The Planning Page The Counselor's Page
These are several sections to planning your freshmen year. They are;
Think Ahead! Academic Planning Career Planning Wrap Up
Be sure to read through both sections and think about them. High School has started - don't take it for granted! You cannot wait until you are a senior to get ready for "after graduation!
"I'm only a freshmen..." is what many students say to me, not thinking about graduation or college. Yet starting high school is the time to "start" thinking ahead to "after high school".
1. Think Grades !
Yes, grades. There are two things to think about in terms of grades.
A. First, the transition to
high school is often difficult for many students. There
are not as many "safety nets" for students to
check up on them and their work, and teachers expect more from high school
students.
B. Your grades count! When your final
grade point average and class standing are determined, the grades from your
freshmen year count. Stay ahead and get the best grades you can all four years
of high school.
2. Think Activities ! Join clubs, play sports, be in music, speech and drama, anything and everything. Activities are fun, they make school more fun, and having a long list of school activities will look good when you graduate. many colleges and scholarships want students who are active in school.
3. Think Community Service! That's right, volunteer your time! MANY scholarships that you will want to apply for as a senior REQUIRE volunteer and community service. Helping out with church groups, shoveling sidewalks, helping with special events around town - anything counts! Many colleges want students who are active in their community, because the feel that student will be active on campus. Need ideas, see your High School Counselor.
As a freshmen, many of your class choices are predetermined. Freshmen almost always take Math, Science and English. There may be other requirements at your school. Still, you need to think ahead! You need to make a Four Year Plan; an outline of the academic classes you want to take during your high school career.
Why?
1. Prerequisites ;
These are things you have to do before you can take a certain class. Know what
they are so you don't find yourself wanting to take a class and cannot.
A. Class
Prerequisites; For example, if you want to take
Chemistry, you must first pass Biology. If you want to take Advanced Placement
Biology, there may be several classes you need to take in order to do so. You
need to plan for example, as a freshmen to take Biology, Chemistry as a
Sophomore, Advanced Biology as a Junior and A-P Biology as a senior. You've met
the prerequisites and can take the class.
B. Grade
Perquisites; In some areas, not only do you need to
take a certain class to move to the next level, but you also need a certain
grade. To move to Geometry, you may have to take Algebra and get an 85% or
better, otherwise you might have to take another class to move on to
Geometry.
2. Class Offerings; Check with your school for classes that may not be offered every year, but are only offered every other year. For example if your school only offered Contemporary Literature when you are a freshmen or junior, and Sophomore English is a prerequisite, you will have to plan to take it as a junior. As a freshmen you will not have met the prerequisite, and it is not offered when you are a senior.
3. College Requirements; Different colleges and universities have different entrance requirements in terms of classes you have to take. These may be higher than the requirements for graduation from your high school. For example, your high school may only require two years of Science for graduation, but the college you may want to attend requires that you have taken three years of Science. Some schools require one or two years of a Foreign Language. Think ahead and plan accordingly. Your High School Counselor can help you know what classes you should take.
4. Career Requirements; If I have started on my career path (next section) and have some idea of what areas interest me, I can take classes that will help me later. If I want to be a doctor, I should plan to take every Science course my high school offers. If I think a business career would be my choice, then taking all the business, accounting and computer courses will help.
5. Peace of Mind; You know what classes you need to take, or want to take, and can keep track. Having a plan means you know in what direction you want to go, and you can feel good knowing that plan is there, and can be changed whenever it needs to.
With all of these areas, there is always room for error. You can always change and add things later. If you think you want to be a doctor as a freshmen and a C.P.A. as a junior, you can still get the classes you need. Just think ahead, and making little changes within your four year plan will not cause big problems later.
It is never too early to start Career Exploration (looking into various careers to see what you might be interested in following). As mentioned above, having some idea as to possible career directions may influence what classes you take, or what clubs and activities you join, in high school.
How to start;
1. Interest Surveys; An interest survey is a series of questions that you answer, and then a "profile" is made. This profile tells you what careers "might" be right for you based on what you are interested in. Remember, an interest survey does not tell you if you CAN do it, just that you are interested in that career. My interest survey said I might be interested in being a jet fighter pilot, but my size eliminates me from ever doing that. An interest survey gives you a starting point for a career search. There are several online interest surveys (check the Careers page of The Counselors Page).
2. Aptitude Tests - this type of test is much harder to find. This test would tell you what you have the ability to do (you may not want too). An aptitude test may tell me I would be a great Auto Mechanic, but my I may not be interested in following that career. You have to balance "aptitude" with "interest" in choosing a career.
3. Academic Area Searches; I may "like" Math, but not know what career to follow. There are places to look for information that would tell you "if you like Math, these are possible careers...: You High School Counselor will often have such lists, or look on the internet.
4. Career Exploration Sites; On the web, there are now many places to explore careers. Check the Careers page on The Counselor's Page website to find links to a variety of sources.
5. School Resources; Often school have career exploration software (Colstrip Students check the Colstrip Students Career Software page). Your school counselor, and your high school teachers are also good sources.
6. Home Resources; Your parents, relatives, friends. Anyone you know in certain career fields can give you insight into various careers.
So...get started. Pick some career areas, and start looking around. When picking a career there are several things to consider;
1. Does it interest me?
2. Do I have the ability to do that career?
3. Can I make the salary I want in that career?
4. How much schooling will I need for that career?
5. Can I live where I want to live and pursue this
career?
6. Can I live the lifestyle I want in this career? (free time, family, etc)
Of course there are other tings to consider. Check the "Choosing a Career" page for a more in-depth look at this area.
So there you have it. Lots to do...
1. Think ahead and "get busy".
2. Make a Four Year Plan.
3. Explore Careers.
You're starting high school, and for the next four years you need to plan for what will happen "after you graduate". It's not too early to start thinking now!