High School (Grades 9-12)
Plan Your Future with Confidence
High school is the time to turn your interests into a plan. As you explore careers, prepare academically, apply for education and training programs, and make financial decisions, every year brings new opportunities to shape your future. Whether you're planning to attend college, complete an apprenticeship, join the military, or enter the workforce, ICAN provides resources to help you make informed decisions every step of the way.
Students, families, and school counselors all play an important role in the planning process. Use the resources below to stay on track and prepare for life after high school.
| Career Planning | College Planning | Financial Aid |
|---|---|---|
| High school is when career planning becomes more focused. Students research occupations, gain real-world experiences, explore career pathways, and connect their goals to the education or training needed for future success. | High school is when college planning becomes action. Students prepare academically, explore colleges and training programs, complete applications, and make informed decisions about their education after graduation. | High school is when financial planning becomes essential. Students and families prepare for the FAFSA, apply for scholarships, compare financial aid offers, and develop a plan to pay for education after high school. |
What Should You Focus On?
Families play an important role by encouraging exploration, supporting goal setting, and helping students stay on track without making the decisions for them. Regular conversations and involvement can help students build confidence as they prepare for life after high school.
Family Activities for High School Students
- Talk regularly about your student's career interests, education goals, and plans after high school.
- Encourage your student to explore all postsecondary pathways, including college, apprenticeships, military service, and entering the workforce.
- Review your student's four-year academic plan each year to ensure courses align with their goals.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences and meet with school counselors to discuss academic progress and future planning.
- Visit colleges, apprenticeship training centers, military recruiting offices, and local employers to learn about different opportunities.
- Encourage your student to participate in career fairs, college fairs, campus visits, job shadowing, internships, and volunteer experiences.
- Help your student build a résumé that includes school activities, leadership roles, work experience, volunteer service, and achievements.
- Discuss the cost of education and training, including financial aid, scholarships, grants, work-study, and student loans.
- Create a family plan for paying for education or training after high school and encourage your student to apply for scholarships throughout high school.
- Support your student as they prepare for admissions requirements, applications, essays, interviews, or enlistment processes.
- Encourage your student to develop important life skills such as budgeting, time management, self-advocacy, communication, and decision-making.
- Celebrate milestones along the way—from completing a college application or earning an industry credential to being accepted into a program or reaching a personal goal.
🧠Explore Careers & Build Your PlanDiscover careers that match your interests, research career pathways, and understand the education or training required to achieve your goals. Explore: |
📚 Prepare AcademicallyYour course selections, grades, and activities help prepare you for education and training after high school. Build a strong academic foundation while gaining experiences that support your future goals. Explore: |
🎓 Explore Education & TrainingLearn about colleges, apprenticeships, certificate programs, military service, and workforce training to find the pathway that's right for you. Explore: |
💰 Plan How You'll PayUnderstand college costs, complete the FAFSA, apply for scholarships, compare financial aid offers, and develop a financial plan for education after high school. Explore: |
🌟 Prepare for Life After High SchoolSuccess after graduation requires more than academics. Develop the personal, financial, and life skills needed to thrive in college, training programs, military service, or the workforce. Explore: |
Recommended Resources
| Career Planning | College Planning | Financial Aid | ICAN Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
Continue Your Journey
Graduation is just the beginning. Whether you're heading to college, beginning an apprenticeship, serving in the military, or starting your career, ICAN continues to provide resources to help you succeed after high school.
