Table of Contents
Page 2 Pearl City High School College & Career Information
Pages 3-4 High School Preparation Calendar by Grade Levels
Page 5 Tests
Page 6 Who Am I? The Career Pathways
Page 7 Things to Consider When Selecting Your Career
Page 8 Where Am I Going? The Options After High School
Page 9 How Do I Get There? Entrance Requirements
Page 10-11 Selecting A College
Page 12 Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Page 13 Sample Letter to College Requesting Information
Page 14 Joining the Armed Forces
Page 15 Applying for a Job
Page 16 Labor Market Information
Page 17 What You Should Know No Matter Where You Work
Page 18 Study Skills/Test Taking Tips
Page 19 The College Application Process
Pages 20-21 The College Essay
Page 22 The College Interview
Page 23 Sample Interview Questions
Page 24 Letter of Recommendation Request
Page 25 Athletic Participation in College
Pages 26-27 NCAA Athletic Eligibility Information
Pages 28-29 Helpful Websites
Page 30 How to do a Personal Data Sheet/Resume
Pages 31-33 Career Action Plan
Page 34 Developing Workplace Skills
Page 35 Job Analysis Worksheet
Page 36 College Campus Visits
Page 37 Steps to Determine Your Financial Need for College
Page 38-39 Preparing to Apply for Scholarships and Financial Aid
Page 40 Personal Statement/Financial Need Statement for Scholarships
Page 41 Financial Aid & Scholarship Information
Page 42 Financial Aid Contact Information
Page 43 When Asking for A Letter of Recommendation
Page 44 Completing the Scholarship Application
Page 45 Sample Scholarship
Pearl City High School College & Career Information
Mr. Mark Oda, Career & College Counselor phone: 307-5574
email: PCHS website: www.pchs.k12.hi.us
What college and career information can you access at PCHS?
- Individual counseling with the College and Career Counselor
- college, career, and special program speakers, open to all grades unless specified.
- test registration and information-PSAT, ASPIRE, SAT Reasoning & Subject Tests, ACT, TOEFL/iBT, ASVAB, AP exams, test prep info and practice tests.
- volunteer opportunities, job announcements.
- scholarship and financial aid information, applications, workshops, resources.
- reference materials (computer career and college search programs, books, videos).
- Naviance online career and college ready system
- military information, recruiter connections
Important Annual Events (specific dates TBA in school bulletins, PTSA newsletters)
- October PSAT (practice for the SAT Reasoning Test) for 10th and 11th graders at PCHS
- March free and mandatory testing at PCHS - ASPIRE (grades 9, 10) ACT (grade 11)
- Fall and Spring National College Fairs at the Hawaii Convention Center
- Fall and Spring ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test at PCHS. Free test for grades 10, 11,12)
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshops for seniors and parents
at PCHS, College Goal 808 statewide workshops at high school locations.
- Free College Planning Workshops for students and parents (grades 8-11) at various high schools
Other Resources
- Read the daily PCHS Student Bulletin, monthly College & Career Bulletin,
PCHS PTSA newsletter for important events, dates and deadlines.
The PCHS website archives all bulletins: www.pchs.k12.hi.us
The Naviance website has career and college information, and more.
- Teachers, counselors, coaches, advisors, parents, relatives, work site mentors, etc.
- Internet – almost everything you need can be found if you have access. Free
career, college, and scholarship searches, applications, and so on.
- Pearl City High School library, State public library.
P. 2
High School Preparation Calendar by Grade Levels
9th Grade
- Read the daily Student Bulletins and monthly Career & College Bulletins for important announcements, events, programs, deadlines. Use Naviance regularly.
- Earn the best grades you can. Colleges and scholarships ask for your official
transcript which has all your courses and cumulative gpa from 9th grade on.
- Participate in school/community activities (clubs, committees, student govt., athletics,
band, community service, and take on leadership roles – captain, president, chairperson.
- Start a Personal Data Sheet listing the above activities and include honors and awards,
leadership positions, part-time jobs, special experiences, college and career goals.
- Register for the appropriate 10th grade courses based on your Career Pathway
selection and plans after high school.
