, these questions often lead to more questions. The answers turn out to be something like: “It depends”. And that can be frustrating and discouraging. Reflection can be lonely.

Whether you’re headed for a job or to college, an academic and career coach can help you take the fastest path toward work you love and the lifestyle you desire, to recognize your progress, stay encouraged. If you’re highly motivated, you can create a decision process for yourself, too. Either way, as you proceed through this exciting passage in life, remember:

1. Good answers to the right questions will come to you when you take the quality time needed to explore them fully, do some research, and then reflect.

2. Making effective decisions will build your confidence and motivation.

3. Research shows that confidence leads to success in school and work.

Finding your future happiness is worth the effort. YOU”RE worth the effort.

Good answers to the right questions are really what will get you to your life’s goals most quickly. Contact me for coaching help with answering the right questions.

College Major “Clusters”: A Straight-Away Path to Job Planning

According to some experts, high-demand jobs tend to come from a few “college major clusters”; only about 15% of all majors offered. While there are over 300 college majors to choose from, available within 3000 colleges, ultimately leading to over 30,000 job titles, it’s no wonder that so many college-bound students and parents are overwhelmed.

Money isn’t everything, but employability will probably rank high in your mind when you choose a major. Your major won’t get you a job outright, but having it on your resume with a favorable grade point average sends a signal to employers that you’ve got what it takes to do the job successfully.

Your choice of major, though, has some influence on your options in the job market. Down the road, when you choose a related career field in which to pursue a job, you’ll also consider the lifestyle, work conditions, salary, advancement opportunities, and even your own interests.

In the field of academic advising, “college major clusters” are broad categories of academic interest. Getting familiar with “college major clusters” will help you zero in on field of study and improve your chances off success in your academics AND your eventual career. Through surveys or reflection, you can find out what clusters you fit into.

If you’re undecided about your major, it’s a good idea to start by identifying around four clusters. According to Michael Voillt’s “Great Colleges for the Real World,” examples of college majors clusters with high-demand jobs are: “applied quantitative”, “analytical/computational” and “quantitative”.

College majors themselves are more specific so you’ll have to do some research. Look carefully at the coursework. Talk to the professors who teach the classes during your college visit or on the phone. Ask to see the textbook and syllabus. Consider carefully if you can, and want to, do what’s required to good grades in this major and graduate on time.

To get you started, here is a list of 100 descriptions of majors. Try to get down to five majors by a process of rank ordering your preferences. Friends or family could make suggestions based on the list that falls under each of the clusters you identified. Remember that quite a few majors will be compatible with your career interests. But some majors are lead to a very specific occupation (like pre-med or pre-law)..

Picking the major is just the first step. You still have to evaluate the jobs that are associated with it. Will you be successful? If the tasks of the job appeal to you, and the lifestyle fits your needs, again, your chances of success are greatest. But that’s another article!

Here is a neat site that shows the career options that connect with majors at University of Tennessee, including potential employers, specializations and strategies for your plan of study.

Bottom line: Careful planning and reflection when you choose a particular college’s program will pay off. Making the right choices will motivate you and your confidence will grow even more as you succeed in your coursework. And that confidence will lead to success in the workplace.

Contact me at http://www.whatsyourmajor.netfor personal coaching for academic and career success!

It’s Decision Time! Tips from Smart Shoppers about Choosing a College

The smartest college shoppers (meaning, students who are picking a college), might just be those who have experience and those who conduct research that is beyond the typical agenda of a campus visit.

Here are some tips from the trenches:

As I’ve reminded readers many times, many students aren’t sure about their major. In a perfect world, you’d pick a college based on the quality of a particular academic program and the quality of life you expect to experience on campus. But even if you’re “extremely” or “very” certain about your major and how much you like the campus, yes, even you could change your mind.

Be proactive when visiting a college.

You won’t find all the critical information about a college in a brochure. And you may have to ask for favors beyond what the typical campus visit offers. Call ahead and see if you can accomplish as much of this as possible during the visit:

College shopping at its best is “qualitative research”. You can only find out by asking the right questions to faculty and students. How you feel after the visit is going to be the main influence on your final decision. Record your impressions and key data points. How you feel may even outweigh your financial considerations.

