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What Info Do You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?

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What Info Do You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?

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What Info Do You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?

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College and Career Readiness Technology Solution | Naviance

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Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.

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National test dates are for the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico.

If you missed the regular registration deadline for a test date, you can still register by the late registration deadline for an additional fee.

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Deadlines occur at midnight Central Time.

If you are unable to test on a Saturday test date for religious reasons, there may be options available to you. See Non-Saturday Testing.

All requests for Accommodations and English Learner supports, including appeals, must be submitted by the late registration deadline through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system.

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ACT Registration Testing Dates | The ACT Test

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ACT registration information including testing dates for the ACT Test.

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Official SAT test dates and registration deadlines to help you plan. All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET, U.S.

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GetEducated | Review, Rate, Rank & Compare Online Colleges & Degrees | GetEducated

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When someone says "college," what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you probably think about four-year programs. However, there are many alternatives to the four-year approach. Associate degree jobs are booming and represent a popular, lucrative alternative path.
One of the most attractive alternatives to a bachelor's degree is an associate degree. These programs offer fast, and often more affordable routes for education, making them a popular choice, especially among non-traditional students.
There are reasonable questions that arise with associate degrees. Do good associate degree jobs exist? What fields offer jobs you can get with an associate's degree? Are they satisfying and financially rewarding? The answer is a resounding "yes!"

In general, you can step immediately from school to the work force and make a sizable income. The highest paying associate degree can result in a six figure salary. From technical careers to jobs in the medical profession, we list the best 2 year degrees for landing high paying jobs below. And, they pay more than you probably think!

What is an Associate's Degree?

Associate degrees are simply two-year degrees. Although they can take more or less time to complete, depending on the pace of study, they are generally half the workload of a four-year bachelor's degree. They are, therefore, about half the price of a bachelor's degree, and sometimes significantly cheaper as associate's degrees are often provided by affordable community colleges.

These programs are generally affordable and create a significant boost to your lifetime income. According to The College Board, the annual cost of attending a public two-year in-district school is $3,660. This number, however, does not take into account room and board, as well as other costs associated with attending school. Assuming graduation in two years, this means the tuition for attending a public program is roughly $7,320.

According to the BLS, the median salary for someone with "some college or associate degree" was $825 per week in the second quarter of 2018, translating into an annual salary of $42,900 (assuming 52 weeks of pay a year). High school graduates with no college earn a median salary of $726 a week, for an annual salary of $37,752. In this example, this results in an annual gain of $5,148 if you have no college education and were to complete your associate's degree.

This means you could pay for tuition of an associate's degree program in less than a 16 months. This does not, however, account for the cost of living while attending college, nor the potential lost wages that you might not be able to earn while completing an associate's degree.

Types of Associate Degrees

An AA degree is usually the most broad, and therefore the least specific, of all the associated arts degrees. During the AA program, students will take wide-ranging courses that can include introductions to history, art, literature, music, business, writing, and communication. The main advantage of an associate in arts degree is that it does not limit the graduate to a certain path, meaning they have access to several types of AA degree jobs.

Associate in Science (AS)

An AS degree is still broad, but it has more specificity than an associate in arts. These types of degrees are generally chosen if the student intends to pursue further education in an area that includes science, such as nursing or engineering.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

An AAS degree is a highly-specific education path, usually technical, that focuses on a single career field. Students who want to get an education and jump immediately into a specific career will want to consider an associate in applied science. Popular associate's in applied science programs include:

Why Choose an Associate Degree?

There are many reasons that people choose an associate degree, but it really boils down to two major motivations: a faster education, and a cheaper price tag.

Associate degrees are two-year degrees, so for someone who wants to get in, get out, and get to work, they are excellent options, especially the associate in applied science degree. While bachelor degree studies can take four years or more, and earning a doctorate can take a decade of focused education, an associates degree can take less than two years if you take summer courses! Additionally, because associate degrees are often taught at community colleges, the per-semester price can be a fraction of the cost compared to major universities and private colleges.

Flexibility is also a popular motivation for earning an associate degree. Many on-campus and online associate degree programs work for non-traditional students; people with families, jobs, and busy schedules who can't take classes at, for example, 9:00 am on a Tuesday. Instead, they need classes taught on the evenings, the weekends, or asynchronously online. An associate degree fills this need.

24 Highest Paying Associate Degree Jobs

So what careers with an associate's degree are actually available? We analyzed employment and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data to find the 24 best associate degree careers taking salary, growth, and number of jobs into account. Many of these require the specific training of an associate of applied science degree, but some allow the broad education of an associate of arts degree. These jobs make an associates degree a wise decision.

Registered Nurse

A bachelor's level education is a common choice, but an Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, is a faster and more affordable option. Although many nurses will eventually move on to the four-year degree, a two-year program will help land a job and gain valuable experience.

Respiratory Therapist

When you hear the term "respiratory therapist," think "helping people breathe." This, quite literally, the the job description, as people in this field help anyone with a lung problem, including disease or injury, get the oxygen they need. With good pay and an expected job growth of 23%, this is a fantastic career opportunity.

Popular Pick: Could not look up degree for "Independence University" using "270386"! from Independence University

Associate Degree Jobs Outlook 2019 - 2020

The job outlook is changing every day, and while there are general trends that apply to all people, from minimum-wage earners to top-level executives, there are also trends that impact people specifically with associates degrees.

Wage and Benefit Increases Are Expected

As the overall economy continues to grow, most employees can expect to see a general rise in their overall wages, as well as their benefits packages. Over years past, we had seen economic growth with stagnant or lagging wage increases, but this trend appears to be breaking, as wages appear to be on the rise. A report from ADP Research Institute says that wages increased 3.4% from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2018, demonstrating a general trend of upward increases for workers.

There is also a strong indication that with a growing economy and stronger wages, total benefits packages for employees could be enhanced as well. In an effort to attract workers and keep them for years, employers are increasing benefits and modifying jobs to be more flexible to people's preferred lifestyles. With an increase in mobile technology and connectivity, many employers are offering remote work for their top talent, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and profits. Flexible hours are also being added, as many workers prefer to work on their own terms, during hours that fit their schedule.

Hiring May be Faster, Less Exhaustive

There is also the increased possibility of faster hiring with less demand from potential candidates. Because so many companies are experiencing an overwhelming, non-stop need for employees, they have been forced to relax minimum requirements, opting for employees who may not have been eligible in the past. This can be good news for associate degree applicants, as jobs that previously needed a bachelor's degree may be available. Not only are requirements lowered, the hiring process is being expedited. The need for employees, as well as the adoption of hiring technology, is generally leading to a reduction in the length of the overall hiring process, which is good news for many applicants.

High Growth Sectors for Associate Degree Jobs

Now let's dig into the career areas with the highest expected growth. These are some of the sectors of the market where you can expect to find many opportunities.

The medical field is easily one of the fastest-growing sectors in the American job market. Simply put, there is a massive demand for medical workers, from nursing aides to personal care providers, the healthcare industry is a sector that can withstand economic downturns and remain strong. Much of this need is driven by the aging baby boomer generation and adjustments to healthcare laws. It might seem that to work in healthcare, you would need an advanced degree, but you can actually secure a top-quality job with an associate's degree. Here are a few examples of high-growth medical-related jobs that require an associate's degree or less:

Certain Areas of Software & IT

Being in software and technology does not guarantee a stable career, as the job stability is dependent on your specialty, but in general, software and IT is a great place to explore a career. Businesses and individuals need computers, networks, and new programs; they'll also need people who know how to set up these technologies and implement them effectively. Again, not all technology jobs are growing (more on that later), but if you have a technology-related associate's degree, you should find a reasonable level of security. Some of the high-growth jobs in technology that require an associate's degree or less include:

While the career of an attorney will only grow by around 8% from 2016 to 2026, all legal professions are expected to rise by 9%, a slightly higher growth rate. The expected demand for more legal professionals is driven by an increased need for legal work among individuals and businesses. This need will drive increases in support-level positions, including:

Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 15%

Arbitrators: 10%

Low-Growth and Declining Sectors

There are also some areas of the market may decline significantly in the future, and many of these areas are tied to associate's degrees. It's always wise to seek jobs that ignite your interest, but if you should be aware of certain areas that will be difficult for anyone, including holders of associate degrees.

The BLS identifies many manufacturing industries as potential areas for significant decline. For example, apparel manufacturing is expected to decline by 48%, and textile mills will drop by 44%. Printing and related jobs will drop by 73%, and foundries are expected to see a 25% drop in overall employment.

Many people have dubbed our time the "Information Age," so it might seem strange that some areas are in decline in decline. When you see which areas, however, you won't be surprised. Newspapers and books, for example, are expected to decline by 88%, which will have an effect on many jobs, including certain positions that hold associate's degrees. Cable and subscription programming, which is part of the information sector, will fall by 12%, and telecommunications is expected to drop by 15%. The biggest drop in the whole sector (and in fact the biggest drop marked by the BLS) is wired telecommunications carriers, which will decline in jobs by over 102%, loosing over 100,000 jobs from 2016 to 2026.

Associate Degree Jobs: Finding Your Career

50 years ago, a bachelor's degree was a virtual guarantee of a prosperous, rewarding career. Today we live in a world where a large section of the working population has bachelor's degrees; it's now merely a step in the right direction and does not guarantee employment in an ever competitive job market. So how can someone with a two-year degree hope to compete in the world of four-year degree holders? Have no fear! Millions of Americans are turning to associate degrees to jumpstart a new career. The BLS even issued a special report detailing how an associate degree can advance your career.

Start by modifying your job search to include only the companies who are specifically looking for candidates with associate's degrees. In many cases, companies will state that a bachelor's degree or higher is required for the position, so while it never hurts to dream big, it's wise to skip over these jobs and stick to the ones where you have the best chance at landing the position. However, if your chosen career has a much larger growth than the national average, hiring managers that say they are looking for a bachelor's graduate may be more flexible to fill their open positions.

If you take a strategic approach and apply to the right positions, you will likely make it to the next phase: the interview. During the interview, be sure to discuss the classes and projects that you completed during your associate degree studies. This should especially include any group projects, conquered challenges, and difficult courses that would apply directly to the company or your role. And don't forget personal experience! Past jobs can be a great source of knowledge, and they may give you an edge.

Because most associate degrees are broad, expansive, and diverse (especially the associate in arts), students can use their education to build on many different career and educational fields. In most cases, the credits you received in your associate's degree will apply directly to the bachelor's degree, meaning it may only be another two years to complete a bachelor's degree program.

This will vary greatly depending on the institution, but many schools, especially in-state institutions, have made a seamless transition from a community college only offering associate's programs to a major public university offering bachelor's degrees. Therefore, an associate degree can be a great investment, as it can apply both to the immediate career and potential future education.

Start Your Degree Online Today

Whether you want to jump-start your education in an affordable manner or study for two years to launch a profitable career, an associate degree is a great choice. With a high paying associate degree job in your future and little to no student debt, the future is looking bright!

To summarize our findings, an associate's degree can:

Advance your current career

Open up new careers

Increase your earnings

Offer a low-cost alternative to a 4-year program

Provide you with a foundation for future educational pursuits

Use our extensive database of online programs to find your perfect associate's degree today!