- Attend college planning workshops and financial planning workshops as well as
career and college fairs to learn about college admission requirements and how to
plan now for financing a college education.
- If you are considering participating in NCAA Division 1 or 2 athletics in college, get
the most recent NCAA eligibility information to check which high school
credits and national test scores are required. Go to www.eligibilitycenter.org
- Keep a portfolio of all your honors, awards, certificates, copies of medals, best
school projects, career assessments, test scores, resume, and so on. Update it annually.
-Do your best on the free Statewide ASPIRE exam in March for all 9th graders.
Make the most out of your summers and inter-sessions. Here are some options:
- service learning (volunteer/community service) - PSAT/SAT test prep class
- paid or unpaid internship at a work site, career shadowing - college campus visit/tour
- summer school or enrichment program - part-time job
10th Grade
- Read the daily Student Bulletins and monthly College & Career Bulletin for important announcements, events, programs, deadlines. Use Naviance regularly.
- Continue to keep your cumulative gpa up.
- 4-year university bound students should take the PSAT test.
- Do your best on the Statewide ASPIRE test results also prepare you to be college and career ready, and as practice for the ACT next year.
- Participate in extra-curricular activities and update your Personal Data Sheet.
- Confirm your Career Pathway choice to help you to register for 11th grade courses.
- Attend college and career fairs, and college and financial planning workshops.
- Attend college and career speaker sessions at PCHS.
- If you are considering participating in NCAA Division 1 or 2 athletics in college, get
the most recent NCAA eligibility center information to check which high school
credits and national test scores are required.
- Continue to update your portfolio. Include activities such as career assessments,
career printouts, test results, examples of your best work, and other self-assessments.
-Apply for Early College or Running Start dual credit programs.
Make the most out of your summers and inter-sessions. Here are some options:
- service learning (volunteer/community service) - PSAT/SAT test prep class
- paid or unpaid internship at a work site, career shadowing - college campus visit/tour
- summer school or enrichment program - part-time job P. 3
11th Grade
- Read the daily Student Bulletins and College & Career Bulletins for important announcements, events, programs, deadlines. Use Naviance regularly.
- 4-year university bound students should re-take the PSAT in October, then take the
SAT Reasoning 2nd semester. SAT Subject Tests are recommended or required for specific private universities only. The ACT will be given free for 11th graders in March.
- Attend college and career speaker sessions in the Career Resource Center.
Research the educational requirements and training necessary for your career options.
- Keep your cumulative gpa up.
- Continue to participate in activities and update your Personal Data Sheet.
- Register for next year’s classes based on your Career Pathway/Academy choice.
- Attend college and financial planning workshops, as well as college and career fairs.
- Consider taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
offered at PCHS. Used for entrance into the military or for personal career assessment.
- Make a list of colleges you are interested in and get on their mailing list.
- Update your portfolio. Include pictures of trophies, certificates, awards, stats, etc.
- Start working on a college/scholarship essay. Most private colleges will ask you
to write an essay of a topic of your choice or they will give you topics to choose
from. Scholarships ask you to write an essay or personal statement.
-If you might participate in NCAA D1 or D2 athletics, register at eligibilitycenter.org and send a transcript with all junior year grades.
- Apply for Early College/Running Start/Jump Start
Make the most out of your summers and non-school days. Here are some options:
- service learning (volunteer/community service) - PSAT/SAT test prep class
- paid or unpaid internship at a work site, career shadowing - college campus visit/tour
- summer school or enrichment program - part-time job
12th Grade
- Read the daily Student Bulletins and College & Career Bulletins for important announcements, programs, deadlines, scholarships. Use Naviance regularly.
- 4-year university bound students can re-take the SAT and/or ACT if necessary.
- Update your Personal Data Sheet, give a copy to the writers of your recommendations
- Ask for letters of recommendation from at least 2-3 teachers / advisors /coaches/ employers to be used for college and scholarship applications.
- Request for transcripts well ahead of time.
- Submit college applications and as soon as possible.
