Whether, your child is planning to attend college, receive technical training or join the military, find out how their school can help. College is still a good investment– over their lifetime workers with a bachelor’s degree earn over one million dollars more than those with only a high school degree. If students do not plan on earning a four year degree, they still need to be thinking about what skills they have and which ones they will need to develop. In 2012, 60% of students who concentrated their studies in Career-Tech continued their education after graduation.
There are 5 questions parents of high school students need to know the answer to:
- What kind of Career-Technical (CTE) programs are available? Career-Tech courses are available in every school district. Students can earn credit that leads to an associate or bachelor’s degree or a postsecondary certificate. Career-tech programs include the fields of Family and Consumer Sciences, Agricultural and Environmental Systems, Finance, Manufacturing and everything in between.
- Does the school offer programs for job shadowing, volunteering, mentoring or internships? Time spent in the field is a valuable learning experience that allows youth to consider whether or not a job is a good fit and develop critical workforce skills. A summer or semester practicing on-the-job skills, or even a day observing, can provide a wealth of information to youth. Any mentorship or shadowing experience results in a contact that is helpful with college field placements and summer jobs. Having the person’s card is gold.
- Where can I get help filling out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid)? Students and their parents are increasingly turning to grants and scholarships to pay for college. On average, this type of free money now pays for 30% of college costs.
- Who can my child ask for feedback about their college application? Essays are a large part of college entrance applications and require a great deal of editing and revisions. Ask someone who knows your child’s strengths and can offer suggestions.
- Could a portion of my child’s tuition be paid for before graduating high school? Situations where students receive college credit for classes taught by a high school teacher or through distance learning (dual enrollment) are increasingly more common. There is no cost for the students to participate when enrolled in a public college or university– costs are shared between the institution and student’s high school. This is now referred to as “College Credit Plus.”
Source: Talking to Your Child’s School Counselor About College and Career Planning (2015). Ohio Department of Education. Retrieved from http://education.ohio.gov
