Time to Decide What the Future Holds
While it may seem very early for your senior to be making such an impactful decision, your student should be finalizing the pathway that will be taken after graduating high school.
Why Now Is the Right Time
- Deadlines are approaching.
Most colleges and programs evaluate applications year-round but have deadlines depending upon when your student plans to enroll. For example, May 1 is typically the deadline to accept admission into the preferred four-year college if fall is the starting term. Additionally, early acceptance may place your student in a better position for housing applications, scholarship consideration and other enrollment information. Community colleges and other training and education programs may allow acceptance as late as the first week of classes, but having a definite plan will allow your student to make short- and long-term plans. - Retake college admission tests.
If previous scores don’t meet the intended benchmark for college acceptance, your student should consider retaking the SAT or ACT. Many colleges and universities use these test scores, along with other information collected on the application, to determine acceptance into their institutions. Some colleges have suspended using these tests as an admission requirement, so it’s worth confirming with your student’s selected colleges before retaking. - Explore certificate and training programs.
If your student’s skills and interests lean toward options that don’t necessitate a four-year degree, the final year of high school may allow a chance to explore a career option with more intensity now that core requirements may be mostly or completely fulfilled.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Be on track to graduate.
The school counselor has helped your student plan coursework progression and discussed a career goal during high school. Iowa seniors should make sure all Iowa Core standards are met to earn a diploma by the end of the year. Other states have similar requirements. The annual meetings with the counselor have been the touchpoints for planning the nearly finalized career or college path. - Find ways to get hands-on training.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are on the rise in Iowa high schools, especially as a result of the Future Ready Iowa initiative. Agricultural, automotive, business, technology, construction and engineering are only a few of the programs found in high schools. Through the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning, businesses and organizations participate with schools by offering project-based learning opportunities to students, which can include virtual projects, internships and apprenticeships, giving students valuable knowledge of the career’s day-to-day life. If you don’t live in Iowa, see if your state has a similar initiative. - Determine the desired degree.
One of the biggest decisions when attending college is deciding on a major. It’s necessary when deciding on the college that will offer the best return on your student’s investment. If your student’s career options require a college degree, ISL Education Lending’s Return on College Investment tool indicates what jobs are held by graduates of a selected major. The tool also provides job probability, the starting salary and how many new jobs will be needed in future years.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Explore all of the options.
Many college representatives and career speakers regularly visit high schools. By staying aware of information coming from the counselor’s office, your student can make arrangements to visit with them during the school day. Check into upcoming college fairs or schedule additional campus visits, if possible. - Review the list of colleges.
By now, your student should have a list of favorite colleges or universities. Help your student evaluate each school’s features and develop a personalized ranking system. Return to each college’s website and research college costs to see what is affordable for your family and allow time to explore other options.
What You Can Do
- Encourage your student.
Periodic discussions with your student about the career or college pathway will create a partnership while also lending your guidance and expertise to a very important life decision for your student. Stress the idea that the first career will not be the last, as most people have an average of five to seven career changes during their working life. - Be honest about your financial support.
The decision-making process is not easy, and it’s most likely impacted by the level of financial support you can offer, especially toward college costs. Setting clear expectations now will eliminate future misunderstandings and assumptions when critical deadlines approach for admissions and financial aid applications.
Next Steps
Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!
Additional references, handouts and talking points are available in the right sidebar to use at your leisure. They may prove beneficial to reference now or after receiving future emails — we’ll leave it completely up to you. Use our emails like a recipe for a successful outcome — assemble the recommended ingredients and then follow accompanying directions to add flavor and depth.