Counseling Corner: Summer is a great time to explore college and career options

It’s never too early to begin exploring colleges and careers. Summer is a great time to research and visit schools. The Willowbrook Guidance Department shares some useful resources below to help with this process:

  • Naviance: Students can access Naviance from the Willowbrook website at http://dupage88.net/site/page/1161.
    • Complete the career assessment: Complete the “Interest Inventory” and the “Strengths Profiler”
    • Explore colleges: Use the “SuperMatch” College Search
    • Begin creating a résumé/brag sheet: Click “Résumé” under the About Me tab
  • Occupational outlook handbook to explore careers and job outlook: www.bls.gov/ooh
  • Visit colleges! Below is a list of things to do when visiting a college:
  1. Take an official campus tour. Look online for information regarding campus tours.
  2. Check reports regarding campus safety.
  3. Sit in a class, if classes are in session.
  4. Eat a meal in the dining hall.
  5. Pick up copies of the campus newspaper and other publications.
  6. Be sure to see a dorm room, as well as the library, computer center, dining hall, student union, academic facilities and performing arts facilities.
  • Ask questions

Academic questions

  1. Are courses readily available to students?
  2. When must I declare a major?
  3. How difficult is it to change my major?
  4. What is the average class size?
  5. Do professors or graduate students teach courses?
  6. Is the college on semesters or quarters?
  7. Does the college have a study abroad program?
  8. What about internships related to my major?
  9. Will I need my own computer?
  10. What is the percentage of students who get a job after they graduate?
  11. What is the percentage of freshmen who return for sophomore year?
  12. What percentage of students graduates in four years?

Non-academic questions

  1. What percentage of students lives on campus?
  2. What is the availability of dorms for freshmen?
  3. What kinds of extracurricular activities does the college offer?
  4. What do students do on weekends?
  5. How is the food? Which meal plan is most often used by freshmen?
    *If applicable, ask about special dietary accommodations such as being a vegetarian
  6. What is available for students in the surrounding community?
  7. Are there shuttles or buses for students?
  8. Ask a student, "What do you like best about being here, and what do you like least?"