Decide on a Major or Career

Finding the right career is about taking the time to do your research! Match your interests and abilities to potential jobs. Below is a list of websites available to help you in your search!

Occupational Outlook Handbook offered by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great site that offers information about a variety of different careers. You can find information about the education levels needed, job prospects, working conditions and much more for each occupation you are considering.

CareerShip is another career interest website that uses the O*NET profiler to offer you information about what career options might interest you. Again, please note that the inventory you take is meant to match you to possible career options. This does not mean that if you get “plumber” as a career option that you are destined to be a plumber. Have fun with this one- it is a great resource!

My Majors offers a self-assessment that will help you match your academic interests and abilities with potential college majors. This website would be a great starting point for someone who needs some direction in college planning.

Princeton Review is a resource that you can use to look up different majors you might be considering. Using this website, you will be able to access basic information about each major, what courses you should take in high school to prepare for that major, schools that offer the major, a sample college course load for that field of study, and graduate programs or careers that can be obtained if you choose that major.

Tackling the College Application Process

What Are Colleges Looking For in an Applicant?

Depending on the school, there are certain academic standard that one must achieve, but it is important to realize that colleges take other information into consideration as well.

To answer the question, what colleges are really looking for in an applicant is– a well- rounded student.

What does it mean to be well rounded?

1. Solid academic scores- It is important to begin working towards higher scores as early as your 9th grade year, but it is not the end of the world to have a bad quarter grade in Algebra.
2. Difficulty of course load – Colleges look at all four years of your high school experience and they examine the course load that you have chosen each year.
3. Standardized test scores- The SAT and ACT are the two most popular standardized tests accepted by most colleges and universities in the country.
4. Extra-curricular activities – This demonstrates that you are actively involved and that you are able to apply your talents and interests in social and academic tasks.
5. Volunteerism – Being a volunteer in activities like peer mentoring, and key club is another way that you can demonstrate that you are a well-rounded student.
6. Employment – If you do have an after school or weekend job, you can be sure to include that experience in your resume. Colleges like to see that you can balance school, work, and home.

***A word to the wise… The one thing that you will want to remember during the application process is that when colleges begin looking at applications and deciding on which students to admit, they sometimes turn to public web pages and internet resources to learn more about a student. If you have a Myspace or Facebook page, make sure that the information and photos you have downloaded to your page are suitable for colleges to view. This is also important to consider when applying for jobs in the future. The internet is a powerful tool and it is important to keep in mind that information is at anyone’s fingertips, so be careful what you post.

Scholarships/ Financial Aid
There are several options for financial aid and scholarships. Visit your home school’s website or call the guidance office for more information. Links will open in a new tab.

AuSable Valley

Beekmantown

Boquet Valley

Chazy

Crown Point

Keene

Lake Placid

Malone

Northeastern Clinton

Peru

Plattsburgh

Putnam

Saranac

Saranac Lake

Schroon Lake

Ticonderoga

Westport

Willsboro