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24 Highest Paying Associate Degree Jobs | GetEducated

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When someone says "college," what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you probably think about four-year programs. However, there are many alternatives to the four-year approach. Associate degree jobs are booming and represent a popular, lucrative alternative path. One of the most attractive alternatives to a bachelor's degree is an associate degree.

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7 Fastest-Growing Jobs with an Associate's Degree

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7 Fastest-Growing Jobs with an Associate's Degree

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Did you know that there will be over 19 million job openings this year alone?! With baby boomers retiring in droves, that means a wide-open job market for millennials and Gen Z'ers who want to forge a career for themselves. It's also great news for people who aren't super into the idea of a four-year degree, since nearly a third of these new jobs will require only some college or an associate's degree.
There are over 30 million jobs in the United States that pay an average of $55,000 per year that don't require a bachelor's degree ().
But where, exactly, are these jobs? They're right where you'd expect! STEM, healthcare, the arts, and community services are the fastest-growing occupational sectors, with as much as a 31 percent rise in employment in those fields. Here are some of the specific job titles that can provide good paying jobs with an associate's degree.

The Fastest-Growing Associate Degree Jobs and Their Salaries

Web Developers: $69,430 - If a fast-growing, high-paying associate's degree job is what you're after, then you're going to want to consider becoming a web developer. Unsurprisingly, the demand for developers is much higher than average (a 13 percent projected increase by 2028), and the pay is solid. Most workers are able to land entry-level web development jobs with an associate's degree.

Respiratory Therapists: $60,280 - With a median pay of over $60,000 per year, a 21 percent projected growth, and most jobs requiring only an associate's degree, the respiratory therapy field is definitely a good one to consider if pay and reliability are your two non-negotiables when picking a career. It's quite the rewarding track, too, since respiratory therapists spend their days diagnosing and aiding patients with respiratory problems, helping them breathe easier each day.

Occupational Therapy Assistants: $57,620 - Occupational therapy assistants work in therapy offices, hospitals, and nursing homes helping people maintain the skills they need to live and work each day. Occupational therapists are very much in-demand, with a job outlook of 31 percent growth by 2028. The pay is promising, too, with a median annual pay of $57,620 per year. To become one, you must obtain an associate's degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program.

Paralegals: $50,940 - Paralegals are the professionals who work in courtrooms, law offices, corporate legal offices, and government agencies to provide essential legal support. Some common tasks they might perform on a daily basis include gathering facts on a case (sounds fun, right?) and scheduling interviews with witnesses and clients. The most common path to becoming a paralegal is to achieve an associate's in paralegal studies from an accredited university. Major bonus: Paralegal and legal assistant jobs are expected to grow much faster than average (12 percent) in the next eight years.

Physical Therapy Assistants: $48,090 - These skilled professionals work under the direction of physical therapists in offices and hospitals. They help set up equipment, care for patients, and perform clerical duties. With a projected growth of 26 percent by 2028, there will be no shortage of work for those who want to enter this field. Physical therapy assistants earn a median pay of $48,090 per year and must complete an associate's degree from an accredited program.

Solar Photovoltaic Installers: $42,680 - According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), solar photovoltaic installer is the fastest-growing occupation in the United States, with a projected growth rate of 63 percent by 2028. You're probably thinking, "wtf is a solar photovoltaic installer?" and that's totally fair. These are the guys and gals who assemble, install, and maintain solar panels. Their median pay is $42,680 per year and the role usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, but you can take courses and get an associate's degree to earn even more.

Medical Assistants: $33,610 - Medical assistants provide specialized medical clerical tasks in healthcare environments, including doctor's offices, hospitals, and clinics. The BLS reports that job prospects for medical assistants will explode by 23 percent in the next few years, so it's a safe bet for those seeking job security. While you don't need an associate's degree to land a medical assistant job, it's definitely not a bad idea overall, as it can lead to higher-paying and more specialized roles in this field.

As you can see, earning an associate's degree is a super worthwhile endeavor for a wide range of careers, especially those in medicine, tech, and the sciences. Setting your sights on one of these professional paths is a great way to ensure that you spend your life working in a field that will remain stable throughout your entire career.

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7 Fastest-Growing Jobs with an Associate's Degree

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Did you know that there will be over 19 million job openings this year alone?! With baby boomers retiring in droves, that means a wide-open job market for millennials and Gen Z'ers who want to forge a career for themselves.

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The job landscape is constantly changing, and if the past year has taught us anything, it's that opportunity and security in our careers is highly valuable. For those looking to make a career change or just getting started, it may be in your best interest to find a job that's projected to grow despite evolving technology, global disasters, and shifting work trends. Future-proof y our career and use this list to gain insight on the 20 fastest growing jobs of the next decade.

Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), we provide information on the jobs and industries projected to grow the fastest from 2019 to 2029. Feel free to jump down to the infographic for a visual on the future of jobs in America.

Note: All median salary and growth rate information reported is from the 2020 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

1. Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Increasing at a rate 15 times that of other occupations, wind turbine service technicians or windtechs, are projected to be the fastest growing job in the next decade. A windtech's main responsibilities involve the installation, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines. Their work requires them to travel to turbine sites and involves dangers such as climbing and rappelling at great heights. Despite this job's dangerous drawbacks, aspiring windtechs can find opportunities around the nation and a decent salary without a four-year degree. Wind power is also the largest renewable energy source in the U.S., and jobs in this sector are expected to increase with energy demand.

2. Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners are another fast-growing occupation, with an above average growth rate of 52 percent. These health care professionals either coordinate with doctors or work independently to provide health care services to patients. While the scope of care varies by state, most nurse practitioners offer preventative and primary care such as performing health diagnoses and prescribing medicine. In order to qualify for this occupation, rigorous training and a master's degree are required. The additional time spent in school may prove to be a worthwhile investment, as nurse practitioners make a median salary of $117,670.

3. Solar Photovoltaic Installers

In addition to wind power, solar is another fast-growing source of energy and jobs. Solar photovoltaic (PV) installers are responsible for assembling and maintaining all types of solar energy systems. Although job growth is strong, there is competition for limited positions. Entry-level positions generally require a high school diploma, but candidates with technical schooling, community college credit, or apprenticeship experience have a more promising job outlook.

4. Occupational Therapy Assistants

At a projected growth rate of 35 percent, occupational therapy assistants help address the demand for patients who need help recovering and maintaining the skills necessary to go about daily life. Under the guidance of occupational therapists, assistants in this profession lead therapeutic activities for developmental disabilities, socialization, and mobility. To become an occupational therapy assistant, you'll need an associate degree in a health-related field and at least 16 weeks of hands-on fieldwork.

5. Statisticians

Statisticians are in demand in fields like business, health care, government, and engineering for their ability to analyze data and problem solve with statistical techniques. In order to develop their expertise, statisticians generally need to pursue a master's or doctorate in a quantitative field. The job outlook for statisticians over the next decade is projected to increase, with an especially favorable outlook for those with strong data analysis skills, expert statistical knowledge, and experience with modeling or computer programming.

6. Home Health Aides

As the population of adults age 65 and older grows rapidly, trends toward aging in place create a large demand for home health care services. Home health aides help people with chronic illness or disabilities and any others who need assistance going about daily life. In addition to assisting with daily activities, they also administer basic health care such as monitoring vital signs. To be a home health aide, you'll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and training from a program or on the job.

7. Physical Therapy Assistants

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) help people with injuries or illnesses recover their ability for movement and help manage any pain associated with recovery. Before becoming a PTA, most positions require that you earn an associate degree and a license or certification obtained by passing the National Physical Therapy Exam. The job outlook for PTAs is growing faster than average thanks to demand from an aging population. To find ample opportunities, aspiring PTAs should look into home health, nursing homes, and orthopedic outpatient facilities.

8. Medical and Health Services Managers

Managers of medical and health services are responsible for directing and coordinating the health services of a specific facility, group, or department. They're also known as health care administrators or health care executives and must manage services according to changing regulations and technology. Although a bachelor's degree is required, master's degrees are becoming more common and are often preferred by employers. On top of a degree, clinical or administrative experience is required to reach a managerial position.

9. Physician Assistants

Working in collaboration with doctors and surgeons, physician assistant s (PAs) are needed to provide medical examinations, diagnoses, and treatments. To become a PA, a master's degree is required, and candidates often need experience in patient care prior to applying to a graduate program. After earning your degree and obtaining a license, ample job opportunities exist for PAs in health care and medicine.

10. Information Security Analysts

The role of information security analyst is important to protecting computer networks and systems for organizations. Thanks to the prevalence and evolution of cyberattacks, organizations are in need of professionals to develop security best practices and stay up to date on information technology and security trends. For those looking to enter this occupation, it's important to get started in an information technology field to gain experience with computer systems and database security.

11. Data Scientists

Using data software and programming, data scientists' careers revolve around transforming raw data into interpretable information. Data scientists analyze, visualize, and report their findings, as well as consult on analytical techniques used to solve problems. Top industries for data science opportunities include science, finance, and insurance. A bachelor's degree is necessary to enter this field, but a graduate degree may be preferable to employers.

12. Derrick Operators

Oil and gas derrick operators rig and operate derrick equipment, which is used to dig oil wells and push drills into the ground. Derrick operators are also involved in a variety of activities that maintain, monitor, and control oil derricks. No formal education or experience is necessary to become a derrick operator, and training is offered on the job. The industries where this occupation is needed most are the mining, oil and gas extraction, and construction industries.

13. Rotary Drill Operators

As another fast-growing position involved in the extraction of oil and gas, rotary drill operators are responsible for assembling and operating drills that remove oil and gas from underground. This position demands moderate on-the-job training, despite no education or experience requirements. Job opportunities are available in the mining, coal, oil, and construction industries for those interested in this occupation.

14. Roustabouts

Roustabout positions are also growing fast in the mining, oil and gas, and construction industries. This role is necessary for the setup and repair of oil field equipment, and it only requires moderate on-the-job training with no formal education. Other job titles for this occupation include floor hand, rig hand, and galley hand.

15. Speech-Language Pathologists

To become a speech-language pathologist and help people with communication and swallowing disorders, you'll need at least a master's degree and a clinical license. Also known as speech therapists, they're involved with the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of children and adults with disorders like stuttering. This role may work in health care facilities to treat patients who have suffered from a stroke, Parkinson's disease, brain injury, cleft palate, or autism. An alternative route for this career is to provide counseling and programs in schools.

16. Operations Research Analysts

Using advanced mathematical and analytical techniques, operation research analysts are tasked with solving complex problems in various industries. Operations research analysts have analytical skills that can be applied to health care, business, logistics, and science, and these skills are in demand by companies who desire savings and efficiency in their operations. A bachelor's degree in operations research or another quantitative field is needed to get started, but those with graduate degrees will be more attractive candidates.

17. Behavioral Disorder, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Counselors

Counselors for substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health offer treatment for individuals who suffer from mental or behavioral problems that interfere with their everyday life. They evaluate and assess problems such as addiction or alcoholism and provide treatment and education for recovery. Typically, a bachelor's degree and clinical license are necessary to become a counselor, but requirements may vary from a certification to a master's degree depending on the state. As more people continue to seek out mental health services, opportunities in this career will continue to grow.

18. Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

In order to prevent fire hazards, forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists examine residential and public buildings and outdoor areas for wildfire risks. They're responsible for reporting fire code infractions, enforcing regulations, and reporting on fire conditions. As the prevalence of wildfires around the nation is increasing, forest fire inspector and prevention specialist positions will grow to meet demand. Although only a high school diploma is required, most who enter this field have previous firefighting experience and have completed some postsecondary education.

19. Restaurant Cooks

Aspiring restaurant cooks have many options for achieving this occupation. You don't need formal education to become a restaurant cook, and on-the-job training on food safety and handling will teach you what you need to know. With that being said, many do choose to pursue culinary training through a professional institution, vocational program, or apprenticeship. Although this isn't the fastest growing job on this list, with nearly 1.8 million positions projected in 2029, it's definitely an occupation full of opportunity.

20. Animal Caretakers

If you're passionate about working with pets and nonfarm animals, animal caretaking may be the career for you. As an animal caretaker, you're tasked with feeding, grooming, and exercising animals, and you don't need a formal education or any experience to perform this job. The number of animal companions continues to grow, and animal caretaking positions are expected to increase to fulfill new demand.

Fastest Growing Industries

The future of jobs in America will be influenced by the fastest growing industries in the nation. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, we determined the main industries for growth over the next decade to help you choose your next career path wisely.

Health Care

In the past decade, the population of adults age 65 and older has grown by over a third. As society ages rapidly, the demand for health care and mental health services is expected to increase. To keep up with this trend, new job openings in health care fields will expand to meet demand. Take a look at this overview of growth in health-related industries below to see where you might find a lucrative career:

Energy

High energy consumption in the United States drives demand for higher energy production and more jobs. With renewable energy production reaching record highs and expected to provide a boom in jobs over the next decade, wind and solar represent promising career paths in the energy sector. Although coal and oil production are trending down, fossil fuels will also provide a decent amount of job growth for the foreseeable future. Find the growth breakdown below:

Solar Electric Power Generation: 42% growth

Support Activities for Mining: 32% growth

Wind Electric Power Generation: 32% growth

Technology and Data Science

As the world and work become more and more dependent on technology and data, the demand for professional services and skills in this industry won't slow down. Companies desire in-demand skills such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and analysis to help run businesses, solve problems, and make strategic decisions. Consider a job in one of the fast-growing industries listed below:

Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 26% growth

Management and Technical Consulting Services: 22% growth

Many factors like salary, job security, and personal interests help determine your career path. It's important to consider the advantages that ample job growth and opportunity may provide for your career. Benefits like career stability and longevity and a consistent income are very attractive in a constantly changing job landscape. Ultimately, your job should prioritize your values for work, life, and finances. Start your career in one of the fastest growing jobs to solidify your spot in the workplace of the future.

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The 20 Fastest Growing Jobs of the Next Decade

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The job landscape is constantly changing, and if the past year has taught us anything, it's that opportunity and security in our careers is highly valuable. For those looking to make a career change or just getting started, it may be in your best interest to find a job that's projected to grow despite evolving technology, global disasters, and shifting work trends.

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CT MFG Month Summit for Educators
Join us online for a collaborative conversation about the importance of manufacturing and technology pathways for your students. Celebrate CT Manufacturing Month, part of a national and statewide initiative to develop the next generation of skilled talent.

Wed. Oct. 27, 4:00 - 5:00 pm | Register Here
FEATURING:

Colin Cooper, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Department of Economic and Community Development

Kelli Vallieres, Executive Director, CT Office of Workforce Strategy, Vice Chair: Governor's Workforce Council

Melissa K. Wlodarczyk Hickey, Ed.D., Reading/Literacy Director, Connecticut State Department of Education

Ron Angelo, President & CEO, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology

Shannon Marimón, Executive Director, ReadyCT

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CT MFG MONTH - Manufacturing. Make it your future.

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CT MFG Month Summit for Educators Join us online for a collaborative conversation about the importance of manufacturing and technology pathways for your students. Celebrate CT Manufacturing Month, part of a national and statewide initiative to develop the next generation of skilled talent. Wed. Oct.

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If you're in high school, and have little to no work experience yet, creating your first resume can feel more intimidating than the actual job search. Fortunately, we can help you make crafting a resume as easy as following a simple format. With some key information in the right order, you'll stand a much better chance of getting the job you want.

Table of Contents

If you're in high school, and have little to no work experience yet, creating your first resume can feel more intimidating than the actual job search. Fortunately, we can help you make crafting a resume as easy as following a simple format. With some key information in the right order, you'll stand a much better chance of getting the job you want.

Your First Resume: What It Is and Why You Need It

A resume is a one-page document that summarizes your experience, skills and other relevant information. The purpose is to show that you're a good candidate for the position you're applying for. It should be formal, professional, relevant and brief.

Resumes give potential employers a way to learn about applicants quickly and easily, and they're your first step toward new job opportunities. An interview is the next step in the hiring process, but a great resume is how you get your foot in the door.

The art of a resume is to present yourself as the best candidate for a position. For high school and college students, a long job history is not necessary for a strong resume. Instead, you can emphasize the skills and knowledge you've developed in your studies, internships, activities or volunteering.

If your work history has nothing to do with the job you're applying for, or you don't have much work experience, you can still highlight abilities and experiences that are relevant to the job you want. In this guide, we'll show you how.

Choosing the Best Resume Format for Teens

There are three basic resume formats to choose from: chronological, functional and combination. It helps to familiarize yourself with these options before deciding on the right format for you.

Chronological Resume Format

This is the most common resume format, but it might not be the best if you don't have much previous work experience. It lists your work history in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent position. It's often headed with a Career Objective section. We'll talk about these sections in more detail later in this post.

On a chronological resume you'll also want to list your education in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent school you attended or relevant courses you've taken. Don't worry about listing any of your education history prior to high school as it is nonessential and will only clutter your resume.

Pros and Cons

Be aware, prospective employers will toss your resume aside if all they see is work that's not related to the job they're looking to fill, or if your resume looks empty because you don't have much experience to list.

Functional Resume Format

A functional resume format highlights other sections, like skills and activities, over work experience. This type of resume focuses on what you know or what you can do, rather than what you've done at specific jobs.

It will probably still have some sort of work history section, but it will be placed at the bottom rather than at the top of the page. Your work history might not necessarily be listed in chronological order on this type of resume. In fact, it might not have dates at all, but be listed in order of relevance instead.

Pros and Cons

Combination Resume Format

Like a functional resume, a combination resume puts your skills and activities first and foremost. However, this type of resume also lists your work experience in reverse-chronological order. It just doesn't put it near the top like a chronological resume does.

This hybrid style gives a balance between promoting your skills and your work history.

Pros and Cons

Tips to Create a Good High School Student Resume

Your resume always needs to include your name and contact information. List your name, phone number, email address, and city and state at the top of your resume. You don't need to include your full street address.

Everything else can be adjusted to fit your unique experience. For example, your resume could include any of the following:

Career Objective or Summary

Professional or Other Skills

Work Experience or Work History

Education

Activities

Achievements, Awards and Honors

Hobbies and Interests

References

Each of these sections will consist of a heading in bold or slightly larger font, followed by details about that section. For example, under the Education heading, you might list the schools you attended and the subjects you focused on.

Don't use a section if you don't have enough information to flesh it out. If you only have one thing to list, it's probably not worth the space to add that particular section.

Every section requires a slightly different approach. Let's break it down and see how they play out.

Career Objective or Summary Statement

The Career Objective section shows what kind of job you're looking for. It consists of one or two sentences near the top of your resume that describe your desired job or career trajectory. This statement is focused primarily on your career goals.

Just be sure that your career objective focuses more on how you plan to help whomever it is that you want to work for. Note in the above example that your objective is to offer excellent host service to a restaurant and their guests. That statement offers incentive to the restaurant.

And, it reads a lot better than telling your employer that you want to be a host so you can save money to buy your first car or save for a vacation. That will hurt you. Keep your intent on helping and growing with the business, not helping yourself.

If you're a student who happens to have more work experience, you can opt for a resume Summary Statement. A summary is a short paragraph that demonstrates how your experience and key skills established in previous jobs will benefit the potential future employer. Your professional summary statement is employer-focused. This statement should be customized to each position for which you apply.

I'm an energetic, enthusiastic and active individual with a strong knowledge of grocery items and their use by people from different economic and social backgrounds. I have a business mindset and am willing to apply these abilities to be an excellent grocery store employee.

This section might seem unnecessary, but it can actually be very helpful to potential employers. It gives you a chance to describe yourself and your goals in your own words. It can also be useful when you don't have much concrete employment history, but do have proficiencies that potential employers should know about.

Make sure the objective or summary is short, clear and professional.

Professional or Other Skills

You likely have abilities that could be relevant to a particular position you're applying for. These can be listed under Professional Skills.

Make sure these are relevant to the job you want. If you're applying for a gardener job, no need to mention "cash register," since that skill doesn't apply to that job. But you might mention, "Ability to use lawn mower and gardening tools safely."

If you have no work experience, this section can help demonstrate that you're still a good fit for the position.

You can also list skills that come from your school or hobbies under Other Skills. Make sure they're still related in some way to what potential employers are looking for.

Here's a helpful list of key skills you might want to note:

Creativity

Leadership

Adaptability

Flexibility

Positivity

Problem-solving

Communication

Independence

Self-motivation

Ability to work under pressure

Work Experience

Under this heading, list the name of the company you worked for, your job title and dates of employment. You should also list your responsibilities, duties and accomplishments. That way, it's clear what kind of experience you gained. Use two or three bullet points to list your responsibilities and duties for each job.

This can be a difficult section to tackle on a teen resume, since you might not have any employment experience yet. Don't worry though. Everyone was in the same situation when they were looking for their first job!

If you have no prior work history, you can leave this section out and focus on the other sections. If you do have official work experience, it's important to mention it in this section, especially if it's a job similar to the one you're applying for.

Even if you weren't officially employed, you probably have more employment experience to put on your resume than you think. Part-time work like babysitting, lawn mowing, tutoring, and even volunteer experience or community service all count as good examples of work experience on a high school resume.

Tailor Your Experience to the Job You're Applying For

One difficulty that a lot of students have in finding a job is this classic paradox: You can't get a job if you have no experience doing it, but you can't get experience without a job.

But there's a way around this. You probably have used related skills that come from completely different jobs.

Think about the work experience that you do have. Did you use communication to defuse an argument between the kids you were babysitting? Or, did you handle money while volunteering at a fundraising event?

Write down what skills you used, and how they might relate to the job you want. This is an easy way to figure out what to put on your resume.

By customizing your resume for the job you want like this, you can show employers you have the ability and experience they're seeking.

To guide your brainstorming, here are a few key skills employers might be looking for:

Leadership

Ability to work on a team

Communication proficiency (written and verbal)

Money-handling experience

Problem-solving skills

Strong work ethic

Initiative

Analytical/quantitative abilities

Flexibility/adaptability

Technical aptitude

Interpersonal (relates well to others)

This step is important because if you include the skills that you think your employer is looking for, you stand a far greater chance of landing the job.

Education

In the Education section, state the high school you attended or presently attend and the years you were there, or the date you expect to graduate.

Crescent High School - Arlington, Virginia

Expected graduation date: May 2017

If you do well in school and maintain a high GPA that would be good to include on your resume as it shows that you're hardworking and care about achievement. It's probably not helpful to include your GPA if it isn't above 3.0.

