Resources to Help High School Graduates Get Ready for What Comes Next

Posted on the 21 June 2016 by Jessica Freeman @JessFreeman30

There is a part of every student's life where big decisions regarding their future have to be made. Interestingly, this choice often comes at the same time as the graduation parties in high school, the ceremony and the planning of the summer vacation.
This can be a handful for any high school student out there, and making a life-altering decision can truly be an overwhelming challenge at this time.

The point that some decide to continue their education and some look for career does not make it easier for any high-school student and this is precisely why we have gathered some recourses that should help students plan the next step of their lives.

1. Career and Major

Seniors already have an idea about the career or the major they will choose after high school ends, but having a long-term plan is never a bad choice.

  • 240-question career quiz is a career test that is to be found on GoodTherapy.org.
  • MAPP tests for career choice are a great pointer to the path one should chose when considering their future occupation. There is a free version of this recourse to be found online.
  • Major and Career Search directory is an amazing resource for college planning, created by BigFuture.
  • MappingYourFuture combines ideas for planning both career and college. Additionally, a planning of your finances is also included as an option.
  • "Life After High School," is a nice recourse for students, written by Annie Murphy Paul and posted in

2. Scholarships and finances

One of the most important and common issues to consider when studying is the finances. Lots of students nowadays are in need of financial planning guidelines and scholarships in order to continue their education after finishing high school.

  • Fastwebis a website filled with information that can be informative and helpful for students that want to continue their education in college. This site offers many resources for scholarships applications, financial aid and loans.
  • com is a spot where you can find information about financial planning when choosing to go to college.
  • "Summer Budget for High School Graduates," is a blog published by the Pathway to Financial Success blog.'
  • "The Best Budgeting Calculators for College Students," is written by Reyna Gobel and published inMintLife
      There are several resources for both students and their parents to be found her These guidelines are the work of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors.

3. Living away from home

When finishing high school, students are often faced with the challenge of having to move from home. Some move to a dorm or an apartment, but the difficulty of living by yourself always remains the same and students often need some time and help to prepare and get used to the change.

4. Resume creation

If you are in senior year or are soon to be there, you have probably already been introduced to what resume creation should consist of. Perhaps you have practiced writing one or even had such a task, but writing a resume that will help you enter the workforce or continue your education can really be a challenge.

  • Adventures in Education is the place to visit if you want to have a look at some great resume writing resources and ideas that will help you prepare for a job interview.
  • StudyPoint is a platform that introduces both parents and their high school children to the strategies that one should use in order to build a good resume.
  • The "Help Wanted: Professional Resume Writing" is a course that both students and their teachers can use in order to learn more about writing a resume. This course is provided by ReadWriteThink.

5. Getting ready to go to college or start working

The summer after high school usually seems as the shortest summer of all. Why? Because as time for work or college comes, so do the worries.

The ending of high school means widening horizons and making important decisions about what should come next. This is a decision that has to be made carefully because it will shape the life of every student, whether it is in terms of career choice or education continuation. The points above are some very useful resources for students who face the challenge of choosing the next big step in their lives.