Looking Forward

An Interest Project Award for Senior Girl Scouts

Written by Campus Girl Scouts

Skill Builders

The end of high school marks a major turning point in your life-- a point at which you will have to make many important decisions that will affect the rest of your life. An important part of making good decisions is starting early to gather information and learn the skills you will need to evaluate effectively the choices available to you. Starting early to gather this information can only help you in the long run. This section will help you prepare to make those decisions by helping you consider some of the different options available.

You must do two activities from this section.

1) Write to at least four higher education centers you’ve heard of or are interested in and ask them to send you information on admissions and the programs they offer. You can go to the library, your guidance counselor’s office, or look online to find contact information for the schools. Make sure your sample is representative of different kinds of educational institutions (state schools, small private colleges, two year colleges, and/or technical institutes). Compare the literature. Based on the materials you were sent, which would you prefer to attend? Why? Which brochures give the most information, and which are mainly advertising? Discuss your findings with a parent, guardian, leader, mentor, or other adult.

2) Visit a higher learning institutions near you. If possible, visit a four-year college or university and one other kind of school (technical, junior college, or other). Use the phone book or the Internet to find a contact number for the Admissions Office, then call and find out when they offer tours. Visit and tour the campus to learn more about the school. Was each school what you expected? What was good about what you saw? What didn’t you like? If you visited two or more institutions, make a chart comparing various features of the sites that seem important to you. Based on your experiences, add another column about what you think your ideal school would be like.

3) An important consideration for any kind of higher education is how to pay for it. Find some terms related to financial aid and define them (some suggestions are: subsidized loan, grant, scholarship, fellowship, full-time, and PLUS). Get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your local library or guidance office, and with the help of a parent/guardian, go over the form. Try to fill in and understand as much as possible.

4) Imagine that you are moving out tomorrow. You will have a monthly net income (after taxes) of about $850—this is about what you’d make aafter taxes, working full time for $6.00 per hour (that’s better than minimum wage). Based on this, make a budget to live on your own. Use your local paper (or the Internet, with permission) to locate an apartment. Don’t forget about such things as utilities, health insurance, car insurance and gas (if you plan to have a car to get to work), food, furniture, and personal needs. What does this tell you about your personal spending habits and eventual financial needs? Find an advertisement for a job you’d like to have, and repeat this activity using the monthly rate for that job. (Don’t forget to deduct about 25% for state and federal taxes.)

5) Learn about the some key terms and deadlines involved in applying for college, including the PSAT, SAT/ACT, the Common Application, regular and early decision, and the FAFSA. With the help of a parent/guardian, older sibling who has already gone through the college process, or another adult, develop a timetable for preparing for the college application process.

6) Explore the military as a career option by interviewing a military recruiter. What are some of the benefits to entering the military, both active duty and reserve/national guard? What are some of the drawbacks? What educational benefits are available, including the service academies? Ask about other kinds of jobs available within the military—things like medical, intelligence, and technical careers—which are good starting points to civilian careers after leaving the military.

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