If there are classes you've taken that are relevant to the job you want, you can list that coursework here. You can mention your future education plans, too.

Activities

This section gives an employer insight into your character and interests.

Think of extracurricular activities, sports and clubs you've participated in. Taking a lead role in a school play? You are probably creative. Playing football? You might be a good team player. These are qualities that employers are looking for. Some examples of school activities that could look good on a resume include:

Sports: playing sports in a league or for fun, outdoor activities, fitness training, taking sports lessons, coaching.

Culture: creating artwork, music, shows, plays, films, games, singing or dancing, DIY projects, creative workshops.

Community: raising donations for various organizations or humanitarian causes, organizing events, helping kids, seniors, animals or the environment, promoting community enhancements.

Just like with skills, only list relevant activities here. Write down the activity, dates and your role/position.

If your resume is short on work history, you can list more details about your activities to show what you gained from them. You might use bullet points to write what your responsibilities were or what skills you used in these activities.

References

A reference should be someone who can vouch for your knowledge and abilities, or who can confirm your employment experiences.

Your teachers, coaches or former employers can be good references. Listing your friends or family as references is not recommended, but can be acceptable if you actually worked for them.

Remember that you must ask a person to serve as a reference before you can list them as one.

Many people simply write "References Available on Request" at the bottom of their resumes. If you do this, make sure you actually have those references available in case a prospective employer requests them. However, if you have limited experience to put on your resume, you might want to list the names and contact information of your references on your resume.

Free High School Student Resume Examples

These teen resume samples will make getting started easy. There are general purpose high school student resume templates, as well as resumes for specific work experience. These samples will guide you with a professional resume format and a basic idea of what to write. We also have student resume examples and other professional resume templates.

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FREE High School Student Resume Examples, Guide and Tips | Hloom

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If you're in high school, and have little to no work experience yet, creating your first resume can feel more intimidating than the actual job search. Fortunately, we can help you make crafting a resume as easy as following a simple format.

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Detailed descriptions of the world-of-work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, developers, researchers, and more. Individuals can find, search, or browse across 900+ occupations based on their goals and needs. Comprehensive reports include occupation requirements, worker characteristics, and available training, education, and job opportunities.

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There are hundreds of careers in our economy and multiple ways to group them. Organizing career information makes it more accessible to counselors, program planners, and others exploring jobs and occupations.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook ( OOH) and other career resources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) group jobs by occupation using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Another way to sort jobs is with Career Clusters and pathways, a framework used by many schools and state agencies. Both methods of organizing career information are helpful for understanding the world of work, especially when they are used together.

This article helps to link BLS SOC-based career information with Career Clusters and pathways. The first section highlights OOH occupational profiles for each of the 16 Career Clusters and shows BLS data on wages, projected job openings, and more for selected occupations. The second section summarizes why both the SOC system and the Career Clusters framework are valuable and how BLS occupational information relates to clusters and pathways. The final section provides sources for learning more.

BLS career info, by cluster

The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, which oversees the Career Clusters framework, divides careers into 16 clusters. These clusters are further divided into pathways, which show more specific career areas with similar knowledge and skill requirements. The 16 Career Clusters are as follows:

* Agriculture, food, and natural resources
* Architecture and construction
* Arts, audio/video technology, and communications
* Business management and administration
* Education and training
* Finance
* Government and public administration
* Health science
* Hospitality and tourism
* Human services
* Information technology
* Law, public safety, corrections, and security
* Manufacturing
* Marketing
* Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
* Transportation, distribution, and logistics

Each cluster description in the following sections includes links to the OOH profiles that most closely relate to the cluster. Each description also gives a snapshot of other BLS career information-including employment and wage data, education and training assignments, and projected job openings-to show how BLS material supplements Career Clusters and pathways.

Employment and wages. Employment and wage data are for May 2013 and exclude self-employed workers. The data for wages are presented as the median wage, meaning that half of workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The median annual wage for all wage and salary workers was $35,080.

Education and training. Designations for each cluster discussion indicate what form of education and training BLS has determined is typically needed to enter an occupation.

Projected job openings. For each cluster, charts 1 through 16 show the occupations that BLS projects to have the most job openings between 2012 and 2022. Job openings come from the need to replace workers in an occupation and from newly created jobs.

According to BLS, about half of all job openings between 2012 and 2022 are projected to be in occupations assigned to four clusters: hospitality and tourism, business management and administration, marketing, and health science. (See table 1.)

Sources: National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (Career Clusters); Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (data).

Many of the job openings over the 2012-22 decade are projected to come from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. However, for the occupations assigned to the health science, human services, and information technology clusters, BLS expects more job openings to come from newly created jobs.

Agriculture, food, and natural resources

BLS counted about 1.4 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the agriculture, food, and natural resources cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $18,710 for crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers to $116,840 for natural science managers.

Many of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, although specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for nonfarm animal caretakers to a doctoral or professional degree for animal scientists.

BLS projects the largest number of job openings in the agriculture, food, and natural resources cluster to be in occupations assigned to the plant systems pathway. The occupation expected to have the most job openings in the cluster is crop, nursery, and greenhouse farmworkers and laborers. (See chart 1.)

Architecture and construction

BLS counted about 7.8 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the architecture and construction cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $23,940 for landscaping and groundskeeping workers to $84,410 for construction managers.

More than half of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent. However, specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for carpet installers to a bachelor's degree and an internship for occupations such as architects.

BLS projects most job openings in the architecture and construction cluster to be in occupations assigned to the construction pathway. The occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings in the cluster is construction laborers. (See chart 2.)

Arts, audio/video technology, and communications

Careers in this cluster often involve creative tasks, such as performing or writing. Most of the arts and design, entertainment and sports, and media and communication occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

There were about 1.8 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the arts, audio/video technology, and communications cluster, according to BLS. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $24,220 for floral designers to $83,000 for art directors.

Many occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's degree, although specific designations vary. For example, public address system announcers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training, and art directors typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of experience in a related occupation.

BLS projects most job openings in the arts, audio/video technology, and communications cluster to be in occupations assigned to the visual arts pathway, which includes graphic designers. This occupation is projected to have the most job openings in the cluster. (See chart 3.)

Business management and administration

Careers in this cluster involve planning, oversight, and organizational tasks needed to run a business. Many of the business and financial, management, and office and administrative support occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

In the SOC occupations that are assigned to the business management and administration cluster, BLS counted about 23.3 million jobs-the most of all the clusters. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $22,480 for stock clerks and order fillers to $171,610 for chief executives.

More than half of these occupations typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, but specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for stock clerks and order fillers to a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation for those such as computer and information systems managers.

BLS projects most job openings in the business management and administration cluster to be in occupations assigned to the administrative support pathway-including customer service representatives, the occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings in the cluster. (See chart 4.)

Education and training

Careers in the education and training cluster involve teaching and other tasks associated with schools, libraries, and museums. All of the education, training, and library occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

BLS counted about 8.7 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the education and training cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $24,000 for teacher assistants to $105,080 for postsecondary law teachers.

Nearly all of the occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's or higher degree for entry, and many teachers also must complete an internship. However, specific designations range from a high school diploma or equivalent for self-enrichment education teachers to a doctoral or professional degree and less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation for postsecondary health specialties teachers.

BLS projects most job openings in the education and training cluster to be in occupations assigned to the teaching/training pathway. The occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings in the cluster is elementary school teachers. (See chart 5.)

Finance

BLS counted about 5.3 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the finance cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $25,390 for tellers to $112,700 for financial managers.

Many of the occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's degree for entry, although specific designations range from a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as loan interviewers and clerks to a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation for financial managers.

BLS projects occupations in the banking services pathway to have the most job openings in the cluster. But the occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings is in the accounting pathway: accountants and auditors. (See chart 6.)

Government and public administration

Careers in the government and public administration cluster involve making laws, ensuring safety, and providing other public services. All of the military careers in the OOH are assigned to this cluster. However, BLS does not collect employment and wage data, designate education and training, or make projections for military specific occupations. Therefore, the information that follows excludes these occupations.

BLS counted about 1 million jobs in the nonmilitary SOC occupations that are assigned to the government and public administration cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $20,620 for legislators to $76,890 for financial examiners.

Many of the occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's degree for entry, but specific designations range from a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training for transportation security screeners to a master's degree for urban and regional planners.

BLS projects most job openings in this cluster to be in occupations assigned to the governance pathway. The occupation projected to have the largest number of job openings in the cluster is compliance officers. (See chart 7.)

Health sciences

Careers in the health sciences cluster involve helping people and animals with the medical care they need to get or stay healthy. Nearly all of the healthcare occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

BLS counted about 12.2 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the health sciences cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $21,020 for home health aides to more than $187,200 (the highest median annual wage published by BLS) for occupations such as surgeons.

Occupations in the health sciences cluster typically require many different levels of education and training, with specific designations ranging from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for home health aides to a doctoral or professional degree and an internship or residency for occupations such as pediatricians.

BLS projects most of the job openings in occupations assigned to the health sciences cluster to be in the therapeutic services pathway. The occupation projected to have many more job openings than any other in the cluster is registered nurses. (See chart 8.)

Hospitality and tourism

BLS counted about 17 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the hospitality and tourism cluster, making this cluster one of the largest in terms of jobs. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $18,330 for combined food preparation and serving workers to $66,200 for gaming managers.

Nearly all of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or less education, although specific designations vary and include, for example, a bachelor's degree for recreation workers.

BLS projects most of the job openings in occupations assigned to the hospitality and tourism cluster to be in the restaurants and food/beverage systems pathway. Of those occupations, the one expected to have the largest number of job openings is combined food preparation and serving workers. (See chart 9.)

Human services

BLS counted about 5 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the human services cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations varied. For example, the median annual wage for shampooers was $18,510, and the wage for industrial-organizational psychologists was $80,330.

Occupations in the human services cluster typically require many different levels of education and training, with specific designations ranging from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as laundry and dry-cleaning workers to a doctoral or professional degree and an internship or residency for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.

BLS projects occupations assigned to the personal care services pathway to make up nearly half of the projected job openings in the human services cluster. The occupation projected to have the most job openings in the cluster is personal care aides. (See chart 10.)

Information technology

Careers in the information technology cluster involve working with computer hardware, software, or network systems. Nearly all of the computer and information technology occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

BLS counted about 3.5 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the information technology cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $46,620 for computer user support specialists to $101,410 for systems software developers.

Most occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's degree for entry. However, specific designations range from some college but no degree and moderate-term on-the-job training for computer user support specialists to a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation for computer network architects.

BLS projects more than half of all job openings in occupations assigned to the information technology cluster to be in the programming and software development pathway. The occupation projected to have the most job openings in the cluster is applications software developers. (See chart 11.)

Law, public safety, corrections, and security

BLS counted about 4.9 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the law, public safety, corrections, and security cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $19,040 for lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers to $118,150 for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates.

Many occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent. However, specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as security guards to a doctoral or professional degree, 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation, and short-term on-the-job training for judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates.

BLS projects occupations assigned to the security and protective services pathway to have the most job openings in the law, public safety, corrections, and security cluster. Among the occupations in this pathway is security guards, which is projected to have the most job openings in the cluster. (See chart 12.)

