College and Career Readiness Resources

Not sure where to start? The resources below to learn more about your college and career options after high school.

Paths After High School Overview

Post-High School Options

Why You Should Consider Trade School
10 Benefits Of Joining The Military After High School

Infographic: Are You Considering Enlisting in the Military?

5 Rules of the College and Career Game (video)
Chicagoland Career Pathways
Different Gap Year Programs (article)

The following links will guide you to different tools to help students learn about future career options, including what types of work are typically done, how much different careers will earn, how much education is required, and much more. These tools also include free surveys and assessments that students can use to help give suggestions and spring ideas for future careers based on their interests, values, strengths, and goals.

Career Exploration

College Planning

College Search & Compare Tools

How to Build a College List on College Board
Big Future
Illinois Postsecondary Profiles
College Navigator
Cappex

Financial Aid

Service Year

Public Allies
City Year
Service Year
Americorp site (including FEMA Corps) Illinois Department of Employment Apprenticeships
Youth Build

Internships

Gap Year

Apprenticeships

Armed Services

Learning about colleges and careers can be confusing as resources may use keywords unfamiliar to students and families. The following information can be used as a quick reference for common words.

Career Terminology

Apprenticeship: A paid training program sponsored by an employer that combines on-the-job training and classroom training for a specific trade
Career: a chosen occupation, profession, or path with opportunities for progress
Career Assessment: test or survey that measures interests or abilities to help you learn about yourself and possible careers that fit your interests
Career Ready: to have the knowledge and skills deemed essential for success in the workforce
Cover letter: usually a one-page document that gives an overview of your qualifications as they relate to the position you are applying for
An externship is a form of experiential learning that allows the individual to work for or shadow an employer for a short period to learn about the industry or occupation. These are unpaid.
Essential Employability Skills: or soft skills, are general skills necessary to succeed in any job.
Holland Occupational Themes/Codes (RIASEC): refer to a theory of careers and vocational choices developed by American psychologist John L. Holland that matches career choices with personality types - Holland Occupational Themes
Industry certification: a credential that verifies technical skills and competence in a particular field and is recognized by employers in the industry
Internship: a form of experiential learning that allows the individual to work for an employer for a specified period to learn about the industry or occupation. It can be paid or unpaid.
Interview: a formal meeting between an applicant and employer that the employer uses to get to know the applicant to make a hiring decision, and the applicant uses to learn more about the employer.
License: a document awarded by state agencies or boards that allow the holder permission to work in a regulated industry
Resume: usually a 1-2-page document that summarizes an applicant’s education, work experience, skills, and recognition
Salary: a fixed compensation paid to an employee on a biweekly or monthly basis and is often expressed in an annual sum
Vocational/Career Technical Education: programs designed to prepare students for specific trades and teach industry-specific skills, also known as Career Technical Education (CTE)
Wages: compensation paid to an employee on a weekly or biweekly basis for work done
Work-Study: a type of financial aid awarded by the federal government in which a student must get a job through the school they attend to receive the funds

College Terminology

Academic Advisor/Counselor: school official who will help you select courses, review course requirements and help keep you on track to complete your academic goals
Associate degree: degree you can usually earn after two years of full-time classes
Bachelor’s degree: degree you can usually earn after four years of full-time classes
Credit Hour: a measure of how many hours students spend in class per week. The number of credit hours you enroll in determines whether you are a full-time or part-time student. You need to meet certain credit requirements to earn degrees and certificates.
Dormitories: on-campus housing where students live while enrolled in school
Financial Aid: refers to loans, scholarships, grants, and student employment granted based on financial need and eligibility.
First-generation student: a college student who is the first in their family to go to college
Full-time: a full course load, typically 12 or more credits per semester
GPA: abbreviation for grade point average, representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses
Grants: sum of money given by the government or other organization that does not have to be paid back
Loans: borrowed money that needs to be paid back with interest
Major: a student’s primary area of study, most classes will be in your major, and it is possible to have more than one major
Minor: a student’s secondary area of study, fewer classes needed, are not required, and it is possible to have more than one minor
Part-time: less than full course load, typically less than 12 credits per semester
Pass/Fail: a system of grading in which the only two possible grades given include pass or fail rather than letter or number grades
Post-secondary: education pursued after high school
Prerequisite: a course that students must complete before taking another course
Scholarships: sum of money awarded based on certain criteria that does not have to be paid back
Syllabus: an outline of the course written by the professor with important information such as due dates, exam dates, expectations, and policies
Tuition: the cost of attending courses
Undergraduate: a student who is pursuing either a one-, two-, or four-year degree