College & Career

CCBC pathways
Career and Technology Education programs
service learning as a means to identify careers
Work permit information
Way2Go Maryland

You do not need to know what you want to be when you grow up in order to go to college.
When conducting career assessments, the important thing to keep in mind is that nobody is telling you what you "should" be. Ponder the results, take into consideration what themes you find in the results, and look into ways to meet your personal values and priorities in career areas that interest you.
FRESHMAN YEAR
SOPHOMORE YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
College Admissions Testing information
Summer Programs
The Heart of the Matter from americanacad on Vimeo.
You do not need to know what you want to be when you grow up in order to go to college.
  • List of HBCU's and even an HBCU common app
  • List of colleges with a reputation for being supportive of students with Asperger's.
  • Rational perspective on elite colleges and college "fit", by ISCA and IACAC
  • Great advice from an admissions counselor from Lasell College.
  • If you can't find your major in Maryland, use your in-state tuition elsewhere with the Academic Common Market.
  • What does it mean to have a balanced college list?
  • If you plan to transfer enrollment (or even just credits) from one Maryland college to another, you are strongly advised to consult with the ARTSYS, which allows you to see what credit you would be awarded for a course at your first institution.
  • Participate in online chats, watch on-demand videos, and even search for scholarships at CollegeWeekLive.
  • Dr. Nancy Berk's College Bound podcasts are available for download.
  • Some colleges also offer online matriculation. See Maryland's options.
  • Lots of higher education data is avaliable at http://college-insight.org/ 
  • Grades and tests scores aren't so hot? Some colleges see you as more than just a number. Watch this #AdmissionsLive video on noncognitive traits.
  • Should I go on that mission trip to help boost my application? Frank Bruni says maybe not.
Questions to ask on a college visit

Questions to ask at a college fair:
  • Shake hands. Look the representative in the eye.
  • Do you use SAT and the ACT in your admissions decisions? Is there a preference?
  • Do you require or recommend SAT subject tests? Which ones?
  • What grade point average range do you typically admit? How much emphasis do you place on academic rigor, like honors and AP courses?
  • What types of merit and/or need based scholarship programs are available?
  • What resources are available when students need academic assistance? 
  • Do you guarantee on-campus housing for freshmen? How likely is it for a student to be in “temporary housing?”
  • How large are your typical freshman-level classes, like Introductory Chemistry/Biology, English Composition, and Accounting?
  • What opportunities do students have to participate in recreational sports?
  • What type of class schedule do you look for in an applicant's senior year?

NextStepU.com is THE place to go for everything you need to know about life after high school. Plus, you can win up to $10,000 by entering the Win Free Tuition contest! Check it out.


Planning your college visit schedule

Alphabet soup - what are all these different degrees?

Initials
Formal Degree Name
Description
Community College, two-year degrees
AAS
Associate of Applied Science
2-year, technical focus
AA
Associate of Arts
2-year, with plans to focus on an artistic bachelor degree
AS
Associate of Science
2-year, with plans to transfer to a scientific bachelor degree
Four-year degrees, either start at college or transfer from community college
BS
Bachelor of Science
4-year scientific focus
BA
Bachelor of Arts
4-year artistic focus
BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
4-year in performing or visual arts
BSW
Bachelor of Social Work
4-year social work training
Graduate degrees that require at least a four year degree for admission
MSW
Master of Social Work
1-2 year advanced training in social work
MS
Master of Science
1-3 year advanced training in a science
MA
Master of Arts
1-3 year advanced study in an art
MEd
Master of Education
1-3 year advanced training in education
MBA
Master of Business Administration
2-3 year advanced training in business administration
MFA
Master of Fine Arts
2-3 year advanced training in performing or visual arts
JD
Juris Doctor
3 year degree in law
MD
Medical Doctor
4 year degree in medicine
DO
Doctor of Osteopathy
4 year degree in osteopathic medicine
PsyD
Doctor of Psychology
4-7 year degree in clinical psychology
EdD
Doctor of Education
3-6 year degree in education
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
3-8 year degree in advanced study of a chosen field, usually to prepare to teach at the university level

    In addition to following college admissions offices on twitter, learn what not to do by following AdmissionsProblems on twitter or facebook. Also, participate in tweetchats: #campuschat (First Wed of each month at 9pm), #collegebound uschat
      Recommended Reading
      The College Solution by Lynn O'Shaughnessy
      College Bound and Gagged by Nancy Berk
      Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope
      The Perfect Score Project by Debbie Stier
      Acceptance by David Marcus
      Crazy U by Andrew Ferguson
      Gatekeepers by Jacques Steinberg
      Making it into a Top College by Howard Greene
      Tips for writing essays:


      request your high school transcript

      To request a letter of recommendation from your school counselor, complete the Brag Sheet in Naviance Family Connection.
      Read the College Admissions Process packet. The letter from your counselor should really not be a reiteration of your activities and transcript, but it often helps us to understand what else you do outside of school.
      Please don't request changes to your schedule senior year
      Senioritis
      Applying for scholarships

      Pikesville HS Library's SAT prep Livebinder site

      Preparing your graduating senior for college