Manufacturing

Careers in the manufacturing cluster involve making products, such as food, cars, and household goods. Nearly all of the production occupations, many of the installation, maintenance, and repair occupations, and some of the architecture and engineering occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

BLS counted about 11.8 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the manufacturing cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $21,490 for sewing machine operators to $78,350 for nuclear power reactor operators.

Most occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, although specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as production worker helpers to an associate's degree and long-term on-the-job training for camera and photographic equipment repairers.

BLS projects more than half of job openings in the manufacturing cluster to be in occupations assigned to the production pathway. However, the occupation expected to have the largest number of job openings is in the maintenance, installation, and repair pathway: general maintenance and repair workers. (See chart 13.)

Marketing

BLS counted about 15.3 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the marketing cluster, one of the largest in terms of jobs. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $18,960 for cashiers to $123,220 for marketing managers.

Many of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent; however, specific designations range from less than a high school diploma for models to a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation for occupations such as public relations and fundraising managers.

BLS projects most job openings in the marketing cluster to be in occupations assigned to the professional sales pathway. The occupation projected to have the largest number of job openings in the cluster is retail salespersons. (See chart 14.)

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Careers in the STEM cluster involve solving problems through research and design. Many of the life, physical, and social science; architecture and engineering; and math occupations in the OOH are assigned to this cluster.

BLS counted about 2 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $38,310 for social science research assistants to $132,320 for petroleum engineers.

Nearly all of the occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor's or higher degree for entry. But specific designations also include, for example, an associate's degree for occupations such as social science research assistants.

More than half of the projected job openings in occupations assigned to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics cluster are in the engineering and technology pathway. The occupation expected to have the most job openings in the cluster is mechanical engineers. (See chart 15.)

Transportation, distribution, and logistics

BLS counted about 10.7 million jobs in the SOC occupations that are assigned to the transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster. Median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $19,500 for parking lot attendants to $121,280 for air traffic controllers.

Most of the occupations in this cluster typically require a high school diploma or equivalent for entry. However, specific designations range from less than a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training for occupations such as taxi drivers and chauffeurs to a bachelor's degree, less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation, and moderate-term on-the-job training for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.

BLS projects most job openings in the transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster to be in occupations assigned to the transportation operations pathway. The occupation projected to have the largest number of job openings is hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers. (See chart 16.)

Making the connection

Although the SOC system and Career Clusters framework group jobs differently, both methods are designed to cover all types of work in our economy. Career planners may be familiar with one or both methods, but they may not realize that connecting these two systems broadens the scope of coverage. Linking a cluster or pathway to SOC occupations yields access to BLS data and information on employment, wages, projections, and more.

Several crosswalks, which provide a way to match one classification scheme to another, link the SOC occupations that BLS uses with Career Clusters and pathways. To help with career-search options, some crosswalks list the same occupation in more than one place. That way, someone who might be interested in an occupation would find it more easily.

This article, however, uses a crosswalk that assigns each occupation to just one cluster and pathway, which prevents an occupation from being counted more than once. (See table 5 of the Perkins IV crosswalk.) Using this crosswalk ensures a more accurate count of jobs.

Learn more

Continue exploring BLS career information with the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which provides job descriptions, education and training requirements, data on employment and wages, and more for hundreds of occupations.

The full 2010 SOC system structure, including all 840 detailed occupations, their definitions, and illustrative examples, is presented on the SOC page on the BLS website.

The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium has more detail about the Career Clusters framework.

Check with your state's Department of Education or your state's labor market information office to learn about how Career Clusters and pathways are used in schools and workforce agencies near you.

For a complete list of the SOC occupations assigned to each of the Career Clusters and pathways, refer to the Perkins IV crosswalks created by the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network has a tool that lets you search for occupations by Career Cluster.

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Clusters, pathways, and BLS: Connecting career information : Career Outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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There are hundreds of careers in our economy and multiple ways to group them. Organizing career information makes it more accessible to counselors, program planners, and others exploring jobs and occupations. The Occupational Outlook Handbook ( OOH) and other career resources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) group jobs by occupation using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system.

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NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

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NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

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NCAA member schools require incoming student-athletes to build a foundation of high school courses that will best prepare them for the academic expectations in college.

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GREAT ADVICE FOR PARENTS 2021

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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LETTER FROM INCEPTIA VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT SUCCESS

CONSIDERING COLLEGE? College, Interrupted: The Case for Going (Back) to School Skip College? Not if You Want to Make More Money 5 Things to Consider When Picking a College in the COVID-19 Era FAFSA & COLLEGE PREP The FAFSA Opens in October: Why You Should Apply ASAP 8 Steps to Completing the FAFSA Form Senior Year College Prep Checklist PRO TIPS FOR FINANCIAL AID How to Get a Professional Judgment for Financial Aid How to Search for Scholarships, Not Get Lost in Spam College-Bound Grads Could Exit With $38K Student Loan Debt Don't Skip These Steps When Borrowing Parent Student Loans

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GIVING OUT GREAT ADVICE SINCE 2016

Every fall, we publish this guide in the hopes that it provides timely facts and information to help college-bound students and families make informed choices.

What we don't usually talk about is how to make choices in a pandemic.

And yet, for a second year, we are still navigating college decisions in a time of great uncertainty. Colleges are continuously updating safety protocols, families are still dealing with pandemic-related changes and losses, and a year of online learning may have shifted focus and attention away from college planning activities. These extra degrees of difficulty only add to an already difficult process for high school juniors and seniors. Luckily, our friends at NerdWallet have been closely covering the issues that matter: what if my finances have changed, should I take a gap year, is college worth the cost, and what new questions should I ask myself when choosing a college, based on COVID-19? We have included all of this information and more in this year's e-guide, continuing with our annual tradition of providing financial aid guidance while also promoting family discussions about the college selection process. We hope you find it to be a helpful "how-to" as you begin to map out all your "to-dos" in the upcoming year. Finally, it just wouldn't be Great Advice if I didn't leave you with one of my own favorite gems from my pop culture collection of wisdom. This year it's from Ted Lasso, with Ted quoting Walt Whitman's words that can help bridge any divide:

"Be curious, not judgmental."

As you find your own way in the world, as you're introduced to new thoughts and cultures, you'll find it's hard to be judgmental if you're too busy being curious.

And that just sounds like a happier, better way to be, doesn't it?

Wishing you health and wellness,

Carissa Uhlman Vice President of Student Success Inceptia

888.529.2028 * Inceptia.org *

@inceptia

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CONSIDERING COLLEGE? GOOD INFO TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES

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COLLEGE, INTERRUPTED: THE CASE FOR GOING (BACK) TO SCHOOL By Anna Helhoski A cautionary note for the high school class of 2022: Waiting to enroll in college decreases the likelihood you'll ever attend or complete a degree. It's a valid concern. Due to the pandemic, undergraduate enrollment was down 2.5% in fall 2020 and down 4.5% for spring 2021, compared with the previous fall and spring, respectively, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. There are also warning signs of an enrollment slump to come. The class of 2021 is lagging in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The application is the gatekeeper for college financial aid and, as of April 2, 2021, completion is down 7% compared with applications completed by the same time last year. FAFSA completions are an indicator of enrollment for the upcoming academic year, says Bill DeBaun, director of data and evaluation at the National College Attainment Network. "When you're talking about the senior class that measures millions of students, you're talking about many students with their postsecondary trajectory potentially altered," DeBaun says.

Skipping out on college, delaying enrollment or not finishing a degree has consequences:

* You'll earn less if you don't go. * If you don't go soon, you're less likely to go back. * If you start a degree but don't finish, you're more likely to default on any student loans you took out. A gap year made sense for many high school graduates in 2020 and is appealing for 2022 grads, too, experts say. The pandemic resulted in an uneven college experience that may have included hybrid and virtual learning, regular COVID-19 testing and quarantines. And not every student was well-positioned - or had the broadband access - to learn virtually. "We'll probably be having this conversation 10 and 20 years from now, as to how this affected the next generation," says Nicole Smith, research professor and chief economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

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If you sat out from college because of the pandemic or are planning to, experts argue that you should reconsider. Here are three key reasons why.

You'll earn more with a degree So what if you delay or never go to college? Opportunity costs, mostly.

Getting a degree could mean earning nearly a million dollars more over your lifetime, according to data from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Delaying enrollment for one year can cost a year's worth of wages over your lifetime, which you never recoup, according to a July 2020 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Earnings, no matter the education level, will vary by occupation, region, gender and race. But bachelor's degree holders still earn, on average, 31% more in their lifetimes than associate degree holders and 84% more than those with only a high school diploma. That's not to say you can't consider education alternatives - short-term credential and trade programs, apprenticeships and associate degrees are all viable options. Statistically, though, a four- year degree or higher is a stronger insurance for greater earnings over your lifetime. For low-income students and students of color who statistically have less generational wealth, degrees are also the best vehicle for upward mobility, says Michelle Dimino, education senior policy advisor at Third Way, a public policy think tank. A recent Third Way study found that most bachelor's degree programs net low-income students high enough wages to justify out-of-pocket costs. "What we're seeing is students who would most benefit from the socioeconomic benefits a college degree can provide are the least likely to be enrolling at this point in time," Dimino says. "The biggest concern that we have for those students delaying enrollment is it might lead to permanently forgoing college." The longer the pause, the harder it is to finish a degree According to federal data, there are millions of adult learners who don't start college until they're well into their 20s or older. But you're less likely to complete a degree if you delay: Nearly half of those who delayed enrollment left college without earning a degree, compared with 27% of those who didn't delay, according to a 2005 report from the National Center for Education Statistics. The further you get from high school, the less academic support and one-on-one encouragement you have to attend college, experts say. It's also more likely you'll get a job, start a family and have other income demands. "There's something about that window of 18 to 24; if you start out at that point, you're likely to get to where you need to be," Smith says.

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You're more likely to default on student loans if you don't finish Returning to college is especially important if you have student debt, as most students do. Without a degree, federal data shows, you're statistically more likely to be late on payments and default. This outcome can lead to a damaged credit score, collection costs and wage garnishment. Federal data shows that among a cohort of students who started college in 2003-2004 and defaulted on student debt, nearly half didn't complete their education, while 10% finished a bachelor's degree. The situation is the worst for Black student borrowers: The Brookings Institution found that Black first-time college students default at a rate three times higher than their White counterparts. How to pay for college if your family's finances have changed If you're reconsidering your decision to delay or forgo college, first figure out the best way to pay. Start by submitting the FAFSA as soon as possible to qualify for federal, state and school financial aid, including Pell Grants, scholarships, work-study and federal student loans. If your family's financial situation has changed due to the pandemic, request a professional judgment from your prospective or current school's financial aid office. You'll need to request a specific amount and submit documentation of why you need more aid, like confirmation of a parent's unemployment or medical bills.

If there's still a gap to fill, consider private loans.

Alternately, you could think about entering community college for a year or two, then transferring. Find out if the community college you're considering has credit transfer agreements (known as an articulation agreement) with any four-year colleges you're interested in attending.

Anna Helhoski is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.

The article College, Interrupted: The Case for Going (Back) to School originally appeared on NerdWallet on April 15, 2021.

