Blog

By Elizabeth Sardinsky
College and Career Coordinator
Sage Alliance

1. Take interest inventories to see what future jobs and/or careers you might like. 
   Interest inventories can be online questionnaires that ask you very simple questions about some of your hobbies or interests. It then can generate some possible career paths based on your answers! This is a cool tool to use because you might not be sure what you want to do after you graduate and these inventories can give you some options. One I like to take is found on O*Net called My Next Move. 

2. Start researching and visiting colleges or trade schools before your senior year.   
   In the beginning of your senior year, you will be focused on applying for schools.  Start narrowing down that list by researching some schools online or even going to visit a campus. Tours are run all year round! Or, if you can’t make it in person, sign up for a virtual tour via their website. A great tool to use to narrow down your choices is BigFuture College Search. 

3. Think about which teachers you would like to write your letters of recommendation. 
   Many schools, and even some jobs, require you to have a letter of recommendation from an academic teacher. Junior and sophomore year are a good time to start thinking about what teacher you might want to write that letter for you. While grades are important, you also want a teacher that can speak to you on a personal level, so keep this in mind when picking a teacher. You also may want to ask this teacher as early as possible, because you might not be the only student asking them for a letter!   

4. Create a resume. 
   Put together a list of your high school achievements, awards, clubs, sports, community service, and any jobs you may have had in high school. This will be helpful when applying for scholarships, colleges, the military, trade schools, or jobs. Putting this together sophomore or junior year gives you plenty of time to add to your resume! You can find some easy templates here. 

5. Plan a productive Summer. 
   Summer is a time to kick back and relax, but you can also use that time to do something meaningful. You might want to find an internship in a possible career that you're interested in, working a part time job to earn some extra cash, taking a college course for credit, or volunteering with a local organization. If you’re able to travel this summer, you can also be sure to immerse yourself in a new culture and maybe make a pen pal. All of these experiences are valuable and will help you be a better student, employee, and human! 

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