How to go:
What: College and Career 101
When: 6 to 8 p.m. today
Where: Springfield High School, 701 E. Home Road
Cost: Free
Any local teens getting ready to dive into the ocean of college applications, financial aid and job searches are welcome at a workshop tonight at Springfield High School aimed at helping students grades 7 through 12 and their parents navigate the waters.
College and Career 101 is a free event from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the high school, 701 E. Home Road, and is open to any interested Clark County residents.
Families can choose two of five sessions with college and career search experts that will run back-to-back for an hour each, said Susan McLaughlin, coordinator of college and career readiness for the district.
The sessions cover topics from finding the right college to how to pay for it.
In addition, students can use a mobile computer lab to get hands-on training with Naviance. The software platform for middle school and high school students includes a variety of personalized college and career readiness tools, including career interest surveys and resume builders.
Springfield City, Clark-Shawnee Local, Springfield-Clark County Career Technical Center and the Global Impact STEM Academy have a five-year contract with Naviance Inc. through the Straight A grant awarded to the consortium earlier this year.
Representatives from several area colleges and universities will attend to answer questions, including Clark State and Sinclair community colleges, and Wittenberg, Central State and Wright State universities.
Representatives from ITT Technical Institute and the Air Force will also be on hand.
“We also wanted to have representatives from trade schools for those students who are going to go straight into a job,” McLaughlin said.
The sessions available include:
•“Cheap Scholar’s Guide to Paying for College,” learn about scholarships, grants and financial aid with Doug Schantz of Wittenberg.
•“The Hidden Gems of Higher Education,” what colleges want and how students can market themselves with Dr. Pamela Ellis.
•“Road map to college,” what is needed to navigate the road to college with John Rogers of Wright State.
•“2-Year, 4-Year or Trade School? How do you decide?” Understanding college choices and how to find the right fit with Kristin Skiles of Clark State.
•“So You Think You’re Ready for College,” a session for potential college athletes with Mike Carter of Sinclair.
Dinner will be available in the Learning Cafe at the high school beginning at 5 p.m. The meal is free for SCSD students and $3 for everyone else.
Last year, the district presented a series of college and career workshops, but , McLaughlin said it has decided to just offer two, larger events this year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
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