COLLEGE and CAREER PLANNING 101 GUIDE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
-College is a Match to be Made, Not a Prize to be Won-

        Selecting a college and career are among the most important decisions of your life.  This decision can affect your college success, career direction and college costs. A well-designed college and career plan can help you and your family confidently find your “best fit” and “best feel” college and career.  The plan involves applying  the eight steps of college and career planning in sequence. (see below).

1.  INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE and CAREER PLANNING - College and Career
​          Planning Fundamentals

2.   SELF-AWARENESS.   Identifying key personality traits and motivations and how
           they can help you select potential majors and careers.

3.   HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION.   Setting goals and activities related to success in high
           school and beyond.   

4.   CAREER AND PROGRAM EXPLORATION.  Identifying “good fit” careers and programs,
           given your personality traits, interests, strengths, values and skills.

5.   COLLEGE EXPLORATION.   Identifying those colleges which appear to be overall “good
           fits” for you.  You should carefully study and visit the colleges on your list you now
           prefer.  These are called your candidate colleges.  Try to include public and private,
           large and small colleges.

6.   COLLEGE ADMISSION.   Deciding which candidate colleges to apply to.  From the list of
           colleges you are admitted to, select your “best fit”/”best feel” college.  

7.   SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID AND AFFORDABILITY.    Identifying merit and
           private donor scholarships you qualify for, and learn, with your parents, how to
           successfully navigate the often complex financial aid and affordability processes.

8.   HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TRANSITION. For students and parents.  Coping with   
           freshman adjustment issues.  Important for your success in college.