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SKIP COLLEGE? NOT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY By Anna Helhoski

Skeptical of the four-year college degree? It's still your best bet to make money.

Backlash against college as a common stop on the road to adulthood has mounted over the past decade. Critics say four-year degree programs saddle most students with five-digit debt without a clear path from classroom to career. Nearly half (46%) of all families surveyed in November and December 2020 by Gallup for the Carnegie Corporation of New York said they would prefer their children attend alternatives to four- year institutions - even when there were no financial barriers. But when you compare the value of a four-year degree with other credentials - a high school diploma, certificate programs and associate degrees - it still puts workers at an advantage in the labor market and leads to higher lifetime earnings, on average. Bachelor's degrees are typically a good investment If a college degree is an investment, it's a good one, according to the New York Federal Reserve. The annual return on a typical four-year degree is around 14%, it calculates, well above the threshold of "good" returns for stocks (around 7%) and bonds (3%). In dollar terms, graduates with a bachelor's degree will earn on average about $78,000 annually, compared with a high school diploma earner who receives around $45,000 annually, according to 2019 data from the New York Federal Reserve. However, "on average" doesn't mean that the return on your education, or college earnings premium, will always be a gain. Where you attend school, how much debt you take on, what you study and where you live after school all help determine your return. Many of those factors are influenced by your race, ethnicity and gender.

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Your ability to repay debt affects your degree's value Student loan debt is difficult to avoid and even more challenging to repay. College costs rose 117% from 1985-86 to 2018-19, according to federal data. Wages, meanwhile, didn't keep pace, growing only 19% during the same period, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. However, loans are still the primary vehicle for families without wealth to obtain college degrees. In order to make your degree worth it, you have to earn enough to justify it. That means carrying debt that won't put you underwater - a manageable student loan payment is around 10% of your discretionary after-tax income. To get the best return and be able to repay debt, graduation is crucial - many borrowers who default will have debt but no degree. "That's the worst-case scenario - you're incurring some of those costs but with very, very little benefit," says Jonathan Rothwell, principal economist at Gallup. Demand for your major matters What you study in school will affect the type of job you can get, your earnings and your ability to repay debt. Average earnings at mid-career are highest among those who hold a bachelor's degree in fields like science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM ($76,000), business ($67,000) and health ($65,000), according to a 2015 data report from Georgetown University's Center for Education and the Workforce. The same report found the lowest median mid-career earnings among those whose bachelor's degrees were in fields like arts, humanities and liberal arts ($51,000), as well as teaching and serving roles such as social work ($46,000). To estimate earnings, graduation rates, typical student debt loads and other factors at individual schools, use the Education Department's College Scorecard tool. You can search and compare earnings as well as debt by fields of study. Where you live after graduation also matters Where you live after attaining your degree also affects its value, according to the results of a May 2020 study for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative nonprofit think tank.

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"In general, college degrees are a good investment, but the return in terms of cosmopolitan areas is phenomenal," says John Winters, associate professor of economics at Iowa State University, who conducted the study. In cities, bachelor's degree holders earn $95,229 on average, an 86.2% premium compared to a worker with a high school diploma and a 55.7% premium compared to an associate degree holder. Winters says that's primarily because cities have a higher concentration of jobs in fields that often demand workers have four-year degrees, such as tech, finance and marketing. Workers in these fields earn higher wages, which leads to a greater return on investment for degrees. However, Winters' findings also mean it's less critical to have a four-year degree if you want to live in a smaller metro or rural area. Bachelor's degree holders in nonurban areas have mean earnings of $67,893, which puts their wages at a 46.4% premium compared to high school diploma holders and a 29.6% premium compared to associate degree holders. Degree attainment doesn't guarantee equity In some ways a college degree can exacerbate income and racial inequalities, such as student debt and ability to repay that debt, says Marshall Anthony Jr., a senior policy analyst at Center for American Progress, a public policy research organization. "A college degree doesn't usually work the same for everybody," Anthony says. Black borrowers tend to take on greater amounts of debt - about $25,000 more, on average, than White borrowers, according to federal data. In 2016, among those with a bachelor's or higher degree, Asian full-time, year-round workers ages 25-34 had higher median annual earnings ($69,100) than their White peers ($54,700), and median earnings for both racial/ethnic groups were higher than those of their Black ($49,400) and Hispanic ($49,300) peers, according to the most recent available data by the National Center for Education Statistics. Higher debt and lower wages also mean Black borrowers will accrue more interest over time: Four years after graduating from college, Black graduates have $52,726 in student loan debt compared to White graduates at $28,006, according to a 2016 Brookings Institution study.

Anna Helhoski is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. The article Skip College? Not If You Want to Make MoreMoney originally appeared on NerdWallet on July 19, 2021.

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5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A COLLEGE IN THE COVID-19 ERA By Cecilia Clark Colleges have faced innumerable challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the way they've responded to those issues should influence how prospective students evaluate them. Online learning, strict campus rules and lingering economic concerns have left many students wondering if their college investment will be worthwhile. As a result, fall 2020 enrollment declined by 2.5% - or by more than 400,000 students - according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Hafeez Lakhani, founder of college admissions counseling firm Lakhani Coaching, acknowledges the changing college landscape but still advises students to prioritize college. "Education is about playing the long game," he says, pointing to data showing college graduates earn nearly twice as much over their lifetimes compared with high school graduates. As you finalize your college selection, consider these questions to gauge which school is best for you in the era of COVID-19.

Can you visit campus? Don't count out a school just because you can't physically visit campus.

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"Sure, you don't get to step foot on campus, but you have more opportunities to connect with the school than you had before," says Sydney Matthes, counselor at college admissions consulting firm Collegewise. She says students can participate in virtual campus tours and virtual class audits. For example, Hampton University's campus in Virginia remained closed through at least spring 2021 but is conducting tours and information sessions virtually. Admissions officials say the virtual tours allow prospective students to get a sense of the campus in anticipation of its reopening. If a school isn't offering virtual tours, Matthes advises students to contact the admissions office directly and ask to meet via video chat with a professor or current student. "It's easier to sign up for a virtual tour, but shows interest to write an email," she says. "Creating relationships is important."

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What are the COVID-19 rules? Having a sense of how a college handled the pandemic's initial outbreak, the rules it set and its response to students breaking campus COVID-19 rules will give you an idea of what school life will look like. Brett Joshpe, a lawyer who represented students dismissed from Northeastern University over COVID-19 rule violations, says he got calls from parents all over the country who were concerned about the pandemic rules and their enforcement. "A lot of parents and [students] in general are rethinking what they're paying for and where they are going [to college]," Joshpe says.

Make sure you can commit to rules set by a college before deciding to attend.

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What is your - and the college's - financial situation? Many colleges and students are seeing their finances change as the pandemic drags on. For colleges, Lakhani attributes some of the financial decline to decreased international student enrollment. He says there have been fewer international students coming to the United States over the last several years, and the pandemic only exacerbated the situation. "International students typically pay full tuition," Lakhani says. "When you take the flow of international students out, universities have to make up that tuition elsewhere." He fears that the cost difference could be passed down to other students, that programs or amenities could be affected and that smaller private schools may have to close. For students, the pandemic-induced economic downturn means you may have less money available to cover college expenses. According to a June 2020 survey by college study guide website OneClass, about 50% of the 9,000 students surveyed say the coronavirus pandemic has decreased their ability to pay tuition.

But even with a shifting financial landscape, you can still attend college:

* Select a college you can afford that has a strong financial standing. * Take advantage of scholarships, grants and other free money through the FAFSA before borrowing. * If your financial situation has changed from what's represented on your FAFSA, contact prospective schools and request a professional judgment to amend your aid offer.

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What are the online options? There is no guarantee what colleges will look like by fall 2022. And if they start off in person, they could have to quickly pivot back online. So even though you may be considering a school based on its in-person classes, campus and activities, also evaluate its online structure. To do this, ask to test drive the school's online learning platform and attend a virtual lecture. You can also get the perspective of a student who started off in person, but had to switch to online. And ask if your school keeps records of how many professors are trained or certified in online learning. The ability to teach great classes in person doesn't always mean the ability to teach great classes online. What support services does the college offer? The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental health issues for college-aged students. According to a June 2020 survey by the research institute Center for Promise, one-third of the 3,300 teenagers surveyed say they have been feeling more depressed or unhappy during the pandemic. A September 2020 study by the Journal of Medical Internet Research shows 71% of 195 college students surveyed expressed feelings of depression and anxiety. The study concluded there is an "urgent need to develop interventions and preventive strategies to address the mental health of college students." Some colleges are responding to this need. Appalachian State University in North Carolina, for example, began offering virtual one-on-one and group counseling for remote and on- campus students. It also hosts a student-led mental health ambassador group that offers peer mentorship. If you have been struggling emotionally during the pandemic, prioritize a college that has strong support services. Matthes says she advised students to consider support services before the pandemic and that they are even more important now. "The uncertainty can be a little scary, but this, hopefully, isn't forever," she says.

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Cecilia Clark is a writer at NerdWallet.

The article 5 Things to Consider When Picking a College in the COVID-19 Era originally appeared on NerdWallet on February 26, 2021.

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FAFSA & COLLEGE PREP

THE FAFSA OPENS IN OCTOBER: WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY ASAP By Cecilia Clark An influx of college financial aid applications this year means that money could run out for students who don't file early. Due to financial strain caused by COVID-19, nearly 40% of families that didn't previously plan to apply for federal financial aid now expect to do so, according to a recently released survey from Discover Student Loans. The federal government, states, colleges and other organizations use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to award financial aid. You must complete the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid. You have 21 months to submit the FAFSA for any given academic year. For the 2022-23 school year, the FAFSA opens October 1, 2021, and closes June 30, 2023. But that doesn't mean you should wait. "There is no downside to applying early, but a lot of risk in applying late," says Manny Chagas, vice president and head of marketing and product at Discover Student Loans.

Here's why you should file the FAFSA now.

Better shot at more free money The sooner you submit the FAFSA, the greater your chances are of getting free aid you don't have to repay, such as grants or scholarships. Federal Pell Grant money likely won't run out, but other need-based aid, including that awarded through your school and state, is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Jack Murphy, financial aid counselor at the University of Northern Iowa, named the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and his school's tuition assistance grant as examples. The Federal Work-Study Program also has limited funds, so you'll want to file the FAFSA early to take advantage of it. More time to appeal a financial aid decision Students and parents who are dissatisfied with their aid amounts or have a change in economic circumstances can appeal the financial aid award from their school. To do this, you need to petition your school with a financial aid appeal letter and provide evidence to support your need for more aid. If you wait too long, the aid money could run out.

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Those who file the FAFSA early are more likely to receive their school-based financial aid awards with their college acceptance letters. While your federal aid will be the same no matter where you attend college, you can send your FAFSA information to several schools to see which will give you the best school-based aid package. Doing so early will allow you to compare offers and appeal if necessary. If you apply for the FAFSA late, you not only risk a smaller award to begin with, but you also have less opportunity to "shop around" and submit a successful appeal letter. A quarter of parents surveyed by Discover Student Loans say they'll appeal their financial aid decision because of previous award amounts and pandemic-induced changes in family finances. In speaking about the survey, Chagas emphasizes that there tends to be more money available early in the process, so students should make the FAFSA a priority. Murphy agrees. "Filing early makes sure you're in the running to receive as many awards as possible," he says. "We see students that get [aid] one year, but not the next." They don't lose out on aid because they no longer qualify, Murphy explains. They just waited too long.

