Many of us hit high school and realize we have no idea what we want to do with the rest of our lives. Whether you’re not sure how to start the college application process or you don’t know whether college is even right for you, don’t panic! There are many resources to help you out of your confusion.
What do you want to “be”?
If you’re not quite sure what you want to be when you grow up, there are several things you should do. First, go to a career fair. Your high school may host one, or a neighboring school might. You can always talk to your guidance counselor about local career fairs if you can’t seem to find one. Career fairs are great because you can talk to people about all types of jobs. You can also look at military options at these events if you’re interested in enlisting.
Related: How to Stand Out at Career Fairs
If you can’t make it to a career fair (or in addition to one), take a career aptitude test. There are plenty of free ones online, but check with your guidance counselor to see if they already have one you can take. The one your guidance counselor gives you may offer more accurate or a wider range of results.
Once you get some idea of a future career, look at the education requirements. You might find that you don’t need to earn a bachelor’s degree—you may need to go to technical school or community college instead. Choosing your future is a personal experience that needs to be customized to your needs. Make sure you explore all your options and do diligent research before coming to a conclusion.
What should you study?
If you’re planning to go to college, you have a lot of choices ahead of you, like where to attend and what to major in. Start by asking yourself, what do you like? What’s your favorite subject in school? What do you tend to do well in? What career are you hoping to go into? Answering these questions can help you decide what to study. If you like everything, consider applying undecided. Just remember that technical institutes and other focused schools don’t offer undecided majors as often as liberal arts schools do.
School and work
If you’ll need to work to put yourself through college, many four-year universities allow you to enroll as a part-time student so you have time to work a full-time job in addition to school. You can also choose to work part time and study full time if you think your stress levels can handle it. Then there are work-study jobs you can apply for through the FAFSA if you’re deemed eligible for the program.
Related: What Are Work-Study Programs?
If you’d like to get right into the work force before going to college, you could take a gap year to work. For a gap year, you can either apply to college as a senior and defer enrollment or wait to apply a year later. Gap years also open opportunities for traveling, group activities, and volunteer experiences. Another option is working full time and taking community college classes, which can be more flexible for a work schedule.
Paying for college
College is expensive. So first things first, check out CollegeXpress’s extensive Scholarship Search! You’ll get a list of scholarships sent to you every week when you create a free account. You should also look for local scholarships through your school, community, and parents’ work.
Many private universities promise to cover all demonstrated need for college tuition. Just remember that these institutions typically include student loans, not just scholarships and grants, in the equation unless specifically stated otherwise. Make sure you check out the financial aid page on the college’s website to understand what financial aid is available.
Related: 5 Common Myths About Financial Aid Offers
If you’re hoping to earn merit scholarships, these will vary by college. Some schools will enter you for merit scholarships automatically when you apply for admission, others require additional financial forms, and others do not offer any at all. Each college’s website will provide specific details about scholarships their institution offers.
If you plan to join the military, you should also consider how that can help you pay for college. Check out this website for information on ROTC, and talk to your local recruiters about how they can help you pay for school.
Start looking for the college to get you where you want to go with our College Search tool!