First, conduct in-depth research on the faculty in your major:

Talk to several faculty of your chosen program. If you’re going to a research-driven university, which can be an unparalleled learning opportunity, find out about the teaching philosophy of the instructors of the upper level required classes in your major. If the instructors are absorbed by their research projects, will you be able to assist them? How do they make themselves available to advisees who need career help?

There can be a big difference between an instructor who teaches from the basis of their own practical experience in the field, versus one who is a research scholar, and both have positive attributes. Maybe the right situation for you is to have a blend of such instructors available.

If they aren’t around during your campus visit, call them later. Ask them about the teaching and learning styles in their classroom. A college is a collection of individuals; and instructors are no different.

Second, seek out students and specific classes:

Is this campus more collaborative or competitive? Every college has a campus culture that influences the classroom. The learning styles of students – the “norms”, if you will – can be very different in different majors. Seek out junior and senior students in your interest areas. Ask them for examples of typical classroom experiences. Don’t let them generalize. Ask them to describe a recent class they attended.

Every college offers a chance to sit in on a class. Ask to visit the classes of particular instructors who are legendary among their students. What are their teaching methods: straight lecture, experiential or both? Ask to see the syllabus for the class. This is the best way to see for yourself what makes THIS academic program at THIS college special.

Another data point to ask for:

Students who “transfer in” to a college after starting somewhere else might be the smartest shoppers of all! What can we learn from them? If a college as a higher-than-average rate of transfer-in students, something good could be going on. Ask the admissions folks for this data and an opportunity to talk to a transfer-in student.

Contact me for workshops and coaching on student success and career planning.

The Yellow Brick Road of Career Planning: Four Tips to Get You Out of the Muck and Back on the Path

Students: Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in Oz, searching for the Wizard?

Someone who can help you make the best decision about your career?

What’s most important, anyway?

Best-selling career books will encourage you to think about any number of things:

- the emerging “green” jobs
- the international job landscape
- the trades
- your personality
- job security
- the healthcare industry
- the service economy
- job security
- the IT industry

So with all this advice about good opportunities, how do you finally decide where to start?

First, realize that almost half of college students switch majors; at least once. The best planning can’t account for “happenstance”. In other words, along the “yellow brick road”, you’re going to meet people and experience things that will change your thinking about jobs. And that’s a good thing.

Second, don’t let your career indecision drive you into debt. Take a pause, if necessary, to get clarity; especially if you’re a junior or senior and still really uncertain about your major. The longer you take to find a major that fits; the longer it may take you to get a job in that field; if that’s your expectation.

Third, get some help! Where?

If you’re a college student:

Go to the career center of your college, talk to your advisor AND another faculty member you respect about what recent graduates in the major are doing; what their job titles are and what career paths they’ve taken. The more talking you do, the more information you’ll gather.

If you’re a high school graduate, but not a college student:

Get the same kind of advice from a “one-stop” employment center. They offer assessments and advising at a very low cost; and sometimes, no cost, depending on your circumstances. If you can afford it, find a career coach (someone like me). They help you fact-find, set realistic goals and keep you on track. Many coaches offer a sliding fee scale, making this service very affordable.

Fourth, get some field experience:

An internship (paid or unpaid) -- or a series of informational interviews, professional association meetings, networks on Linked In, job shadows, or lunch dates, with people in jobs that you find intriguing.

Maybe you could spring for coffee or lunch; although many people will gladly “go Dutch” in the interest of helping a young person get started in a career. Everyone likes to talk about themselves; including the details about their successes and failures. It’s human nature!

Contact me for more help. Your first in-person or phone coaching session is free.

Stuff Happens! Be Open When Choosing Your College Major

With 3000 colleges to choose from, you’ll certainly find a “match” for your lifestyle preferences, what you can afford, and the academic rigor. And there are plenty of books and counselors who can help you find a college that “fits”.

But once you’re at college, your decision about your major is your next hurdle. Even if you have chosen a major, you should verify your decision as a freshman or sophomore.

And one thing is sure: What you think is going to happen to school, won’t.

I coached a seventeen-year-old young lady this week, bound for Tufts University. Kaitlyn is very focused on majoring in biomedical engineering and took all the AP classes she could. In our “Wheel of Life” exercise, she really didn’t want to talk about her career direction; and was sure that this was already taken care of. She’s motivated and focused.

