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Do Now:

Directions: Match the post-secondary credential/degree with its definition. It is OK to guess!

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Key Takeaway

Different post-secondary degrees will lead to different career pathways.

Word Bank
*Post-secondary = after high school

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Nationally, ~80% of jobs that pay over $55,000 a year require some sort of education/credential that extends past high school.

�Does this fact surprise you? Why or why not?

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Vocational Certification

Provides an intensive, focused training that prepares learners for work in a specific trade.

Duration: A few months - multiple years (depending on the program)

May require: Apprenticeship (supervised, paid training)

Keep in mind: May not accept financial aid, may need to pay out of pocket

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Associate’s Degree

Granted after a two-year course of study by a community/junior college.

Many hands-on degrees (similar to vocational programs)

You may qualify for financial aid (free money from the government)

Good place to start off if your GPA is low

AAS = terminal community college degree, usually for a hands-on program

AA/AS = degree that lets you transfer into a 4 year program

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Bachelor’s Degree

This degree is given by a college upon completion of an undergraduate studies program, usually takes 4 years to complete.

You may qualify for financial aid (free money from the government)
Likely to earn 40% more over your lifetime than someone w/o the degree
Lower rate of unemployment on average than someone w/o the degree
Large time commitment: 4 years

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Different degrees =

Different career opportunities

in the same field

Human Services

What stands out as you review the graphic?

Is any of this information surprising?

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Carpentry and Construction

What stands out as you review the graphic?

Is any of this information surprising?

Different degrees =

Different career opportunities

in the same field

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WHY is important that we understand what type of degree we want BEFORE we start our post-secondary applications?

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Mentor Connection

1. Share your high and low from this week with your mentor.

My high from this week was…

My low from this week was…

2. Which degree type are you the most interested in? How does it relate to the career you want? If you are unsure, you can ask your mentor to help you plan backwards from your career interest to the degree that might be the best fit!

The degree type I am the most interested in is… because…

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Extend

1) Go to the website: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

2) Click on a career field that interests you.

3) Review the education level needed for different careers in the field

4) Jot down the careers that interest you on your worksheet

You can click on the job titles for more info on each career