"So, what are you
doing after
graduation?" Many
juniors and seniors
get bored answering
that question over and over. Whether
your plans include
college, heading
straight for the
workforce, or taking
a year off, here are some practical tips to
prepare yourself for
the journey.Some people know
from an early age
exactly what they
want to be and how
they plan to get
there,Not all of us are so
sure of our plans,
though, and that's OK
too. Many people
start off in a liberal
arts program in college and then
decide on a major
after a year or two.
(School counselors
say that 75% of
students change their majors after
they enter college.
School is also not just
about careers and
getting a high-
paying job after graduation — it's a
place for learning
about yourself and
the world.1.Selecting a
School .If college is in your
future, you need to
plan. Which schools
appeal to you? How
are you going to pay
for your education? How do you decide
on a school when
there are thousands
to pick from? Start
by asking yourself
questions about your preferences: What are my
strengths? Am I interested
in liberal arts or
science or
business? What kind of
learning
environment is
best for me? Would I be
more
comfortable in
a small school
or would I feel
confined? Do I want to
stay close to
home or live far
away? Would I prefer
to be in a city
environment or
a small college
town? Should I go to a
school where
athletics are big
or where
fraternities or
sororities rule? Do I like being
with people
who are mostly
like me or do I
want to meet a
diverse group? Ask friends and
older siblings who
are in college about
their schools and
about other schools
they're familiar with. Talk to your
school counselor or
one of your teachers
and go to college
fairs when they visit
your town. Once you've
narrowed down
your choices, ask the
schools to send you
literature. Visit their
websites. When you've whittled
your list down to a
manageable
number, make
arrangements to
visit. Try to do this when school is in
session so you can
get a good idea of
what life is really
like on campus. And remember:
You're not the only
one making a
decision. Schools are
picking from a large
pool of applicants. They want to know
how well-rounded
you are and what
makes you stand out
from everyone else.
They will look at your grade point
average,
standardized test
scores, class rank,
personal essay, and
your extracurricular activities — so it's
important to
dedicate time and
effort to all these
things.2. Admissions
Options Most schools offer a
range of admissions
options,Investigate
which of these your
favorite schools
offer.3.Money, Money,
Money Don't cross a school
off your list just
because the tuition
is steep. Ask your
school counselor
about possible community
scholarships. Ask the
school's financial-aid
office about
scholarships, grants,
work-study programs, and loans.
See if your parents'
employers offer
scholarships. And
check out
organizations within your community. An
amazing number of
college funding
sources are out there
for students with
specific career goals in mind. Your high
school guidance
counselor should be
a good resource for
finding these.Also consider the pulse of your parents or guardians.4.Taking Time Off For some people, the
prospect of starting
college, especially
going away to
school, is scary. It's
probably the first time that you'll be
totally responsible
for your own
schedule. What if
you intend to go to
college but just don't feel ready to start
yet — for whatever
reason — and you
don't want to take
on a full-time job
after graduation? You might want to
take a year off to
pause and regroup.
This practice is
common in some
countries, like the United Kingdom and even in Nigeria.where it's called a
"gap year." Taking time off
doesn't mean you
should ignore the
idea of applying to
college. In fact, you
may want to consider making
your college plans
before you become
involved in other
things, especially if
you'll be traveling. Apply to schools and
make your choice,Even if you decide
not to apply to
college, it can be a
great idea to take a
year to do
something you may not have an
opportunity to do
again. Lots of
volunteer
organizations would
welcome your time and energy and
would provide you
with a wonderful
learning experience. If you take a year off
you'll learn some
great life skills —
like living on a tight
budget! Plan how
you'll pay your way while you're
traveling or doing
volunteer work. Can
you live at home or
with friends? Get a
part-time job? .5.Talking to Your
Parents What if your undergraduate plans
differ from what
your parents have in
mind? Talk openly
with your parents about your plans —
both for the short
term (like what you
want to do next
year) and the long
term (what you think you'd like to
do in life). If your
parents want you to
go to college but
you don't feel you're
ready or that college is right for you,
explain why.6.Getting Advice Even if your parents
are cool, they
probably don't know
everything. For
school and career
guidance, visit your school counselor and
talk with adult
friends (for
example,
godparents or
friends of the family). Make an
effort to talk to
people in the fields
that interest you. If
you think you want
to be an accountant, call some
accountants and ask
them about their
work. Most people
are flattered to get
calls like this, and they'll usually take
the time to talk to a
student. Whatever you
choose to do now
does not have to be
what you do
forever. You can
always go back to school or change a
career path — lots of
people do.