Cecilia Clark a writer at NerdWallet.

The article The FAFSA Just Opened: Why You Should Apply Now originally appeared on NerdWallet on October 1, 2020.

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8 STEPS TO COMPLETING THE FAFSA FORM U.S. Department of Education Resource Article

Completing the FAFSA ® form is the first step to obtaining federal student aid to pay for your higher education. Follow these eight simple steps to set you up for success and submit it on time. If you are a parent, you might find 8 Easy Steps for Parents Completing the FAFSA form helpful. We also have a resource if you are a parent with more than one child going to college. Ready to fill out the FAFSA form?

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Create a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID) Student: An FSA ID is a username and password you need to sign the FAFSA form online. If you don't have an FSA ID, get an FSA ID here ASAP. It takes about 10 minutes to create an FSA ID. If this will be your first time filling out the FAFSA form, you'll be able to use your FSA ID right away to sign and submit your FAFSA form online. If this is not your first time filling out the FAFSA form, you may need to wait one to three days for us to verify your info before you can use your FSA ID to renew your FAFSA form and sign it online.

Parent: If your child is required to report parent information on the FAFSA form, you need to create your own FSA ID in order to sign your child's FAFSA form online. Create an FSA ID here. Parents are able to use their FSA IDs right away. Some of the most common FAFSA errors occur when the student and parent mix up their FSA IDs. If you don't want your financial aid to be delayed, it's extremely important that each parent and each student create his or her own FSA ID and that they do not share it with ANYONE, not even with each other.

Start the FAFSA form at StudentAid.gov The 2022-23 FAFSA form launches October 1! Even if your state and school deadlines aren't for a while, you should complete the FAFSA form as soon as possible because some states and schools run out of financial aid early and have limited funds. Don't wait until the last minute to apply!

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Start the FAFSA TIP: If you are the parent/guardian, read 8 Easy Steps for Parents Completing the FAFSA form.

* If you are the student: Click "I am the student." Enter your FSA ID username and password, and then click "Next." * If you are the parent: Click "I am a parent, preparer, or student from a Freely Associated State." Provide the student's name, Social Security number, and date of birth, and click "Next."

Choose whether you are the student or the parent on the first page of the FAFSA form.

Choose which FAFSA form you'd like to complete:

* 2021-22 FAFSA form if you will be attending college between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. * 2022-23 FAFSA form if you will be attending college between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. * Both: If you will be attending college during both time periods and haven't completed your 2021-22 FAFSA form yet, complete that first, wait one to three days until it processes , then go back in and complete the 2022-23 FAFSA form. TIP: If you are given the option to complete a "renewal" FAFSA form, choose that option. When you choose to renew your FAFSA form, your demographic information from the previous year will roll over into your new application, saving you some time.

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Create a save key * Unlike the FSA ID, the save key is meant to be shared. A save key is a temporary password that allows you and your parent(s) to "pass" the FAFSA form back and forth. It also allows you to save the FAFSA form and return to it later. This is especially helpful if you and your parent are not in the same place. * Watch the "FAFSA and FSA ID Tips for Parents" video

Remember, the FAFSA form is not a onetime thing. You must complete a FAFSA form for each school year.

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Fill out the Student Demographics section This is information such as your name, date of birth, etc. If you have completed the FAFSA form in the past or if you log into the FAFSA form with your FSA ID, a lot of your personal information will be prepopulated to save you time. Make sure you enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. (That's right, no nicknames.)

Parents/Guardians: Remember that the FAFSA form is the student's application, not yours. When the FAFSA form says "you" or "your," it's referring to the student (unless otherwise noted). Pay attention to whether you're being asked for student or parent information.

List the schools to which you want your FAFSA information sent In the School Selection section, add every school you're considering, even if you haven't applied or been accepted yet. It doesn't hurt your application to add more schools; colleges can't see the other schools you've added. In fact, you don't even have to remove schools if you later decide not to apply or attend. If you don't end up applying or getting accepted to a school, the school can just disregard your FAFSA form. But, you can remove schools at any time to make room for new schools. You can add up to 10 schools at a time. If you're applying to more than 10 schools, here's what you should do. Answer the dependency status questions In the dependency status section, you'll be asked a series of specific questions to determine whether you are required to provide parent information on the FAFSA form. The dependency guidelines are set by Congress and are different from those used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Even if you live on your own, support yourself, and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. If you are determined to be a dependent student, you'll be required to report information about your parent(s). If you're determined to be an independent student, you won't have to provide parent information and you can skip the next step.

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Fill out the Parent Demographics section This is where your parent(s) will provide basic demographic information. Remember that it doesn't matter if you don't live with your parent(s); you still must report information about them if you were determined to be a dependent student in the step above.

Start by figuring out who counts as your parent on the FAFSA form.

Determine who takes the parent role in the FAFSA form using this graphic.

* Read specific guidance about reporting your parents' information as a dependent student. * What to do if you are not able to provide parent info due to special circumstances.

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Supply your financial information Here is where you and your parent(s) (if applicable) will provide your financial information. This step is incredibly simple if you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). The IRS DRT allows you to import your IRS tax information into the FAFSA form with just a few clicks. Using this tool also may reduce the amount of paperwork you need to provide to your school. So if you're eligible, use it!

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You can easily transfer your tax information into your FAFSA form using the IRS DRT.

To access the tool, indicate that you've "already completed" taxes on the student or parent finances page. If you're eligible, you'll see a "LINK TO IRS" button. Choose that option and follow the prompts.

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Link to the IRS DRT to easily incorporate your income tax information into the FAFSA form.

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Sign and submit your FAFSA form You're not finished with the FAFSA form until you (and your parent, if you're a dependent student) sign it. The quickest and easiest way to sign your FAFSA form is online with your FSA ID. Note: If you (the student) logged in to the FAFSA form with your FSA ID at the beginning, you won't need to provide it again on this page. But, if you're a dependent student, your parent will still need to sign before you can completely submit.

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Sign and Submit Tips:

* If you or your parent forgot your FSA ID username or password, you can retrieve it. * Make sure you and your parent don't mix up your FSA IDs. This is one of the most common errors we see, and why it's extremely important for each person to create his or her own FSA ID and not share it with anyone. * Make sure the parent who is using his or her FSA ID to sign the FAFSA form chooses the right parent number from the drop-down menu. If your parent doesn't remember whether he or she was listed as Parent 1 or Parent 2, he or she can go back to the parent demographics section to check. * Here's what you should do if you get an error saying that your FSA ID information doesn't match the information provided on the FAFSA form. * If you have siblings, your parent can use the same FSA ID to sign FAFSA forms for all of their dependents. Your parent can also transfer his or her information into your sibling's application by choosing the option provided on the FAFSA confirmation page.

The FAFSA form allows you to continue with state applications or for your parents to complete it for multiple dependents.

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* We recommend signing the FAFSA form with an FSA ID because it's the fastest way to get your FAFSA form processed. However, if you and/or your parent are unable to sign the FAFSA form electronically with an FSA ID, you can mail in a signature page. From the sign and submit page, select "Other options to sign and submit" and then choose "Print A Signature Page." Just keep in mind that your FAFSA form will take longer to process if you go this route.

Don't forget to sign and submit the FAFSA form.

I'm finished. What's next? Congrats on finishing! You're one step closer to getting money for college. With the hard part over, check out this page to learn what you should do next.

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SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PREP CHECKLIST Inceptia Available at https://inceptia.fyi/GA4PSrChecklist

Wondering how to stay on track this year while preparing for college? This seasonal checklist will help you keep tabs every step of the way.

STUDENTS ALL YEAR

F Work hard all the way to graduation - second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility. F Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

FALL

F As soon as possible after its October 1 release, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® ), at studentaid.gov, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may require. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February. F After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. This document lists your answers to the questions on your FAFSA and gives you some basic information about your aid eligibility. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor. F If you haven't done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require. F Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES! F Well before your college application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit the required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you're applying. F Complete any last scholarship applications.

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WINTER/SPRING

Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

F

F Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges' financial aid offers. F Contact a school's financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what - they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit. F When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

TO EXPLORE:

F Understand the FAFSA better by watching the FAFSA videos at www.YouTube.com/ FederalStudentAid. F Follow or like the office of Federal Student Aid at https://twitter.com/FAFSA and https://www.facebook.com/FederalStudentAid to get regular financial aid tips. F Make informed decisions about student loans; the following resources are important at this point: F Federal Versus Private Loans F Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students

REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, ask your school counselor about getting the fee waived.

* 25 *

PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO DO:

F Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA. F Make sure your child's personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For tips, read Federal Student Aid and Identity Theft. F Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses. F Understand the benefits of federal student loans. F Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing "What should I consider when taking out federal student loans?" with him or her. F Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered you or your child Direct PLUS Loans, the Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students and Federal Student Loans: Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents booklets might be useful to you.

For more FAFSA help from Inceptia, check out these additional resources we've created to help you before, during and after FAFSA completion:

FAFSA Process

F

FAFSA Deadlines

F

FAFSA Checklist

F

FAFSA Common Mistakes

F

Updating Your FAFSA

F

FAFSA Resources

F

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PRO TIPS FOR FINANCIAL AID

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HOW TO GET A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT FOR FINANCIAL AID By Anna Helhoski You might need to request a professional judgment from your school if your current finances are not accurately reflected on your financial aid application. When you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, your prior-prior year tax information is pulled into the application. For example for the 2021-22 school year application, 2018 tax information is pulled. It's used to determine how much financial aid you will receive. But if your family's finances are different now than they were two years ago, then you could be entitled to more need-based financial aid, such as a Pell Grant. To do so, you'll need to contact your college (or prospective school) and ask for a professional judgment. What is a professional judgment? A professional judgment considers your unique circumstances in a way the FAFSA does not. It's the path to getting a more accurate assessment of the amount of money your family can contribute toward your education (also known as Expected Family Contribution) so that financial aid administrators can adjust the data on your FAFSA that affects that total.

All professional judgments are made on an individual basis and only for special circumstances.

You'll have to contact your college (or prospective school) to get the process started. There's no fee, but you'll have to provide documentation to back up your claim of a special circumstance, such as unemployment information or medical bills. If you apply to multiple colleges, you'll need to contact each financial aid office and move through the process at every school.

Once the financial aid administrator at each school makes a decision, it is final. There is no possible appeal.

* 28 *

What to do if you need more financial aid If the professional judgment is unsuccessful, or if you need more money to fill a payment gap, you have a few options, in this order: * Scholarships: Look for scholarships from your state or private organizations. You can use this tool from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators or the Department of Labor's scholarship search tool. * Federal student loans: You've already submitted the FAFSA, which is the key to borrowing federal loans. Accept all direct subsidized loans (they don't grow interest while you're not making payments) before taking direct unsubsidized loans. There are limits to federal student loans so you might need additional funds. * Private student loans: Your last resort is private student loans from banks or online lenders. If you don't have any credit history or income, you'll need a co-signer who does. Compare rates from multiple lenders to find the least expensive option. If you do have to borrow to help pay for school, a good guideline is to take on a loan that has a payment of no more than 10% of your forecast monthly take-home pay after you graduate. Use a college debt affordability calculator to estimate payments.

