This month

Exploring career interests

• Feature — Explore your interests
• Your turn — Research careers online
• Stay on track — A checklist of "to-dos"
• Take notice — Important dates
• All about AIEmail — Subscribe, suggest, review

Feature

Explore your interests

Do you know what kind of career you are interested in, or are you still learning about different fields? With the end of the school year fast approaching, now is the time to start searching for a summer job that will give you a taste of the working world. Besides putting cash in your pocket, exploring career options looks good on a college application.

Are you thinking of becoming a doctor, nurse, or veterinarian? Call local hospitals, doctors' offices, homeless shelters, health clinics, or veterinary offices to see about working there this summer. Make sure to tell them you are exploring possible career interests and would like the chance to work in that environment.

What about a career in photojournalism? Try to get a job with local film processing companies, a local newspaper, or a local magazine.

Think about creating your own opportunities. Contact a business in your area and see what they can share with you about the jobs they offer in a field that interests you. Ask if they have internships for the summer that might give you firsthand experience. Talk to someone employed in the career you think you would enjoy.

Still unsure about what you want to do?

Identify two careers you think might be interesting. Do some research in your school library, on the Internet, or through others you know to learn more about the daily activities, academic preparation required, future growth, and typical salaries associated with these careers.

Use the two job profiles you have researched to do a search in your local community. Find someone who actually has a job in the career field that interests you. Schedule an "exploratory interview" with that person, telling them you are interested in their field and would like to learn more.

After the interview, volunteer to "help out" for a day or two, just to get an idea of what their work is like. The experience will help you establish a contact, develop a relationship with a possible mentor, and give you practical experience to build on.

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Your turn

Research careers online

Research the types of careers available to people with your interests and skills. Ask your school counselor for information about careers. Surf the Web. Sites like the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco/), the Occupational Outlook Quarterly (www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm), and AIE's "Develop Career Goals" page (www.aie.org/Links/Careers/index.cfm) offer details about hundreds of careers.

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Stay on track

Checklist for this week

For freshmen

• Continue to study hard to earn good grades.
• Review your schedule for next year so you will be prepared.
• Research and plan summer volunteer activities.
• Finalize next year's course selections with your counselor.

For sophomores

• Review your schedule for next year so you will be prepared.
• Plan summer community service or volunteer activities.
• Watch for leadership opportunities in clubs and organizations.
• Continue to concentrate on making good grades.
• If appropriate, register for May or June SAT Subject Tests.

For juniors

• Study for any Advanced Placement or SAT Subject Tests you will be taking.
• To prepare for the April ACT and SAT, review sample problem booklets provided with the ACT and SAT registration materials.
• Review your PSAT results.
• Register for the June SAT — this is the last time that the SAT will be administered until next October.
• Review your schedule for next year. Make sure you have all courses needed for graduation.
• Attend any college presentations at your high school this month.
• Continue investigating pre-college programs.

For seniors

• Address and mail graduation announcements.
• Review and respond to any admissions status letters you receive.
• Review financial aid award letters with your parents. Send in any requested paperwork.
• Complete and return any summer orientation materials sent by your chosen college.
• Return any requested housing contract information.
• Write thank you notes to counselors, teachers, and others who wrote letters of recommendation for college applications and scholarships.
• Complete correspondence courses.
• Complete any remaining scholarship forms.

For parents

• Review financial aid award letters with your senior.
• Provide any payments necessary for housing contracts, summer orientation programs, or other fees for your senior.
• Provide any fee payments necessary for your junior's ACT/SAT test registrations.
• Assist your senior with the distribution of graduation announcements.
• Encourage your child to write thank you notes to the people who helped with letters of recommendation.
• Review deadline dates for college housing deposits and refunds with your senior.
• If you filed any additional documentation regarding extenuating circumstances surrounding the family's financial situation, call your senior's prospective colleges' financial aid offices to ensure that the information was received and properly filed. This is the month that those offices will be preparing the financial award letters.
• Encourage your teenager to make plans for summer jobs and volunteer activities.

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Take notice

Important dates

Mark down these dates.

To get more information on the SAT or SAT Subject Tests, access useful tools, or register, visit the College Board's Web site (www.collegeboard.com) or call (866) 756-7346.

To get more information on the ACT, access useful tools, or register, visit the ACT Web site (www.act.org) or call (319) 337-1270.

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