Part 1: Reflection

During your Freshmen and Sophomore years, you should have taken a variety of assessments to learn more about you and potential careers that could fit your interests, personality and skills. 

If you have not taken these assessments, you'll do them first. Complete the following assessments if you also feel your results will be different from your freshman or sophomore year.  

• Login to Naviance.

• Select "Self-Discovery" at the top of the menu bar on your home screen.

• Take the following assessments: 

• Career Cluster Finder

• Career Interest Profiler

• Intelligences

• Learning and Productivity

• Personality

As you work through the assessments, be sure to "heart" or favorite any career or cluster that is of interest to you.  You will use these in later lessons.

If you have taken the assessments, take some time to review your results.  Do they still fit? Add/edit any careers/career clusters that may have changed since last year.

Part 2: Junior Year SMART Goal

• • Under the "Planner" tab on your home screen, select "Goals".

  • Add a "New Goal for Junior Year" considering what you can do this year to prepare for your future career.  Start to think about furthering your career research by continuing to look at college options, training programs, and/or military requirements. 

Part 1: Update College + Career Interests

In developing  your Educational Development Plan, Naviance can help you to determine and research the careers and colleges that you may be interested in. Even if you feel you know your career path, it can be helpful to learn more and to do more research on the colleges/training programs, costs, and potential financial aid opportunities at various schools. 

If college is not in your current future plan, you really need to research the many other work opportunities available. The following websites (linked below) can give you some ideas of jobs that may be a good fit for you:

• 20 Remote Jobs That Don’t List a Degree as a Top Requirement | FlexJobs

• 25 Jobs that Don't Require a College Degree

• Going Pro with Skilled Trades (Michigan)

Login to Naviance. If you are interested in exploring the Military, click on "Careers" at the top of your screen, and then select "Explore Military Branches" under the "Military Exploration section. Be sure to "favorite" any branches you may be interested in.

Part 2: Career Interest Profiler

• • Login to Naviance.

  • Retake the Career Interest Profiler, IF you think your results will change:

    • • • Go to “Self Discovery” at the top of the page.

        • Click on “Career Interest Profiler” and click "Retake".

  • If you do not need to retake to profile and the career interest areas are still good fits for you, please be sure to add careers to your “Favorite Careers and Clusters" under the heart on the top of the page..

  • Once you have 3-5 potential career/Military interests then we need to determine the best route to getting there.  

  • Select "Favorite Careers and Clusters" under the "Careers" tab at the top of your screen. Select one career to research.  Read the "Typical Credentials" under the careers you are interested in.

    • • • Does this career require college? Training?

        • What type of credentials (i..e degree, certification, licensure, etc.) is needed?

        • IF college is needed for your career, select the “Colleges”  tab at the top of your screen.: 

        • Click on the "SuperMatch College Search" to determine the criteria you would like to use to find colleges that fit your occupation of interest. Add any criteria that is important to you in determining a college!

        • Read through the results and "favorite" any that are of interest to you.

  • IF you are interest in a Trade, research schools/programs in Michigan here: Best Trade Schools In Michigan            

Part 1: Strengths Explorer

Login to Naviance.

• Click on the “Self Discovery” tab on the top of the page.

• Click on “StrengthsExplorer” and read the instructions.

• Take the Assessment. You can only take this assessment one time, so please answer as accurately as you can so that you get the best results.  

• View your results when completed.  

Follow up by completing the survey.  

• Go to the “About Me” Tab and scroll down to “Surveys From Your School”.

• Take the “Junior Strengths Explorer Survey”.

Part 2: Resume Building

You started to build a resume last year, but it is very beneficial to add/update your resume every year.

In Naviance, select 'Resume" from under the "About Me' tab on the upper menu bar.  Add any/all of the following to your resume:

• Work experience

• Extracurricular activities

• Volunteer Services

• Awards/Certificates

• Skills/Academic Achievements

• Music/Artistic Achievements

• Athletic Achievements

• References

• Leadership

Check on CareerPerfect for tips, samples, and other resume resources. 

Part 1: Credit Audit 

You will be meeting with your counselor in the next few months to select classes for your senior year.  

In order to be better prepared to schedule, know what credits you have remaining by completing the following checklist:  GHS Credit Checklist.  PLEASE MAKE A COPY OR DO THE CREDIT CHECK ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER.

From here, you can check out the courses GHS offers in our Curriculum Guide. Refer to your favorite careers/career clusters to see what classes may benefit you in your future. 

Part 2: Scholarship Search 

Colleges and Trade Schools can be expensive. It can be overwhelming how to pay for all  your educational costs. One way to help pay for your education is through scholarships. Scholarships are typically awarded to students for academic or other forms of achievement. Scholarships do not have to be paid back and are oftentimes renewable each year.

Naviance has GREAT scholarship search tools. Your junior year is a perfect time to start looking at scholarships and what schools offer.  

• Login to Naviance.

• Select "Colleges" at the top of your homescreen.  From here, click on "College- Specific Scholarships." Complete the criteria and then consider the results. Favorite any schools that you may consider based on their offered scholarships.

• Select "Scholarship Search" and then "Match and Filter." Complete any criteria you'd like and then view the results. 

• Select "National Scholarship Search" and complete the information about you to see a list of scholarships nationwide.

• To see scholarships offered to Grandville students specifically, click on the "About Me' tab and then select "Documents Shared with Me." If you select "View" by the Scholarship Applications link, you will find a list of local scholarships.

Be sure to "favorite" any scholarships that you are interested in applying for.

Part 3: Application Prep 

If you are considering attending college after graduation, this summer will be a great time to start preparing.  

• One of the best things you can do is sign up for a campus tour!  Most college websites offer a quick and easy way to schedule a tour.  If getting to a campus isn't possible, many schools now offer virtual tours.  Seeing a campus is a great way to decide if it is a good fit for you! Here is an example of Grand Valley State University's campus tour website.

• Most colleges use a platform called "Common App" for their application process.  Take time this summer to learn about Common App and to create an account.  Keep in mind, most schools will not have their applications ready to completed until August.

• Some schools require you have letters of recommendation in order to apply (for example, The University of Michigan)..  It is highly recommended that you ask your teachers/coaches/mentors to write these letters before summer starts!  HERE is a great form for you to complete and give to those you are requesting a letter from!

If you are considering a career in a Trade or in the military, consider doing the following this summer:

• Talk to recruiters and make sure you are on-track to join the military once you've graduated.

• Continue to research schools/programs and see what options you have. Use this tool to find ACCREDITED trade schools for your desired career. 

For ALL Juniors: be sure you are working towards your 20 community service hours. You will need these completed by graduation next year.