College and Career Resouce

 Career exploration should include a variety of interest inventories (Xello is a great place to start) to see what ‘groups’ of careers may fit with your likes.
You should then research different careers within those groups.

Keep your options open! There is a huge increase in high wage skilled trades as well as careers that include an apprenticeship or certificate and/or 2-year degree. Explore these options immediately out of high school and then look at continuing your education in the future.

What about the Military? They have phenomenal options for on the job training and paying for college!

Not ready for the world of work or college?  What about a Gap Year program?
Check out a Gap Year Fair!

Ultimately, you have to find what is going to BEST FIT YOU!

• Going Pro: https://www.going-pro.com/ 

• Xello: while logged into Chrome using your AAPS gmail, access the "waffle" and look for Xello at the bottom. 

• Michigan Top 50 jobs: https://milmi.org/Research/category/michigans-hot-50-jobs 

• O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org

• Pathfinder: www.pathfinder.mitalent.org

• My Next Move: www.mynextmove.org

• Apprenticeships: www.dol.gov/apprenticeship

• Military: www.careersinthemilitary.com

• GAP year: https://www.goabroad.com/articles/gap-year/best-gap-year-programs
  https://thinkingbeyondborders.org/choosing-gap-year-program-2019/

As part of the college search process, students should look at a variety of resources as well. Many search engines let you start broad and narrow it down.

1. Start with a list of items you are looking for in a college (call it a pro/con list)

   1. Big/small

   2. Rural/urban

   3. Specific programs

   4. On-campus resources

   5. Opportunities available

2. Create a spreadsheet to track info about each school

3. Utilize a variety of search engines with your specific requirements

4. Visit colleges on your list

5. Narrow it down to 8-10 colleges. We suggest that if you have more than 10, continue to refine your search. Research each college to eliminate ones that do not fit your requirements.

• Xello: you will complete your Educational Development Plans through Xello; you will be able to explore careers and colleges!  Access Xello through your AAPS Gmail Waffle

• Big Futures (college board): https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

• Peterson’s College Search: https://www.petersons.com/college-search.aspx

• Cappex: https://www.cappex.com/colleges

• My College Options: https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/CollegeSearch

• FastWeb (also a great scholarship search tool): https://www.fastweb.com/college-search