Deciding on a career path during high school may seem like a daunting task. During this time in life, most students focus on graduating and finding a college or post-secondary institution to attend. However, when deciding on the best path to take after high school, career planning can help students narrow down their post-secondary education choices, college majors, and help students discover new passions and talents.
How can students begin this process? Below, we reveal the latest tips and advice from college admission counseling experts on ways students can explore their best career fit entering college. We also highlight the reasons why beginning this process now is beneficial in the long run.
Why Start a Career Path Before College?
Many students wonder which to find first: a career or a college major. Of course, there are benefits and limitations to both options. However, according to an article from Franklin University, “By finding a career first, students will automatically narrow their degree choices to a select few.” To dig deeper into this topic, Endominance spoke with two experts in college admissions counseling to understand why it may be beneficial for high school students to explore the right career fit going into college.
Purvi Mody, Co-CEO and Head of College Counseling at Insight Education, tells Endominance, “Students that may need to hone in on their interests are those that are partial to engineering, computer science, or something specialized like film or nursing. In these cases, they will very likely need to explore these career paths thoroughly and apply for a specific major as they may not be able to transfer later, depending on the college or university. Some majors are also very intensive, and if they take too long to choose one, they may end up spending an extra year finishing their course load. This issue can be cost-prohibitive for families.”
Adam Shlomi, Founder of SoFlo SAT Tutoring and college admissions counseling services in Florida, states, “Exploring areas that a student is interested in or that they want to pursue in the future as a career, is important. I feel that students who are passionate about subjects they want to learn tend to excel in their future academic and professional lives.” Yet, Shlomi also believes, “With that said, it is totally okay for students not to know what they want to major in when they enter college. During freshmen year, students can investigate classes that sound interesting while completing their undergraduate requirements.”
Top Strategies to Use While Exploring the Right Career Fit
If examining a career path sounds like a solid plan, below, we offer some of the top strategies to use to begin this journey during high school and beyond.
Follow Natural Gifts & Interests – But Stay Realistic
Many college counseling experts suggest students employ their natural gifts and talents as the basis for a future career after high school. For example, an article by Connections Academy suggests, “Does your student spend their free time reading books or coding? Is your child interested in athletics or animals? These are all clues on the path to discovering the best career that suits your child.” According to a New York Times article, “Most advice about majors or careers includes the admonition ‘Follow your passion.’ But passion is something you discover over time by finding an interest, however small, and nurturing it. There’s no epiphany; it’s a collection of small decisions that move you step by tiny step.” However, the article also advises, “Put your decisions in a real-world context. Whether you’re attracted to something because it promises prosperity or because it stirs you on a deep level, neither inherently right nor wrong, experts warn: ‘Determine whether expectations match reality.'”
Consider Academic Strengths
To find the right career fit or major before entering college, Shlomi suggests, “Students should examine areas that they find interesting, or excel in, based on classes they’ve taken in high school or other academic involvements they have experienced. For example, does the student enjoy taking science classes? Do they like working with numbers? Understanding what students like or dislike can help them identify what areas to explore if they are unsure what they want to do as a career or want to major in.”
Explore Options Outside the Classroom
When asked about additional strategies students can use to explore potential careers, Purvi tells Endominance, “I advise kids to explore as much as possible both in and out of high school to build the tools that they will need for college, careers, and their lives. For example, if they know they want to pursue something in STEM, definitely take as many of those as possible. They can also take courses at a local community college or online through places like Coursera just for exploration and not for grades. I also encourage students to look at different majors at various universities and see the diverse classes available to them. Summer and extracurricular activities are also great ways to get exposure to new areas.”
Take an Assessment Test
Career and personality assessments help individuals identify their strengths, interests, and what kind of environment and industry best fits their overall personality traits. However, not all assessments are created equal. Students may want a more comprehensive assessment that takes a granular look at their strengths, limitations, overall cognitive and behavioral characteristics, and fields that best suit them with a tool such as our SELC (Social-Emotional Learning Competence) Assessment. Our SELC report helps students understand their decision-making process, actions, and aptitude – unlocking their full potential. This assessment can help students build a stronger foundation of self, find their right career fit, and start their next phase of life in a positive direction.
Investigate Trending Careers
Finding a passion is great, but researching trending careers may also reveal critical information that may be necessary when planning for the future. For example, LinkedIn announced their top 15 in-demand jobs list and the most vital skills needed for each position. This data can help students interested in these fields to determine the best courses to focus on during college. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website is another valuable resource for investigating potential careers. For instance, their latest data on the 20 fastest-growing occupations between 2019-29 is an excellent place to look to see what careers will be in demand within the next decade. In the same vein, Sarah Augustynek, an attorney and compliance professional in higher education, tells CNBC, “When researching a career, be careful to look at future market projects in terms of which industries are growing and which are shrinking.”
The bottom line is that students need to realize they have options for their future. And they need to feel confident that they are making decisions that are right for them. Exploring the right career fit is one of many options to help students narrow down their college major and support students in discovering their passions and talents for a bright future.