- If you plan to participate in NCAA Division 1 or 2 athletics in college, register at the
NCAA eligibility center at www.eligibilitycenter.org and send a final transcript with all senior year grades.
- Keep your cumulative gpa up. Some colleges ask for your final transcripts.
- Attend college speakers at PCHS, and the Fall College Fairs
- Apply to your dream college, and at least 1 guaranteed college you will be accepted to,
and apply to at least one college you can afford in case you don’t get much financial aid.
- Apply for all scholarships you are eligible for, meet deadlines.
- Attend financial aid workshops, apply for the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) (October 1st starting with the Class of 2017)
-Consider Early College/Running Start courses. p. 4
Tests
PSAT - Practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test. 4-year college-bound students
should take in both 10th and 11th grades. Offered once a year in October at PCHS.
SAT Reasoning Test – Most 4-year colleges require this test or the ACT.
Usually taken 2nd semester of the 11th grade (May or June).
12th graders re-take the test senior year if they need to improve their scores.
Register at sat.org/register The Writing section is optional – check with your college if you need to take it.
SAT Subject Tests – Subject Tests required or recommended by specific universities only. Ask your college if you need to take them. Usually taken 11th or 12th grade Register at sat.org/register
The ASPIRE (practice for the ACT) offered statewide in March for all 9th and 10th graders.
ACT - 4-year college-bound students take this exam as an alternative to the
SAT . All juniors take the ACT for free statewide in public schools in March and can re-take it on their own 12th grade if necessary. Register at www.actstudent.org Check with your college if the Writing Section is required.
ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Free test required for military
entrance. Also for any 10th to 12th grader who wants to take it as a career assessment. Usually offered at PCHS in November and April. Scores will not be released to military recruiters unless you give permission.
TOEFL - College entrance test for students whose native language is not English.
Consult with your college as to whether you need this test. www.ets.org/toefl
AP - Advanced Placement exams in May in which you can receive college credit if
you earn a minimum score.
Fee Waivers Test fee waivers are available for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, and AP tests if you qualify based on family income or free/reduced lunch. See the College & Career counselor at PCHS if you qualify.
Test Prep Khan Academy, Naviance, SAT Test-Prep-HI, Iolani School, College Board, offer SAT /PSAT preparation programs. The more expensive, the more hours of instruction, the more you can get out of the class. See your career counselor for other test prep materials. There are many free web sites (and some that charge) which offer test prep question, exams, and analysis. P.5
Who Am I? The Career Pathways
Career Pathways are clusters of occupations combined together because the people in
those careers share similar interests and strengths. Selecting a pathway can help you
to register for the appropriate high school courses. Specific occupations require various levels of education or training for entry level, skilled or professional careers.
Arts & Communications
Creative, imaginative, innovative, original, people who like to communicate ideas.
Performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and media arts.
Occupations include: architecture, interior design, creative writing, fashion design, film,
fine arts, graphic design and production, journalism, languages, radio, television,
advertising, public relations, entertainers (singers, dancers, musicians).
Business
People who like to work with numbers or ideas, plan and organize things, lead groups. Occupations include: entrepreneurs, sales and marketing, computer/information systems, finance, accounting, personnel, economics, and management.
Health Services
You like to help sick people stay healthy, learn about diseases, how the body works.
May include research, prevention, treatment, and related technologies.
Occupations include: nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, dentists,
medical assistants, veterinarians, emergency medical technician’s, medical secretary, etc.
Industrial & Engineering Technology
People who like to work with their hands, build or fix things, curious about how things work. Design, develop, install or maintain physical systems.
Occupations include: engineers, mechanics, carpenters, painters, electricians, pilots,
roofers, bakers, custodians, machinists, glaziers, welders, sheet metal workers, etc.
Natural Resources
Interested in nature, plants, animals, environment, and the physical world.
Occupations include: agricultural science, earth science, environmental science, fisheries, forestry, wildlife. Marine biologists, astronomers, landscapers, chemists, park rangers, animal trainers, etc.
Public & Human Services
You are a people-person and like to help others solve their problems. May include education, government, law enforcement, military, religion, leisure and recreation,