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Put your Best Foot Forward:How can I be a strong candidate for college and career?

Chicago Champions College and Career WeekOctober 7-15, 2011

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Personal Characteristics: Discuss with a Neighbor

What personal qualities and characteristics make a great student or great employee?

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Sample Personal Characteristics

Passion Determination

Can set a goal & follow through

Hard Work

Open to new experiences and others’

opinions

COMMITMENT Enjoys learning and trying new

things

Creativity

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Challenge Yourself

• What qualities would you like a teacher or counselors to share about you? (Select your top 5)

• Of these top 5, where are you strongest? Where are you weakest?– What can you do to continue growing in your

strengths?– What can you do to improve on your weakness?

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Experiences & Achievements: Discuss with a Neighbor

What experiences and achievements make a great student or great

employee?

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Sample Experiences & Achievements

Meets and exceeds all graduation requirements (e.g. 4 yrs English, 3+ yrs math, 2+ yrs foreign language)

Challenging and Rigorous ClassesHigh GPA (that improved over time)

High test scores (ACT, SAT, AP)

Specialized Training (e.g. CNA certification)

LeadershipSpecial Talents (e.g. speaks many languages, music)

Extracurricular Activities (e.g. sports, community service)

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Note: The importance of certain experiences and credentials varies by school and employer. Talk to your counselor, coach or school or employer representatives for more information on what is most important to them.

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Challenge Yourself

• Which achievements and experiences make you most proud? How can you continue to grow in these areas?

• Where would you like to improve the most? What steps could you take to improve?

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Colleges and Employers want the same qualities and skills in candidates. They also use similar information to evaluate you.

Care with which you filled out the application (e.g. no mistakes)

Academic Record: courses taken, grades earned

Work and Volunteer History Recommendation letters Interview (if applicable) Personal Statement & Essays

College Application Job Application

Care with which you filled out the application (e.g. no mistakes)

Academic Record: courses taken, grades earned

Work and Volunteer History References Interview

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Planning: Discuss

Do you have a plan for after high school? If so, what is it?

What are you doing this month to help you on your post-high school plan?

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Individual Learning Plan

• What is it?– A plan and process that helps you set goals, based on

personal, academic and career interests– The plan may change and develop over time as you learn

more about yourself and options after high school– Discuss it with parents, counselors, teachers and coaches!

• Why is it important?• 74% of CPS students with a concrete plan enroll in college,

which is 20% higher than the CPS average• Where can I find it?

– What’s Next Illinois.org

Source: SEQ, Class of 2009

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As you go through your high school career, you will focus on different aspects of your ILP

Freshman• Set goals• Identify career interests and back mapping academic requirements• Utilize Course Plan Builder

Sophomore• Utilize College and Career Planner• Utilize Resume Builder• Take the Personality and Learning Style Assessment

Junior• Complete test preparation• Research college choices• Conduct a Scholarship Search

Senior• Apply to college or for a job• Apply for scholarships and financial aid (FAFSA)• Decide on final post secondary plan

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Challenge Yourself

• Visit WhatsNextIllinois.org and ChooseYourFuture.org for information on college and career planning

• Complete an Individual Learning Plan and discuss with a trusted adult

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“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life... Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

-Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, 2005

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility. ”

-Oprah Winfrey

“It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.”-Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic Athlete

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Thank You

Thanks to the following people for providing information for this presentation:• Rhonda Bell, Pathways to College and Career• Marcia Boyd, Pathways to College and Career• Lahari Goud, Pathways to College and Career• Barbara Karpouzian, Pathways to College and Career• Patrick Milton, Pathways to College and Career• Samuel Peterson, Amundsen HS• Eileen Rudden, Office of College and Career Preparation• Patrick Tassoni, Northside College Prep• Kevin Van Zee, Pathways to College and Career• Paul Welsh, Lindblom College Prep• Eric Williams, Pathways to College and Career• University of Wisconsin Admissions Representative• ChooseYourFuture contributors• And others (please email elinville@cps.k12.il.us if your name should be included!)

Note: Please email Erin at elinville@cps.k12.il.us if your name should be listed on this thank you page. I’m sorry I left it off!If you have additional information to add, please email Erin as well.