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Learn the key steps Arizona students can take for their next level career interests.

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Find your education or training path.

There are some key steps that students can take while exploring their options for education or training after high school that align with their possible career interests. First is to research the education or training requirements for the student’s career interests so that they are aware of the different pathways and how they each align with their interests, circumstances, and finances.

Check out different options using some of these tools:

ACT How to Prepare for College

A website through American College Test (ACT) that provides students with resources to help them make the most of high school while preparing for their college journey.

College Navigator

A resource through the National Center for Education Statistics that provides students with the opportunity to customize their college search based on individual preferences specific to match and fit.

College Search

A tool sponsored by U.S. News & World Report that provides students with the opportunity to narrow down their college search results until they find the right match and fit.

Military

The military is also considered a post-high school pathway, as students who enlist are provided with high-quality industry skills and knowledge in addition to educational benefits to pursue higher education.

The Senior Launch Guide

The Senior Launch Guide, produced by Arizona GEAR UP, includes a wealth of information about selecting and applying to college. This resource is also available in Spanish.

Pre-College Summer Experiences

The summer before each year of high school can be a great time to spend a week or two focusing on exploring different education or training pathways. This can help students get a feel for being a “college” student while discovering different interests or skills they may have never considered before. Interactive programs on local college campuses or within the community are specifically designed to expose students to experiences they might not otherwise have but are related to future career interests and educational pathways.

For more experiences, please check out these links: Arizona State University Summer Camps | Arizona State University Sparky’s Virtual Experience | University of Arizona K12 Summer Camps

“College” Documents

As part of the preparation process for pursuing different education or training programs after high school, students will want to become familiar with the different “college documents” that they will be asked to submit as part of the application process for admission to a trade program, college, or university, in addition to scholarship applications. While the application process will start at the beginning of a student’s senior year, they will want to begin draft versions of both of the following documents during their junior year.

Personal Statements

Take this free VIA Character Strengths Survey to uncover your personal character strengths – understanding and communicating how your character strengths have or will impact your academic, personal, and career success can be a powerful part of your personal statement.

If you are still struggling with where to start when it comes to crafting your personal statement, try this quick activity to help you find some inspiration! 

Activity Lists

Activity lists, also known as academic resumes or activity resumes, are a required aspect of the Common Application (see below) and can also be an essential part of any college application process for several reasons:

  • Demonstrating student involvement: Schools are interested in admitting well-rounded students who have demonstrated involvement in a variety of activities. 

  • Highlighting leadership and initiative: Schools look for students who have taken initiative, shown creativity, and contributed to their community in a meaningful way.

  • Demonstrating commitment: Schools are looking for students who have pursued their interests with dedication and perseverance.

  • Differentiating from other applicants: When schools receive thousands of applications, having a list of activities that demonstrate a student’s unique skills and accomplishments can make a difference.

Apply for Arizona Colleges

Once students have refined their list of trade schools, community colleges, and/or universities that are a good match and fit with their career goals, they can begin to complete these applications as early as the summer before their senior year.

Check out the applications for these Arizona Public Universities:
ASU | NAU | UA

Check out the applications for these Arizona Community Colleges:
Maricopa Community Colleges | Arizona Western College | Mohave Community College | Central Arizona College | Pima Community College | Tohono O’odham Community College | San Carlos Apache College | Diné College | Coconino Community College | Eastern Arizona College | Cochise College | Yavapai College | Northland Pioneer College | Navajo Technical University

The Common Application

The Common Application is a single online application form used by over 1,000 colleges and universities around the nation. Common App institutions are varied in terms of the “type”, as they include private, public, large, small, liberal arts schools, etc. Having one application form prevents students from filling out the same standard information – address, GPA, and extracurricular activities – over and over again.

For more information, check out
The Common App Ready Toolkit.

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