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:
- Take an official campus tour. Look online for information regarding campus tours.
- Check reports regarding campus safety.
- Sit in a class, if classes are in session.
- Eat a meal in the dining hall.
- Pick up copies of the campus newspaper and other publications.
- Be sure to see a dorm room, as well as the library, computer center, dining hall, student union, academic facilities and performing arts facilities.
Academic questions
- Are courses readily available to students?
- When must I declare a major?
- How difficult is it to change my major?
- What is the average class size?
- Do professors or graduate students teach courses?
- Is the college on semesters or quarters?
- Does the college have a study abroad program?
- What about internships related to my major?
- Will I need my own computer?
- What is the percentage of students who get a job after they graduate?
- What is the percentage of freshmen who return for sophomore year?
- What percentage of students graduates in four years?
Non-academic questions
- What percentage of students lives on campus?
- What is the availability of dorms for freshmen?
- What kinds of extracurricular activities does the college offer?
- What do students do on weekends?
- 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
- What is available for students in the surrounding community?
- Are there shuttles or buses for students?
- Ask a student, "What do you like best about being here, and what do you like least?"