College Planning Timeline

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Online Resources

Georgia Futures

College Board Big Futures

College Scorecard

Occupational Outlook Handbook

My Next Move

GA Futures Career Exploration

MyMajors

GA Hot Careers to 2028

Georgia DOL Occupational Trends

In the past couple of decades, the opportunities available to students to make a respectable living after high school have expanded far beyond just a four-year college or university experience. We urge our students to consider ALL options, encouraging them to focus on the skills, interests, abilities, and lifestyle they are best suited for. Regardless of what path a student chooses, we encourage students to seek education and training in anything, whether it be painting, plumbing, teaching, nursing, law, etc. Become a master of your craft! Below you will find basic information regarding various post-secondary options available to your student: 

Four-Year/Traditional College/University

Four-year colleges and universities are where students can earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). The fields of study offered at these institutions can vary significantly. