College Exploration

• Visit the Navigating the College Application Process page for resources on navigating the college application process.

• Research colleges and universities according to location, cost, degrees offered, and many other categories at College Scorecard and Big Future.

• List of colleges that accept the Common App

• 25-26 Common Application Essay Questions

• Getting a college recommendation

Career Exploration

• Explore the Massachusetts Career Information System (MassCIS) online, which provides career cluster inventory and skill assessments to help students match their interests and skills with career paths.

• Explore US News & World Report’s Top 10 lists to start making a personal list of reach, target, and likely schools to apply to.

• Research colleges and universities according to location, cost, degrees offered,  and many other categories at College Scorecard and Big Future.

• Check out LinkedIn. Who are the adults who are doing the work you’re interested in doing? Connect to build your professional network. Check out LinkedIn’s Checklist for High School Students.

• Check-in with your PIC Career Specialist for tips about resume building and summer internships.

• Create a resume using these tips

• Use the ONet tool to explore potential future careers and how to get there

Activities

For lower elementary students: Have students discuss and learn about their path (graduate elementary school, middle school, and high school) to college and what they might need to pack for it. 

For elementary students: Students get to create their own fantasy college. 

For elementary students: Start a class discussion about how in order to reach our goal of going to college, we must make smaller immediate goals to build up to the big ones. Students write SMART academic goals with a plan of action and an accomplish date. 

For elementary students: Have 3 essay questions from the Common App for your students to choose to write about. Depending on the level you may need to modify the questions. Be sure to highlight the importance of choosing the question they can write the most passionately about and with clear detail.  

For all students: Download a copy of the Common Application (used to apply to over 700 colleges and universities nationwide) and lead an age-appropriate discussion about different parts of the application. For example, look at essay questions, basic requirements, and talk about the need to include references.  

For all students: Students conduct research to look up famous people, the college they went to, and what they studied. Then use the research to create a “Guess where I went to college” flap board. 

There is a college for everyone! Typically, high school students create three lists of schools: target schools (past applicants’ grades, SAT/ACT scores are similar to you), reach schools (that are less likely to admit you than target schools, but are worth trying for), and safety schools (which are more likely to accept you and will serve as a safety net in case your other options don’t work out). 

• Learn about fee waivers for the SAT. Talk to your guidance counselor for more information.

• Link to instructions for linking a College Board account with Khan Academy to begin practicing for the SAT

• Link to upcoming SAT test dates

• What to expect on testing day

• 12 Test Prep Tips for SAT and ACT Takers

• What's a Good SAT Score?

• How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College

• What Students Should Know About the GPA Scale

• How to Apply to College for Free

• Learn about college application fee waivers

• Let's Get Ready offers FREE SAT prep and more! Applications will open In November, but you can sign up to be added to their mailing list. See the flyer below.

• Top 5 Free Entrepreneurship Lesson Plans

• Shark Tank Teachers Guide for Teaching Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

• Venture Lab offers a free entrepreneurship curriculum for grades 1-12. Click here.

• Federal Reserve Bank's Jay Starts a Business (Grades 3-6; comes with teacher's manual with lesson plans)

• Biz Kid’s Crash Course on Entrepreneurship for Middle School

• Foundation for Economic Education’s Booms and Busts, What is Entrepreneurship?, What is the Entrepreneur’s Role in Creating Value?, etc. (students can earn a Certificate of Achievement)

For all students: Download a copy of the Common Application (used to apply to over 1000 colleges and universities nationwide) and lead an age-appropriate discussion about different parts of the application. For example, look at essay questions, basic requirements, and talk about the need to include references.  

For all students: Students conduct research to look up famous people, the college they went to, and what they studied. Then use the research to create a “Guess where I went to college” flap board. 

For all students: Invite manufacturing/engineering students from a local vocational-technical program to put on a robotics demonstration. 

For elementary and middle school: Depending on the level of students, ask students the following questions: why is going to college important to me? How do I think going to college will affect my life? Who are the adults in my life that can help me go to college? What questions do I still have about going to college? Have whole class discussions about students’ responses.

For middle and high school students: Explore US News & World Report, Businessweek, Forbes, and other college ranking lists to learn about which institutions might be best for you and your family.

For middle and high school: Watch First Generation, an award-winning documentary following the lives of 4 students who want to be the first generation in their families to attend college. 

For all students: Invite a current college student, a parent, or the principal to come to discuss college with your students. 

For elementary and middle school students: Brainstorm different careers they could be interested in. Have students explore the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn the requirements for it and how much money they could typically make. Have them make posters to display their findings and hang around your class and hallways. Students can organize their thoughts on the template. 

For middle and high school students: Use the College Month infographic created by the Private Industry Council to walk students through all the things they need to consider when planning for their future. 

For middle and high school students: Explore the Massachusetts Career Information System (MassCIS) online, which provides career cluster inventory and skill assessments to help students match their interests and skills with career paths. 

For middle and high school students: Explore US News & World Report’s Top 10 lists to start making a personal list of reach, target, and likely schools to apply to.

For all students: Lead a conversation (tailored to their level) about translating passions into careers. For example, if you love science class and helping people, what are different careers that align with medicine? You could become a surgeon, genetic counselor, phlebotomist, nurse practitioner, obstetrician… For each of these career paths, what type of degree would you need? What salary do different jobs within the medical field pay? What are the job growth projections for those different careers and why does that matter?

For all students: Lead an activity (tailored to their level) on figuring out how much the lifestyle they desire will cost. For example, how much does it cost to buy a house? How much does it cost to buy a car? How much does it cost to take a family of four on a vacation? Connect the idea of affording the lifestyle they want with earning money in whatever career they choose.

For all students: All faculty, staff, administrators, and paraprofessionals can create a “College Corner” in classrooms, offices, and other rooms in the school. Make a corner that is filled with items from your college experience (i.e. pictures from studying abroad, old course catalogs, diplomas, syllabi, textbooks, pennants, posters, graded essay, graduation tassel, athletic jerseys, college ID card, etc). 

For all students: On a map of the United States, pinpoint and label the locations of colleges. 

Tuesday, October 21st is FAFSA Prep Day In BPS!

Students may qualify for thousands in federal financial aid. Visit www.studentaid.gov to get started. Visit the Paying for College and the FAFSA page for helpful resources and videos regarding the application process and more.

Things to Know & Do this Week

College CAN be affordable!

For teachers and practitioners working with:

• Seniors: The FAFSA form will be released in December 2024. Since the money is given out on a first-come, first-served basis, it is really important to fill out the forms as soon as possible so that they can get the maximum amount of money! Encourage students to learn more about the FAFSA and begin gathering the required documents to apply.

• Seniors: College application fees can be expensive. You may be eligible to have your application fees waived. Visit the  College Board’s Fee Waiver page and talk to your guidance counselor for more information.

• Seniors: Thinking about community college? You can get up to 3 years tuition-free by applying through the Tuition-Free Community College Plan.

• High School Students: Check out the scholarship bank in your Naviance account. What is the criteria? What is the timeline for applying?

• High School Students: Did you know you may qualify for thousands of dollars in financial aid? Check out videos on the US Dept of Ed’s Student Aid YouTube Channel to learn more about the process.

• High School Students:  Log into your Naviance account to set S.M.A.R.T. goals for the year and explore all of the resources available to you within the program.

• Visit the Paying for College & the FAFSA page to learn more about the FAFSA

• Advising Undocumented Students

• US Department of Education Resource Guide for Working With Undocumented Students

• SchoolHouse Connection Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program This program, administered by SchoolHouse Connection, provides scholarships and support to formerly or currently homeless youth to ensure their completion of a post-secondary education program. Additionally, the program helps scholarship recipients build a stable peer and adult network to support them during their college years and transition into the workforce. Visit the SchoolHouse Connection Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program webpage.

• List of colleges that meet full need

• Blog post re: making a college list

• PrepScholar: Simple Explanation: What's the FAFSA?

• CollegeBoard's Financial Aid 101 

• https://finaid.org/  - FinAid is a student guide to financial aid for students, parents, financial aid professionals, and guidance counselors. 

• https://www.edvisors.com/  - Factual website about all things related to financial aid.

• https://ticas.org/covid-resources-for-student-loan-borrowers/ - Resources for Student Loan Borrowers - The Institute for College Access & Success

• The Federal Reserve Organization website contains events and resources for educators.

• The St. Louis Federal Reserve offers free resources on the topics of economics, financial literacy, and more!

STEAM Week in Boston is October 21st-25th! This is a great opportunity to explore careers In the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math fields. Check out the links below for more information.

