Prepare NOW for Life After High School

Greetings Westerville Secondary!  I have been able to visit every secondary school - several of them multiple times - since the beginning of the school year and it appears we are off to a great start!  Even though the year is just under way, it's not too early to begin planning for life after high school.  In my last post, "Welcome Back Westerville Secondary" I talked about the importance of the "dinner table" conversation with students that gets at their interests, strengths and future aspirations.  Ideally, a student's educational programming and experiences should guide and progress them toward those aspirations.  There are generally five broad productive activities that high school graduates will engage in as they start the next phase of their life:  four-year university, two-year college, technical or trade school, the Armed Services, and/or right into the world of work!  Most likely, students will juggle several of these activities simultaneously as they prepare to find their way and fully enter adulthood.  This post is geared to providing resources and information that may help with the very important decisions that students and families must make.  Of course, it's impossible to list everything and the Guidance Counselors at each high school are experts in providing the specific information that fits each student's need.

Four-Year University

The annual profiles of our graduating classes indicate that 60-70% of our students, depending on the year, will enter a four-year college or university after graduating from high school.  It's never too early to begin visiting schools and  making preparations for applying and preparing for the financial responsibility of college.  The vast majority of universities use either the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as a key benchmark for deciding whether or not to accept a student into school.

If a student plans on taking the ACT, it is highly recommended that both the student and the parent visit www.actstudent.org.  On that site, the testing and registration dates are available, as well as information about college planning, financial aid and a wealth of other information to help students prepare to be successful on the ACT.  Our high schools also will be providing ACT support by having ACT Boot Camps.  Here is an example of posters that are displayed throughout Westerville South High School:

Westerville South will have their first ACT Boot Camp on September 10, Westerville Central will have their first boot camp on October 12, and Westerville North is still in the process of scheduling their first session.  The cost of the boot camps is generally less than $100.  However, ACT provides complimentary test prep activities, including study guides, test taking tips and practice test questions through their website

If a student plans on taking the SAT, it is highly recommended that both the student and the parent visit www.collegeboard.org.   Like the ACT, testing and registration dates, test prep, and tutorials are provided.  The College Board develops the SAT test, but are also known for the college-level curriculum delivered in many high schools across the country - Advanced Placement (AP).  Hundreds of our students take AP courses each year and by scoring a 3 or above on the AP Exam, have the opportunity (depending on the college) to either earn college credit or be placed in a higher level class upon entering college.  The College Board has also recently partnered with Khan Academy to provide free practice opportunities.  Finally, the College Board administers the PSAT test to 10th and 11th grade students.  Westerville will be giving that test on October 14.  The registration deadline for that exam is September 24.  In addition to preparing a student for the SAT and identifying students who are strong candidates for AP courses, scoring well on the PSAT may also lead to scholarship opportunities through the National Merit Scholarship Program.  All of that information is found on the College Board website.

If a student is a prospective NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 athlete, students and parents also need to be familiar with the NCAA Eligibility Center website.  Student-athletes cannot become eligible to participate in NCAA athletics without meeting the requirements of the NCAA Eligibility Center.  You can access the site by clicking here.  Please note that the high school curriculum requirements to become eligible in college have just increased.  Students should consult with their high school guidance counselors to ensure they are taking the proper coursework.

Lastly, it is well known that cost of attending college grows each year.  The high school guidance departments keep a catalog and criteria for dozens of scholarships offered to students each year that typically surpasses $1 million dollars awarded per school annually.  The United States Department of Education also provides opportunities for financial assistance to families paying for college.  Each family with a college-bound student is encouraged to visit the Federal Student Aid website, found by clicking here, and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).  The application may seem daunting, but again, the high school guidance team can and will be a valuable resource to help parents with this process.

Two-Year Community College

Ohio has a wealth of outstanding two-year community colleges that provide a more affordable and flexible opportunity for students to continue in higher education.  Community colleges, like Columbus State Community College (CSCC), provide students the opportunity to earn an Associates Degree while in many cases also earning an industry-recognized professional credential - making graduates qualified, marketable and employable in high-need industries in the Central Ohio region. Columbus State also has what is called a 2 + 2 program, which is an agreement that CSCC has with schools like The Ohio State University whereby a student who completes certain programs with an Associates Degree will automatically gain entrance to the partnering four-year university at Junior status.  The qualifications to enter a community college vary by school.  You can access information about Columbus State by clicking here.

Trade or Technical Schools

The Central Ohio region also has several options for students to continue their learning though technical or trade schools geared toward specific industries.  From the Central Ohio Technical College to DeVry University, students are able to continue their education by finding their niche in specific industries.  A more encompassing catalog of trade and technical schools in Central Ohio can be accessed by clicking here.

The Armed Services

For several of our graduates, service in the Armed Forces is a viable way for them to serve our country, learn valuable skills that will help them enter the workforce as civilians, and provide unmatched financial advantages when it comes to paying for college or purchasing a home.  Recruiters from each branch of service make themselves available regularly to interested students at each of our high schools.  For more recruiting information for each of our service branches, as well as what is to be expected from a recruiter, please click here.

Employment

For some students, moving into the workforce is the best option for them right out of high school.  In fact, research suggests that more and more students each year are also working while attending institutions of higher education of any level.  To meet the needs of our employers, schools are increasing the exposure and experience of secondary students to authentic work opportunities.  Westerville City Schools are partnered with the Career & Technical schools of Columbus City Schools (Downtown High School & Fort Hayes Career Center) and the Delaware Area Career Center to provide students technical and industry-based training to better prepare them not only for the workforce, but for higher education.  Westerville is also working with Otterbein University and the Westerville Chamber of Commerce to develop partnerships which will allow our students and teachers to have experiences with local businesses to better prepare students for life beyond high school.  The State of Ohio has also developed a comprehensive website called Ohio Means Jobs.  It is a site developed for individuals and employers that provide resources for K-12 students, college students and adults changing industries.  For high school students, the site provides resources for career planning, resume writing, job fair information, and connects students by industry to actual employers in Ohio who are seeking highly skilled workers.  Students and parents are encouraged to visit the K-12 area of Ohio Means Jobs by clicking here.

This post contained quite a bit of information, but it by no means scratches the surface of what is available to support students and families in their efforts to prepare for life after high school.  Please do not wait to begin this process when a student is entering his or her senior year.  Even middle school students and parents can benefit greatly by getting familiar with the processes and procedures, as well as the "who,what, and where" you can find help.  Westerville is fortunate to have outstanding Guidance Counselors who are valuable resources for our community to help students and parents navigate these very critical choices.