Introduction to Planning for College -- Section 3

Overview

Most high school students are unsure of their future. This section helps them establish realistic goals. By continuing to get to know themselves and learning about college requirements, students prepare to select an appropriate college. Students investigate careers of interest and training opportunities to reach their goals.

Goals

Students will:

• Identify their interests and relate them to careers.


Activity 18 asks students to complete an interest inventory, summarize the results, and discuss the findings.


• Learn more about career choices related to interests and skills.
  
  After choosing a career of interest in Activity 19, students research occupations using the Occupational Outlook Handbook found on the Internet or in hardcopy in most libraries. Following a discussion with an adult, students research a second occupation and compare it to the first.



• Create a college goal.
  
  In Activity 20, students learn about goal setting by interviewing someone they admire. They follow up by setting goals that match their interests in Activity 21. In Activity 22, students write a goal for education after high school.



• Identify pre-college classes required to meet educational goal.
  
  Activity 23 helps students identify high school classes necessary to meet their goals. With the help of a school guidance counselor, students develop a schedule of classes.



• Create a timeline for college planning.
  
  The Post-ITT Planning Calendar, introduced in Activities 24 and 25, helps students keep track of important dates. This calendar is referenced throughout the next section, Applying to College. Students are asked to review and discuss their calendars frequently.

Rationale

Many students go through high school assuming they will go to college; but never develop an understanding of how to reach that goal. Too often, students with disabilities may not be considered for a college track, so are left out of discussions regarding college requirements. As the senior year approaches, many of these students realize they are not adequately prepared to reach this goal. The Planning for College Activities address the planning needed to make college a reality. We recommend that students begin these Activities during the sophomore year.