• Plan to attend the BPS Citywide College, Career, and STEM Fair on Saturday, October 19th, 10 AM-1:30 PM. You will be able to meet with representatives from colleges and universities and STEM companies! 

• Looking for resources to teach students about AI and ChatGPT? Check out Day of AI's K-12 curriculum!

• Explore the BPS Arts Career Pathways

• STEAM Jobs List: 10 Careers that Combine Art and Math

• 22 STEM Majors for High Paying Careers

• A Guide to STEM Majors

• Browse STEM Scholarships for Each Type of College Student

• Determine Whether a STEM Major Is the Right Choice

• A Doctor's Advice for Aspiring Physicians in High School

• Research colleges and universities according to location, cost, degrees offered,  and many other categories at College Scorecard and Big Future.

• Directory of College Open Houses within a 100-mile radius of Boston

• Boston Public Schools Career & Technical Education Pathways

• The Smithsonian Science Education Center is looking for dedicated high school students, ages 14-19, to serve on a global Youth Ambassador Team dedicated to working towards a more sustainable future. Part of the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST), young people on this team will be key advisors, collaborators, and implementers of NESST work, and contribute to activities such as:

• Connection with youth around the world and other professionals to learn about complex global topics like those found in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Development of content that will be showcased at public-facing Smithsonian programs.

• Leadership opportunities to take action in your own local community.

• Opportunities for mentorship from scientists, professionals, educators, fellow youth changemakers, and researchers in a variety of fields.

• Bloomberg Arts Internship

The Bloomberg Arts Internship (BAI) is an arts-focused summer internship in Baltimore, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia that provides high school interns with paid work experience at cultural institutions and organizations along with work readiness and college preparation support. Through this program, Bloomberg Philanthropies connects students with summer internships at local arts organizations and helps them to acquire the tools they need to succeed in high school, college, and as future adults and community leaders.

• • Website: https://artsinternshipboston.weebly.com/about.html

• Explore the Massachusetts Career Information System (MassCIS) online, which provides career cluster inventory and skill assessments to help students match their interests and skills with career paths. 

• Explore US News & World Report’s Top 10 lists to start making a personal list of reach, target, and likely schools to apply to.

• Research colleges and universities according to location, cost, degrees offered,  and many other categories at College Scorecard and Big Future.

• Check out LinkedIn. Who are the adults who are doing the work you’re interested in doing? Connect to build your professional network. Check out LinkedIn’s Checklist for High School Students.

What can PIC Career Specialists do for you and your students? Click here to let the Boston PIC know what type of workshops you'd like to see in your school.

Guiding Students to Set Up Professional Networks to Prepare for the Future

What's the Right Way to Find A Mentor?

Networking Tips for High School Students: How to Grow Your Network

Big Future: Networking Basics for High School Students

35+ Research Mentorship Programs for High School Students

UStrive offers FREE online mentoring from professionals in various fields including doctors, educators, consultants, IT, and more!

A Student’s Guide to Finding and Utilizing a Mentor

Internships and apprenticeships are a great way to get hands-on experience while building your professional network. 

Digital Ready provides students with hand-on experience within in-demand fields. The application for their Spring 2025 PAID Tech Apprenticeship is now open. Fields include architecture, biotech, computer science, engineering, and more! Application here.

The Flagship Clubhouse provides a free, safe, after-school program where young people from underserved communities work with adult and peer mentors to explore ideas, develop new skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology and creative materials.

Hyde Square Task Force Want to explore acting, learn dance, or play music? In Jóvenes en Acción, teens learn Afro-Latin arts, participate in mentoring, and get involved in their community. Jóvenes en Acción/Youth in Action (JEA) is HSTF's free, year-round program for youth in grades 8-12 that combines Afro-Latin arts, education and mentoring support, and civic engagement and youth organizing training. Click here to apply.

Zumix is a place to learn music, songwriting, production, radio, filmmaking…and put those skills to use! Fall programs are now open. Apply here.

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies offers a wide variety of apprenticeships and internships. Students in high school and college can apply! Learn more here.

Apprenticeship.gov is the one-stop source to connect career seekers, employers, and education partners with apprenticeship resources. Discover apprenticeships across industries, how programs are started by employers, and how to become an apprentice.

The Department of Defense (DOD) STEM has opportunities for students of all ages, educators, and professionals. Check out these STEM programs, internships, scholarships, and more here!