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Evaluating Postsecondary Options
Evaluating Postsecondary Options
Once a student has identified a credential they wish to pursue, pre-teaching them how to evaluate their options is a perfect task to undertake in 11th grade. There are multiple pathways to many credentials, as well as pathways to extend their education past the first credential. Students need to understand their own learning needs so they can determine if online learning is a good match for them. What are the cost differences between public and private universities? Community colleges and 4-year universities? For-profit vs Non-Profit colleges? How do they judge whether a college/university is a quality institution? These and many more questions are important to consider before the application process begins.
Once a student has identified a credential they wish to pursue, pre-teaching them how to evaluate their options is a perfect task to undertake in 11th grade. There are multiple pathways to many credentials, as well as pathways to extend their education past the first credential. Students need to understand their own learning needs so they can determine if online learning is a good match for them. What are the cost differences between public and private universities? Community colleges and 4-year universities? For-profit vs Non-Profit colleges? How do they judge whether a college/university is a quality institution? These and many more questions are important to consider before the application process begins.
Listed below are some suggested Learning Targets for students with college aspirations. We also included a sample activity that helps structure student research into various types of institutions.
Listed below are some suggested Learning Targets for students with college aspirations. We also included a sample activity that helps structure student research into various types of institutions.
Learning Targets for Evaluating Postsecondary Options
Learning Targets for Evaluating Postsecondary Options
Objectives
Making a clear statement of occupational interest
Identifying the credentials needed for their occupational interest
Differentiating between credentials they must have, should have, and could have
The student can summarize the connection between professional licensure and degrees
Nursing, teaching, insurance, contractor, etc.
Identifying whether professional licensure is required for their occupational interest
Evaluating institutions to determine if they have the accreditation for a specific professional licensure
Demonstrating how to research educational programs available at a given institution
Does the program connect to an employable credential?
Return On Investment (ROI): Locating and evaluating the ROI for a given degree at a given institution
Calculating the cost of attendance for any given program, align the degree to a profession, and determine if the ROI is acceptable to them
Additional Objectives for the undecided student
Explaining the benefits of taking exploratory classes
How to locate Career Services at given institutions
Comparing and contrasting multiple types of assessments used to determine career options.
Researching and explaining the benefits of a general associate's degree.
Identifying education and employment pathways for a more generic degree (business, psychology, etc)
Project idea:
Have students select 3-5 colleges/universities and gather information about them. Then use that information to create a product (essay, slide deck, video, etc.) that explains why 1-3 of the institutions would be a good match for them. Include not only the rationale about the institution but also a self-assessment of their learning and how the institution would meet those needs.
Factors to consider include:
University size
Urban vs Rural locations
Climate
Distance from home
Program offerings
Cost (tuition, fees, housing)
Services (transit, tutoring, recreation, clubs, etc)
ROI of degrees and universities
Graduation rate
Online vs in-person options
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Lessons for each standard are available with Level All resources below
Career-Credential Connection.pdfReturn on Investment (1).pdfOne way to evaluation postsecondary options is to consider Return On Investment of various credentials at different institutions. This presentation created by Wes Calbreath, can help parents and students learn how to determine ROI and make sound financial decisions about where they spend their education dollars.
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