Geneva High School - Postsecondary and Career Expectations: Each student should have an individualized learning plan to help make decisions about career and postsecondary (PS) education or training, to plan a course of study, and to make financial aid assessments with family members.
By the End of 9th Grade A student should:
- Know the relationship between high school coursework, attendance, and grades to postsecondary plans
- Know the importance of extracurricular activities and community service to postsecondary plans
- Attend involvement fair
- Identify 2–3 adults to support the student through the postsecondary and career selection process
- Begin determining eligibility for advanced placement (AP) courses
- Know own learning style and how it relates to career interests
- Understand that taking the right courses in high school can reduce the cost of college
Career Exploration and Development A student should: - Complete a career cluster survey
- Identify 1–2 career clusters for further exploration
- Know the different types of postsecondary credentials and institutions
- Attend career café panel with professionals in a variety of career areas
- Compare and contrast personal strengths and weaknesses with career interests
- Know personal and work values in relation to career interests
- Know educational requirements, cost, and projected salary for occupations in selected career cluster
- Complete an elective course to explore career interests
- Know the general cost range of various postsecondary options
By the End of 10th Grade A student should:
- Take SAT college entrance exam
- Complete a college fit/match inventory
- Meet with school counselor to track progress and/or revise postsecondary plans
- Understand how to review college admission requirements and processes
- Identify postsecondary programs within eligible range
- Know the general timeline of postsecondary applications
- Attend college fair or field trip
- Attend college essay webinar training
- Revisit career interest surveys
Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection A student should:
- Know how career pathway courses and experiences articulate to programs at postsecondary options
- Meet with a college admissions representative
- Attend career café panel with professionals in a variety of career areas
- Build a resume - Create a personal statement
- Complete an elective course to explore career interests
Financial Aid and Literacy A student should:
- Attend financial aid and scholarship presentation
- Know general timelines for financial aid and scholarship applications
- Know estimated cost for postsecondary options
- Know affordability of postsecondary options as related to expected entry level career salary and anticipated debt
By the End of 11th Grade / 12th Grade A student should:
- Show evidence of postsecondary plan
- Meet with school counselor to ensure all steps in the postsecondary admissions process are completed on time
- Identify multiple match schools or postsecondary programs of study
- Complete postsecondary applications
- Secure letters of recommendations for college applications and scholarship applications
- Obtain an internship opportunity related to postsecondary plans if possible
- Participate in a job shadowing opportunity
- Determine estimated cost of chosen postsecondary option
- Explore opportunity costs of postsecondary pathway
- Attend financial aid and scholarship presentation
- Complete financial aid and scholarship applications
- Review terms and conditions of any scholarship or loan Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Geneva Community High School