MTHS COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING

CENTER

“The best career advice given to the young is: Find

out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.”

Katherine Whitehorn

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Confucius

Food for Thought

Work/Apprenticeship Program

Technical/Vocational/Career Education

Military

Gap Year

College (2 year or 4 year)

Life After High School Options

Naviance has several Career Profile tests to take that help

students explore possible career choices.

Naviance has a Resume builder that helps students create a resume.

Middlesex County Elite Youth One Stop center: Entry level internships, Training, and Employment:

www.middlesexcountynj.gov / Search for: Youth One Stop Center

Construction Industry Career Day: May 28th or May 29, 2019 for 11th grade students only (NJ Convention & Expo center, Edison)

Career Path

New Jersey Career Assistance Navigator:

“NJCAN is designed to support lifelong career exploration, and career planning and decision-making through easy to use, straightforward search and sorting utilities, and an online portfolio for saving information from all system components.”NJCAN also includes information on: Job interview preparation Resume and cover letter creation How to keep a job Self-employment Military occupations

www.NJCAN.org

Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools:

Adult Education: “…dedicated to its role in the county to provide outstanding postsecondary career skills training.”

Certificate Programs: ex: Electrical, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Manicuring, Plumbing, and Skin Care Specialist.

Apprenticeships

Practical Nursing

https://www.mcvts.net/domain/704

Technical/Vocational/Career Education

County Colleges have Certificate Programs

Some examples:

Middlesex County College: Culinary Arts, Paralegal, Computer Programming

Brookdale Community College: Dental Assistant, Pastry Arts, Automotive

Mercer County Community College: Aviation Flight Technology, Funeral Service, 3-D Animation

County Colleges

Some Examples:

Cosmetology Schools

Lincoln Technical Institute

Promise Culinary (Elijah’s Promise)

“ Our state-certified vocational programs educate a diverse student body with affordable classes taught by professional staff reviewing culinary fundamentals and specializations.”

Private Vocational/Technology Schools

Monroe Township High School has military personnel that visit

the school to discuss military options (only students that parents have given permission to be spoken to).

We sponsor the ASVAB test once a year (measures an applicants suitability for enlistment).

www.todaysmilitary.com

“Jobs in the Military vary in type of work and responsibility, yet each is essential to accomplishing the overall mission of defending our country. In this section, explore the different types of career opportunities available to service members, learn about the compensation they can expect to receive, find out how to transfer careers to the civilian sector and more.”

Military

“The 12th annual USA Gap Year Fairs series will run from January

5 – March 2, 2019. USA Gap Year Fairs will travel to 40 locations across the United States to connect students, parents, and educational professionals with gap year program representatives.”

“These fairs provide students with a broad exposure to gap year programs that emphasize experiential education and personal growth. Opportunities for face to face conversations with gap year program providers, trip leaders, advisors, and gap year alumni offer attendees a personal and individualized experience.”

http://usagapyearfairs.org

Gap Year

Grades Rigor of Courses Standardized Test Scores Essay Recommendations Extracurricular Activities Demonstrated Interest/Visits

What Do Colleges Look For

Colleges look for a solid transcript.

There should be a healthy balance between standard, college prep, and rigorous courses.

Grades are important.

Improvement speaks volumes: a positive trend of improving grades is very impressive.

Senior year counts!!

Grades/Rigor of Courses

The inside scoop on the SAT. Free and exclusively from

Khan Academy.

“For the first time ever, the creators of the SAT have given Khan Academy exclusive access and advice to build a personalized practice program for anyone, anywhere.These tools are free and available now for every student to take ownership of their learning and their future.”

Link to Khan Academy located on main page of the CCCC website: http://monroenj.schoolwires.com/Page/798

Free SAT Prep

FairTest (www.fairtest.org) “This list includes institutions that are "test optional,"

"test flexible" or otherwise de-emphasize the use of standardized tests by making admissions decisions about substantial numbers of applicants who recently graduated from U.S. high schools without using the SAT or ACT.”

All community colleges.

Standardized Test Optional or Flexible Schools

“The essay is your single greatest opportunity to

distinguish yourself as an individual by sharing who you are, what you have learned and what motivates you” (Tanabe 12).

“Since grades, scores, and activities are fairly objective information, it falls to the essay to separate one bright student from another” (Rankin & Murphy 5).

Write the essay early, get feedback, rewrite, proofread, utilize MTHS’s writing lab.

The College Essay

All school counselors write a letter of recommendation

for their students who are applying to four year colleges.

Juniors (rising seniors) must complete brag sheets. Parents are encouraged to complete a Parent Brag Sheet. These are available through Naviance.

11th grade students will personally ask 1 to 2 teachers to write a letter of recommendation for them.

Non- MTHS recommendation letters must be sent directly to the college.

Recommendation Letters

Quality not Quantity. Colleges prefer to see depth

and involvement with a few activities over a longer period of time.

Athletics Clubs/Activities on and off campus Volunteer experience/ Community service Classes taken outside of MTHS/ Summer programs Internships Job experience Unique hobbies, interests and skills Travel

Extracurricular Activities

Important Factors to Consider:

Location Size Cost/Financial Aid/Scholarships Urban/Suburban/Rural Areas of Interest/Majors Private/Public/Religious Affiliation Availability of special programs Athletics/Greek system/Extra-curriculars Support for learning differences

The College Search: Finding the Right Fit

All students have a Naviance account. Naviance is a wonderful resource for:

College Searches

Keeping track of “Colleges I’m thinking about.”

Information about college visits/events

Personal Interest Inventories/Career Matches

Complete Student and Parent Brag Sheets

Complete Resumes

E-mails, announcements, important links

Find info about colleges and deadlines

Naviance

College tours, Open Houses, Student for a day (sign

up on the college’s webpage).

Write down important questions before you visit then get your answers.

Meet the college admission reps; make a personal connection.

Talk to the students currently attending.

Take notes so you can make comparisons with the other schools you visit.

What does the school, campus, surrounding area “feel” like to you—does it feel like a possible fit?

The Importance of the College Visit

Organize the schools you are thinking about:

Safety

Target

Reach

“Colleges I’m Thinking About”

“The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether

prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT® or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules” (Collegeboard).

The PE department holds a NCAA workshop yearly. Please reach out to your child’s coach or to the athletic department.

NCAA

Yes, they all have Naviance accounts and they need to keep getting on them!!

Starting on January 14th, we began having Junior Conferences.

MTHS Spring College Fair is on Thursday, March 21 during the school day.

National College Fair: April 3rd (Meadowlands)

https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/new-jersey/

We are here for you!

Mrs. Friedman works collaboratively with the school

counselors and Child Study Team members at the high school to help prepare general education and special education students for life after high school and assist them with choosing the post-secondary option that is right for them.

Together with CCCC staff and CST members we help students capitalize on their strengths, interests, and preferences in order to set realistic achievable post-secondary goals.

Transition Coordinator

Dr. Michele Critelli – District Supervisor of Guidance

MTHS School Counselors: (Below are the counselors’ 11th grade case loads)

Cathy Ielpi – School Counselor: A-Boyum Matthew Meleo – School Counselor: Brown-Fennell Lauren Mironov – School Counselor: Fernandes-Kantamneni Anthony Gambino – School Counselor: Kapel-Neftelberg (& STEM) Brooke Yudell – School Counselor: Nguyen-Robol (and MAPS) Damaris Dominguez – School Counselor: Romano-Shusterman (and

AVID 11) Joseph Zuccarello- School Counselor: Siegel-Z

Please check out the CCCC webpage, our monthly newsletter or call our office. We are always available to assist you.

College and Career Counseling Center