
Preparing for college.
A timeline for college.
Many think that career planning is something that begins once they have entered college. Choosing a career path early will help you get better prepared for postsecondary education. Below is a useful timeline to help you choose and prepare for a career path before you even apply for college.
In 5th Grade, students will…
- Identify Study Skills and Goal Setting
- Attend a Career Fair or listen to speakers from different career fields
- Field Trip to feeder Middle School Campus
- Discuss Pre-AP and Technology Course selection in MS
- Explore extra-curricular activities available in MS
- Observe College Awareness days
In 6th Grade, students will…
- Identify educational opportunities available to you in middle school:
- Identify the types of postsecondary institutions that exist in the United States:
- Check out the U.S. Department of Education website to learn more about higher educational programs in the United States.
- Explain the hierarchy of degrees available at US postsecondary institutions:
- This list of postsecondary institutions includes all levels and types from nondegree vocational schools to universities awarding the research doctorate.
- The US News University Directory provides everything you need to increase your earning potential with an online education, online degree program, or traditional on campus degree.
- Postsecondary Success Strategy aims to dramatically increase the number of young adults who complete their postsecondary education setting them up for success in the workplace and in life.
- Describe the economic benefits of education beyond high school:
- The costs and benefits of an excellent education for all of America’s children.
- Careeronestop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration: (Comprehensive career tools)
- College Career Life Planning – specifically designed for elementary and middle school students
- Locate information on the degrees required for specific careers:
- Health Science
– Bachelor’s Degree Careers in Health Care
– Health Field Careers
– Medical Field Careers
- Information Technology
– Instructional Technology Careers
– Types of IT Careers
– Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Health Science
In 7th Grade, students will…
- Describe where you see yourself in 15-18 years: (Goals)
- Complete a career interest inventory and receive a list of compatible careers.
- KUDER: A leading provider of internet-based tools and resources that help students and adults achieve their educational and career planning goals
- TexasCares World of Work: School to work helps the residents of Texas make rewarding career decisions
- Achieve Texas: Is designed to help you and your parents make wise education choices
- Identify careers that meet your interests and talents: What are you good at? What do you like to do?
- Browse through specific assessment topics to help you identify your skills, interests, and values – and match them to careers that might suit you best:
In 8th Grade, students will…
- Identify all the factors that colleges consider when evaluating applicants:
- Identify specific classes to take in high school to be college ready and eligible:
- Explain the steps you can take in middle school to prepare themselves for a pre-college track in high school:
- Recognize the tests required for admittance into college:
- Identify the state assessments required for promotion and/or high school graduation:
- Complete explanation of the STAAR Assessment required for promotion and high school graduation
- List three ways that financial aid can help them to pay for college:
In 9th Grade, students will…
- Research job and career opportunities including potential salaries, future job market
- Follow the course sequence for your program of study (career pathway)
- Enroll in Dual Enrollment , Pre-AP and AP classes
- Take the COMPASS/ Accuplacer/THEA exams
- Maintain a high GPA
- Attend tutorials when needed
- Be involved in extra curricular activities, clubs, organizations
- Take over the leadership roles within the school environment
- Be involved in community service year round
- Begin a work in progress resume
- Visit your school’s Go Center
- Research universities on College For All Texans and CollegeBoard, and check out their summer programs (Reybotics Summer Valley Program through UTB)
In 10th Grade, students will…
- Continue with ninth grade recommendations
- If requirements haven’t been met, retake the COMPASS/Accuplacer/THEA exams
- Research summer programs with local University (ex: RGV summer science internship through UT branch)
- Visit universities online or on site ConsumerReports.org/college
- Request a Texas Compendium (a free resource that gives information about admission requirements, tuition, college size, location, etc)
- Enroll in an SAT prep class
- Take the PSAT as practice
- Continue updating your resume
In 11th Grade, students will…
- Take PSAT in October
- Continue with 9th and 10th grade recommendations
- Keep in close communication with your school counselor
- Check with your guidance center to access available information such as newsletters, emails from counselors, school websites , and other methods of communication
- Participate in your college day or university day at your high school
- Visit CollegeBoard and March 2 Success which provides practice SAT tests, Questions of the day and Junior/Senior checklists
- Review essays from Apply Texas, Common Application, Gates Millennium, etc… to get an idea of the essays expected for completion of application process
- Review financial aid application expectations at Apply Texas which will be completed the student’s senior year
- Apply for Subiendo Leadership Conference through University of Austin or Lorenzo de Zavala
- Apply for Leadership Conference or any other leadership conferences available in your area
- Enroll in summer program opportunities such as NASA High School Aerospace summer program
- Request information from Universities/Colleges
- Continue to update your resume
- Sign up for SAT prep class
In 12th Grade, students will…
- Continue with 9th, 10th and 11th grade recommendations
- Take SAT/ACT (College board vouchers are available through your school counselor)
- Meet all college application deadlines to apply at Apply Texas or university website
- Apply for financial aid and meet university financial aid deadlines
- Apply for scholarships at the University you plan to attend and with your high school counselor
- Do your own scholarship searches on FastWeb
- Participate in college sports register on the NCAA website or on the PlayNAIA website if you qualify
- Talk to the college representatives at university day or campus scheduled visits
- Make sure all final transcripts, letters of recommendations, financial aid information, AP scores (if applicable), and university applications are submitted by the university deadline