Research what you want to do after graduating from high school. You need to answer the question:

"Is college, junior college or trade school right for me?"

To answer this question, research job statistics, employment trends, and collegiate majors using our quick tools below. Then evaluate your aptitude skills for different career disciplines.

First Step: Meet With Your Guidance Counselors

Get with your guidance counselor (or school administrator or teacher) as soon as you can to discuss your post-high school plans.

Items to coordinate with your guidance counselor:

• the availability of and enrollment in Advanced Placement classes
  
  
• the schedules for the college entrance exams (includes SAT I and II, and ACT). Discuss with your counselor on the type of exam to get into your college of choice
  
  
• the admission requirements to college including GPA, credits, exam type and scores, etc.
  
  
• understand what career you should pursue based on your scholastic and aptitude abilities
  
  
• discuss whether or not you need to send official copies of your transcripts at the time of application.
  
  
• discuss preparatory classes or seminars on the various exams to boost your scores.
  
  
• review all other information related to your college planning tasks.

Discuss with your guidance counselor about the following college exams:

Advance Placement Exams:

you should consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or CLEP tests in your Junior and Senior years. This allows you to test out of some college courses that can save you time and money.

The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your school for exam administration, enrollment and information.


About the advanced placement program:
the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
visit collegeboard.com for more information

Advanced placement prep/study guides:
includes prep planning books and other reading materials that can help you with these exams:
click here for advanced placement materials

College Entrance Exams:

Almost all colleges and some trade programs require a college entrance exam. These exams measure your ability to understand college-level materials.

You will take these exams in your junior or senior year. So get some practice with the college entrance "preparation" exams. It will help on the day of the real exam.

The SAT Tests

SAT Reasoning (formerly SAT I).
The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour test that measures a student's ability to reason problems instead of general knowledge. It has three sections: writing, critical reading, and math. Most of the questions are multiple-choice.

SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II). The SAT Subject Tests measure the student's knowledge in specific subjects: English, mathematics, history, science, and languages. SAT Subject Tests are primarily multiple-choice, and each lasts one hour.

more information: collegeboard.org

The ACT Assessment®
The ACT Assessment® is used by some colleges. The exam has four multiple-choice tests: English, reading, mathematics, and science reasoning.

more information: actstudent.org

Why take college prep exams:

• to help prepare for the real test. You will be familiar with the type of questions being asked
  
  
• to help you take tests under timelines. It is important that you work quickly so that you can complete the entire test.
  
  
• to view your strengths and weaknesses for college study. You can then focus on areas to improve your skills.
  
  
• to view how your performance compares with other students who are applying for college
  
  Information about the PSAT (practice exams):
  the PSAT is the test prep exam for the SAT tests. The PSAT is usually offered in October and November through your school. Check with your school counselor for dates.
  see collegeboard.org for information
  
  ACT test preparation:
  some colleges use the ACT test. You need to check your college to determine which test they use for admittance. Many students will take both the SAT and ACT so that they have the right exams for the college of their choice
  actstudent.org about ACT exams
  
  
  need help:
  view our college exam center for test prep materials

Spend time researching future career opportunities to help decide what you want out of college. Find out what jobs are going to be hot and what's jobs are not. This will help you decide whether to go to college, vocational school or jump right into your career:

• From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
  occupational outlook by category: provides insight on the training need, work environment, earnings, expected job prospects and more. It's a valuable resource to help decide what career you may like.
  www.bls.gov/oco
  
  projections on what's hot and what's not. Includes employment statistics and the fastest growing careers:
  www.bls.gov/emp
  
  

  provides information on careers from an occupational perspective
  www.bls.gov/oco/cg
  

• Individual State Labor Statistics:
  occupational projections by state and region — helps determine where you may need to locate for the best growth
  www.projectionscentral.com
  
  Link to individual State economic, job and occupation trends:
  
  State Job Sites: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

View some career and personal self-assessment tests to determine your aptitude and character for career opportunities. The last thing you want is to start college in a career that you will not like.

By understanding your personality type, it will help determine what career opportunity will bring you the most satisfaction.

• Start with defining your personality type:
  take this online quiz to get a non-test based review of your personality type and careers that may be of interest www.personalitytype.com
  
  another test-based online character assessment:
  www.advisorteam.com
  

About Self-Assessment Tests:
you can view more information about personal assessments and how they can measure your personality traits for jobs and other life-events

• Kinds of self assessment tests:
  summary of personality assessment test and which tests work for careers:
  www.humanmetrics.com
  
  about the Myers & Briggs self assessment test:
  www.myersbriggs.org
  about the Keisey Temperament assessment:
  www.keirsey.com

What to shape a better you?

• How to build a well-rounded character:
  discusses how planning, discipline and timely execution can build a better you for success:
  
  FREE Download
  Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.
  
  FREE: click to download book summary
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