During our coaching session, I was plagued by a question: “Can Kaitlyn really know what’s going to happen when she gets to college?” So I asked her: “Kaitlyn, how open are you to new ideas about your field of study?”

Kaitlyn’s thinking could certainly change once she makes new friends with different ideas. And most colleges offer unique courses, even in the core program, with professors who can inspire and challenge your thinking.

With so many college majors -- and so many job titles -- out there (over 31,000!), you’re doing yourself a disservice if you get too focused too soon.

Freshmen and sophomore college students find themselves torn between finding a major that gets them a good-paying, reasonably secure job; and one that promises real, personal satisfaction.

Furthermore, the real connection between college majors and job titles is fuzzy, at best.

What To Do??

To make a “happy” decision about your college majors, you must know the facts, and know yourself as well. Talk to anyone you know who is in a satisfying job and ask him or her how they made decisions.

And do you own fact-finding; either by yourself, or with a career coach. You’ll have to:

1. Connect the college major with a career area, and then a job title.

2. Think about the job prospects: salary, growth, number of openings and where to find the jobs. (In my previous posts, I talked about the Occupational Outlook Handbook as the source for this information.)

3. Put your SELF first. Reflect often: What types of things do you like to do? WHY do you like to do them? What type of environment would be fun to work in, and what type of people would be cool to work with? What’s important to you?

I’ve talked about career clusters and how to find the fit between you and the World of Work. So remember:

• Your personality is likely to stay constant over the years, but your values could change.

• Most of your interests (abilities and skills) TRANSFER to job skills but you may have to think CREATIVELY about them.

What’s Your Major? coaching and workshops can guide and encourage you through the process. We also offer academic coaching to help you build social and emotional intelligence; and creative and critical and leadership skills: the skills that employers value most when hiring. We’re affiliated with LifeBound, and offer many resources for middle, high and college students, on our site.

You can do much of this research on your own. However, a coach will help you extend your thinking and stay accountable to your goals.

A workbook like Ed Colozzi’s Creating Careers with Confidence presents a thorough and methodical approach. You’ll have to make some trade-offs along the way to come up with a practical college and work plan. The challenge is that there are so many choices. But that’s the good news, too.

Several good guides can help you start the conversation about college majors:

Michael P. Voillt’s College Majors that Work
Paul Phifer’s College Majors and Careers
Laurence Shatkin’s Quick Guide to College Majors and Careers and 50 Best Majors for a Secure Future
Terry Ward’s Major Decisions: A Guide to College Majors

Contact me for personal help with your academic skills and career plans!

Six Ways to Be Strategic with Your Internship Search

An internship is supposed to help you enter the workforce with a likelihood of success and happiness. So don't treat it like "any old" part-time job search!

Plan ahead and develop an internship strategy. The first time, you could invest a few months into research, reflection and planning. If you do this once, you'll be able to do it faster the next time. Finding the right internship is like a real job search. You must match your skills and learning need to the employer's needs. And you have to be good at demonstrating that match in an interview.

So, to make an internship meaningful, don't wait until the last minute. You can get help from several resources below, but be prepared to do all of the leg work yourself.

1. Think about your long-term goals. What type of company of industry would you like to work in? What area of a company are you looking to get experience in? What type of duties would related to your long-term career goal?

2. If you're a college student, work with your faculty or advisor to put together a list of typical job functions, Many internship dutueis are negotiable for the top candidates.

3. Do some online research about the top employers in your area. Learn about their missions, business focus and news. Find the employers' annual reports on their web sites. Read the Chairman's Lettera to learn about the companies' current plans, successes and challenges.

4. Post your resume on the employers' sites. Include a career objective with keywords on your resume. Employers often look here first when searching for candidates.

5. Create a new job alert on sites like jobs.nuAlerts, nuResume, Indeed, SimplyHired, and Jobster. Answer the basic questions, select your areas of interest and join your favorite employers’ networks.

6. Professional associations are always looking to students to get involved as volunteers or in competitions. Attending their local functions as a visitor will get you direct exposure to hiring managers. Ask your college faculty which professional associations are most popular with specific employers in your area.

The more knowledge you have about the company and its goals; and the better you'll be to prove your fit for the job in your cover letter, get selected for an inteview, and convince the employer that you're the right person for the job!