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College or Career?
Depending upon your current age, decisions about your future may be stressing you out ... or of no concern whatsoever. Good news -- it's never too late or too early to get started thinking about these things. In either case, take a look at the resources on this page. They will definitely give you something to consider. You may want to start here with Mapping Your Future which has an excellent checklist of steps to take in the process of planning your tomorrows. |
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Getting to Know Yourself
Before you make any decisions about what you want to do in the future, you should do some thinking about the kind of person you are now. What are your likes and dislikes? Can you identify your strengths and weaknesses? How do you like to spend your time? What do you think you do well? What do you absolutely hate doing?
If you're having trouble answering any of these questions, check out some of the following web sites.
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Career Investigation
Okay, you have a better idea of what your interests are now. It's time to learn more about the careers themselves. What do they involve? How well do they pay? How and where can you get the proper training and experience? What does the job market look like? Are you really interested in this career, or should you consider something else?
- Again, the Institute for Career Research is the first place to look. Click on their Career List link and read about a specific career or look at cluster of similar ones.
- Go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (updated every two years) for a description of what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
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Military Options
Maybe you're thinking of a career in military service?
- The ASVAB test will help you decide if it's the right decision and if so, what branch and specialty might be good for you.
- Today's Military will give you a good overview of the numerous opportunities in this field .
- With over 150 careers in the Air Force, there may be one for you.
- Find out what it's like to be a soldier in the Army.
- Be a defender of the homeland with the Coast Guard.
- Protect our air, land and water with the Marines.
- Accelerate your life with the Navy.
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College Information
If you've decided that furthering your education is part of your plan, you should begin preparing as early as your sophomore or junior year in high school. See your Guidance Counselor to make sure that your schedule includes all the necessary course work and sequences. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself because colleges look for applicants with strong academic backgrounds. The road to college is long and winding. Take things one step at a time and you will be rewarded with success.
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Admission Tests
Most colleges require you to take an admissions test like the SAT or ACT in addition to the standard application, essays and letters of reference. Students often take these tests several times during their high school years to improve their scores as much as possible. Any bookstore or library will have an assortment of resources to help you prepare for these exams. Computer software is also available for electronic test prep. There used to be many free sites on the Internet that claimed to help you study, too, but now most of them are fee-based. The links below will help acquaint you with the tests themselves and how to prepare for them.
- The College Board site allows you to sign up for the SAT online and offers links to study programs.
- The ACT is another standard college entrance exam. Find out all about it here.
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Choosing the Right College
With over 12,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., selecting the best match for your needs can be an overwhelming task. Fortunately, there are many tools to aid you in this endeavor. If you've consulted some of the sites above, you may already have some good ideas. If not, or you're open to more suggestions, use the links below.
- Again, the Institute for Career Research has an education planner to guide you toward schools that will prepare you for your chosen career.
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CollegeNet offers a custom search feature that helps you find your perfect school. Enter the site, then choose College Search, then do a Custom Search. From the resulting list of schools, you can view info including admissions, campus life, academics, financial aid, tuition and fees and a link to the school's web page. You can even apply online!
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Petersons Planner, brought to you by the same company that produces the college guides, lets you create a FREE account, search for schools that meet your needs, save the results to your personal folder and even compare one school to another.
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Students Review is a very unofficial site that gives you an idea of what some students feel about the educational institutions they've attended. Take what you read here with a grain of salt, but you'll find the postings interesting nonetheless.
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Unigo College reviews by students for students
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College Chances is a fun and interesting way to predict your admission chances at 1,700 colleges and universities.
- COOL College Opportunities Online lets you search then compare the results.
- They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Go to Campus Tours for a virtual tour of over 8,000 schools.
- The U.S. News and World Report is famous for their annual recommendations on the best colleges, but this site also offers useful information on the college admission process in general.
- So you've decided you want to stay close to home? This site lists only New York's Private Colleges and Universities.
- Do you want close to home and extremely affordable? This site lists schools in the S.U.N.Y. system.
- This site lists Community and Technical Schools in New York State.
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The Bottom Line -- Paying the Bills
Although people will always tell you that what you can afford should not dictate where you choose to apply, ultimately financial considerations are very important. Scholarships, aid, grants and loans are available from many sources. The links below will provide you with necessary background information to begin your quest for assistance. In addition, the schools of your choice will have their own financial aid offices that can be extremely helpful.
- The first step in the journey to financial aid is the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This process determines your eligibility for aid of many kinds and is required by all federal sources of assistance as well as many colleges and universities. Their web site allows you to complete the form online and gives an excellent overview of the types of aid available.
- FinAid is the most reliable compilation of information about financial aid of all kinds available online. Created as a public service 10 years ago, there is still no charge for its use, and no competition for its authority. It offers a custom scholarship search as well as an enormous amount of explanation to help you understand the confusing game of college fees and expenses.
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