Anna Helhoski is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.

The article How to Get a Professional Judgment for Financial Aid originally appeared on NerdWallet on October 8, 2020.

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HOW TO SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, NOT GET LOST IN SPAM By Ryan Lane Scholarship search websites promise students access to millions of awards totaling billions in free money for college. All you need is an email address to use sites like Fastweb, Cappex and Unigo. But once you provide it, scholarship listings aren't the only things you'll receive. "[You] are going to get a lot of spam," says Monica Matthews, creator of the website how2winscholarships.com. "You are going to be inundated."

Don't let a barrage of emails deter you from signing up - or sticking with - a scholarship website, though.

You don't have to repay scholarships, making them the best way to pay for college. You can win private awards before you even know where you'll go to college. And giving a scholarship site some basic data can simplify your search by identifying potential matches.

Here's how to use these tools to get more than just marketing emails.

Decide whether to opt out Scholarship sites let you opt out of email communications. But you may not want to unsubscribe from everything. Fastweb, which has helped students find scholarships since 1995, lets you pick specific communications when you register. That way, you'll receive messages about award deadlines but not part-time jobs, for example. "Our aim is to keep students informed," says Kathryn Knight Randolph, Fastweb's associate content editor.

* 30 *

Other scholarship sites may feature more general communication preference choices. Even then, deleting messages as they arrive can make more sense than opting out altogether.

"Let it come in and at least take a quick glance," says Marianne Ragins, publisher of ScholarshipWorkshop.com. "Sometimes, it might be something good."

But even if you opt out of emails, personal information like your address or phone number can still be sold to third parties. Look for an opt-in addressing this when you register and check the website's privacy policy to understand how it handles your personal information and your rights.

Create a dedicated email Providing an email is the price of doing business with many scholarship search engines.

"Our service is free," Randolph says. "With that comes working with advertisers and people who want to market to students."

That doesn't mean you have to give them your primary email address.

Instead, create an email account solely for scholarship mail. It will keep marketers from your main inbox and help you track your applications. Matthews recommends using "something clean" for your scholarship email, like your first and last name with an additional number, symbol or dash if needed. Be sure to check this account's spam folder. Important messages like acceptance notices from scholarship providers could end up there by accident. Use a site that doesn't require registration The scholarship sites that don't require an email are unlikely to save your results or send you reminders, but you'll avoid marketing messages. To see if you prefer to not share your email, try sites such as CareerOneStop from the U.S. Department of Labor and the College Board's Scholarship Search. Ideally, you'll use both kinds of sites, registered and not, and multiple scholarship search engines. "Five is a good place to start," says Kristina Ellis, creator of CollegeNinja.com. "You don't want to get too overwhelmed."

Avoid websites that charge a fee, since there are plenty of free choices.

* 31 *

Evaluate awards wisely Some scholarships may be more likely to lead to spam - or be outright scams.

Never pay for awards. And be wary of applications that require information like a Social Security number, says Shauna Grant, financial aid director at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

"If it feels invasive, put the brakes on," Grant says.

Ragins says to know what you're getting into if you enter sweepstakes, for example. These scholarships may not be scams - you can win money - but their primary goal is collecting information to sell.

"If you're not prepared to have your name put in a marketing bucket, then don't do it," she says.

Don't rely on websites alone Scholarship search sites are a great way to find awards, but they shouldn't be your only strategy. Consider the following tactics as well: * Look locally. Visit your high school guidance counselor or college financial aid office to find awards from local organizations or businesses, as well as your state. * Google it. Use searches that include your interests, potential majors, year in school and other details. * Read scholarship books. Check your library for recent editions of titles like "The Ultimate Scholarship Book" and "Scholarships, Grants & Prizes."

Ryan Lane is a writer at NerdWallet.

The article How to Search for Scholarships, Not Get Lost in Spam originally appeared on NerdWallet on October 21, 2020.

* 32 *

COLLEGE-BOUND GRADS COULD EXIT WITH $38K STUDENT LOAN DEBT By Erin El Issa A 2021 high school graduate who will depend on student loans to pay for college could expect to borrow $38,147 for their bachelor's degree, according to a new NerdWallet analysis. Around 45% of 2021 high school grads may enroll in four-year colleges, based on prior years' enrollment data. NerdWallet's analysis of the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, shows that: * 45% of these enrollees would take on student loan debt. * It will take them about five years, on average, to get a bachelor's degree. * Assuming they relied on loans to pay for each of the five years, borrowers could face a post-graduation debt load of more than $38,000.

For this analysis, we limited our scope to four-year public colleges and universities. Private institutions tend to be costlier and may have a higher number of borrowers than public institutions.

Projected annual student borrowing Average annual loan growth per student slowed around 2010, and we used that slower annual growth to calculate potential student loan debt loads for 2021 high school graduates. Assuming five years in pursuit of a bachelor's degree, we estimate that a student relying on student loans will graduate with $38,147 in debt.

Source: NerdWallet analysis of data from the NCES, including average student loan amounts in constant dollars for four-year public institutions. Data from 2000-01 through 2018-19 were provided; data for 2020-2026 is NerdWallet projections. For 2000 through 2014, the NCES only provided data for academic years 2000-01, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2013-14.

* 33 *

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Below is the full set of Common App essay prompts for 2021-2022.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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What is Common App?

Each year, more than 1 million students apply to more than 1,000 Common App member colleges worldwide through our online college application platform. Learn more about applying through our first-year application by following our step-by-step guide below.

Create a Common App account

Filling out your application takes time.

And if you have to keep interrupting your progress to find information, like a certificate for a continuing education course or the address of your last internship, it can take even longer. Get a head start by collecting this information before you begin.

A list of your activities, work, and family responsibilities

You can share your interests and who you are outside of the classroom in the activities section. You can share information about things like work, hobbies, clubs, and community engagement. And don't forget, family responsibilities can be important to share as well. This is the place to show colleges what makes you unique!

Creating a Common App account is easy and should only take a few minutes.

You can create a Common App account even if you don't plan on applying for another few months or another few years. You can answer questions in the Common App tab and build a college list at any time.

Create your account and choose your student type

If you haven't yet attended college, select "first-year student"

If you have college credits from dual enrollment high school courses, you should still select "first-year student"

If you have already attended 1 or more colleges after graduating high school, select "transfer student". We also have a separate transfer student guide to help you out.

Create new login credentials. Colleges may need to get in touch with you during the application process, so be mindful of which email address you choose. Sometimes your high school address may filter out these emails, so consider using a personal email address. When choosing an email address, be sure to use one that:

You check regularly

Does not use inappropriate language

You will have access to after you graduate from high school

Complete your registration information

We will need some basic information about you like your name, home address, phone number, and date of birth.

Be sure to use your legal name as it appears on official school documents and standardized tests. This will make sure colleges can match documents to the correct person.

At the end, you will adjust your communication preferences and accept the Common App privacy policy.

Select "create account" and you're done!

Account rollover

Once you've created your account and explored the colleges that accept the Common App, you're ready to start adding colleges.

The College Search tab is where you will search for and add the colleges you want to apply to. If you have a school in mind you can search by name. If you want to keep exploring, you can use the more filters button. Some filters include:

State or country

Distance from a zip code

Enrollment term

Application deadline

Application fees*

Writing requirements

Standardized testing policy

Recommendation requirement

Adding a college is easy! You may add a college using the add button in the search results list. You can also select a college and add them using the "Add to My Colleges" button from their info screen.

Once you've added colleges, you can see them on your Dashboard and in your My Colleges tab. Keep in mind you may only add up to 20 colleges. You may adjust your list of colleges at any time. Once you've submitted, you will not be able to remove those schools from your My Colleges list.
* While some colleges may charge an application fee, others have no fee to apply. And, many will offer fee waivers under certain circumstances, including financial need, veteran status, and more.

Fee Waiver

A request to the college to remove the application fee. Using either the Common App fee waiver, which your counselor must confirm, or a college-specific fee waiver, you will not be required to pay the fee to submit your application.

Coed

Coed is a term used to describe a college or university that offers the integrated education of male and female students in same environment.

All colleges need things like official school forms. Many colleges will also ask for letters of recommendation.

Counselors, teachers, and recommenders will submit these kinds of forms on your behalf. Here are the types of recommenders you can invite in the Common App.

Every college gets to choose their own recommendation requirements. You can find more details on each college's "College Information" page.

If you're planning to apply this school year, you can start inviting recommenders. If you don't plan on applying until next school year or later, skip this step for now.

How to invite and assign recommenders:

From the My Colleges tab select a college and open their "Recommenders and FERPA" section.

If you have not done so already, you will need to complete the FERPA Release Authorization.

Invite recommenders using the invite button from each section. You may also use the "Invite Recommenders" button at the top.

Select the type of invitation you would like to send. For each invitation you will need information like their name and email address.

After you add a recommender, you can view their info using the Manage Recommenders button.

Note that teachers, parents, and other recommenders will not receive an email invitation until you assign them to a college. To assign these recommenders, go to their section within this screen. Select their name from the dropdown and use the assign button.

If your high school uses Naviance or another partner software, you will not invite your counselor or teachers here. There will be instructional text on this page explaining what to do next. You will still add other recommenders and advisors using the steps above.

In general, each college has their own recommendation requirements. For example, one college may need two teacher recommendations. Some colleges may not want any teacher recommendations. Colleges can also determine what kinds of other recommenders they want. Some may allow for any recommender type, whereas others only allow an employer recommendation.

It's important to stay organized as you work on your applications.

Each college needs you to complete common questions and add counselor. Beyond that their applications vary. Each college can determine their unique requirements for:

Deadlines

Application Fees

Personal Essay

Courses & Grades

Test Policy

Portfolio

Writing Supplements

Recommendations

Here are some places where you can find each college's specific requirements:

Explore Colleges

Each college's Explore Colleges profile provides lots of information about the college. You can find details on application information, campus culture, scheduling visits, and more.

Requirements Grid

The requirements grid is a comprehensive PDF that lists all the colleges that use the Common App and their requirements. You can also find the grid within the application.

Writing Requirements by College

We maintain a list of all Common App colleges and their essay prompts. This resource will help as you begin planning your essays. For more help on planning essays, check out our essay planning worksheet.

Account rollover

You can save answers to Common App tab questions year over year. So you can get started on things like your personal essay or the activities section at any time.

Responses to questions in your My Colleges do not stay year over year. Only get started on things like college-specific questions, writing supplements, or portfolios if you intend to apply this school year. For more info, check out ouraccount rollover FAQ .

Sometimes writings essays can feel like the biggest part of your application. With a little bit of planning, organizing, and drafting, we can help you make this task more manageable.

As you work on your applications you can find essays or short answer questions in three sections:

College-specific questions

Many colleges include short answer questions or essay prompts within this section. You can find specific information about each college's individual writing prompts here.

Counselor tip

Submission is a three-step process:
1) Reviewing your application.
2) Paying the application fee (if applicable).
3) Submitting your application.

Get ready to begin your journey

Walk through the application with us before you apply.

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application guide for first-year students

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Application guide for first-year students

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College application guide for first-time students applying to college with Common App.

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