Career Planning Outline

9/10th Grade:

• Develop good habits:

  • Work hard to earn good grades

  • Study

  • Do your homework

  • Attend school and all classes on a regular basis

    • Turn in excuse blanks within 3 days when absent

  • Keep track of your assignments and stay organized

  • Ask for help when you need it

  • Think ahead to your future and set goals

  • Keep your behavior in check; no discipline referrals

  • Get involved in extracurricular activities

  • Stay out of peer drama

  • Get enough sleep (8-10 hours per night)

  • If you become aware of something concerning, immediately tell an adult

• Research careers using resources such as O*NET, BigFuture, CareerOneStop, Occupational Outlook Handbook, My Next Move, Learn How to Become, and Education Planner.

• RHS students-- consider taking the ASVAB, held in the spring

  • The ASVAB is also offered in 11th and 12th grade for RHS and MHS students

11th Grade:

• Maintain good habits (listed above under 9/10th Grade)

• Continue researching careers (use the resources above under 9/10th Grade)

• Take the PSAT in October at your home school

• If you are considering attending a postsecondary school,  attend the Berks County Regional College Fair; typically during an evening in October at Albright College

• If you are considering attending a 4-year college/university, register to take the SAT or ACT in the spring (**if you receive free or reduced lunch, you are eligible to receive a fee waiver; see your counselor at your home school for the fee waiver**)

  • Visit postsecondary schools you are considering (check with your home school a few weeks in advance to find out if these visits can be counted as an "educational trip" for attendance purposes, if you need to miss school for them)

  • If you are considering playing a college-level sport with the NCAA, make a profile page (Division III), or certification account (Division I or II; if you receive free or reduced lunch, you are eligible for a fee waiver from NCAA; ask your school counselor at your home school for the fee waiver)

  • If you are considering attending a postsecondary school, attend the Spring College Fair at Alvernia University (typically in March; check with your home school to see if they are running a field trip there)

  • Start familiarizing yourself with financial aid (ex. FAFSA, PHEAA, etc.)

  • Start researching scholarships if you plan on attending postsecondary school

• If you are considering the military, get in touch with a recruiter and take the ASVAB at your home school in the fall (RHS) or November (MHS) or at a local recruiting office 

• Consider getting a part-time job

• Create a resume and a draft of a cover letter

12th Grade:

• Maintain good habits (listed above under 9/10th Grade)

• If you plan on entering the workforce directly from high school:

  • Research open positions and their requirements

  • Make accounts on different job-searching websites (ex. Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, etc.)

  • Update your resume

  • Write a cover letter, if needed

  • Make sure you have 3 people you can use as references. Ask permission to use them as a reference first. Do not use family members. 

  • Practice interviewing skills with someone before your interview

  • Proofread your application before submitting it to make sure all information is accurate and spelled correctly

  • Make sure you have an open bank account to deposit your paychecks into once you secure a job

• If you plan on attending a postsecondary school (trade/technical school, 2-year college, 4-year college):

  • Visit the schools you are interested in. Contact the admissions representative for our area, if needed. You can find that information on the "Undergraduate Admissions" part of the college/university's website.

  • Request your FSA ID, then submit your FAFSA, starting in December. Attend a FAFSA Completion Night event at your home school. You can also contact the Hispanic Center of Reading for help, as well.

  • If you want to learn more about certain colleges, consider attending the Berks County Regional College Fair; typically during an evening in October at Albright College

  • Be aware of application deadlines and requirements!

  • Submit your applications on time (**if you are applying through the CommonApp website and receive free or reduced lunch, you can indicate you are eligible for a fee waiver on your CommonApp account**)

    • If you need recommendations from a teacher or counselor, ensure you request those with at least 2 weeks' notice

    • Make sure you request your transcript from your home school. Applications will not be considered complete without your transcript.

    • If an essay is required, proofread your essay before submitting it

  • Take the SAT/ACT, if needed, and send your scores directly to the colleges you are applying to from the College Board website

  • If you are planning on playing an NCAA sport, make sure you are registered with the NCAA 

  • Apply for scholarships. These can be found through your home school, the Berks County Community Foundation, through the "Financial Aid" portion of the websites for the colleges/universities you are applying to, and on national scholarship databases (Fastweb, CollegeBoard, CareerOneStop, Peterson's, Niche, Going Merry, etc.)

    • Please keep in mind you should never enter credit card information when applying for scholarships, be charged a fee for applying, or need to enter your social security number. Remember there are scams that exist, so if something doesn't "seem right" to you about a particular scholarship you find, please check with an adult first!

• If you plan on enlisting in the military:

  • Research the different branches within the military 

  • Ensure that you have taken the ASVAB either at  your home school (fall for RHS or November for MHS) or through a local recruiting office

  • Contact a local recruiter to start the process. Ensure you are contacting the military branch you plan to enlist in.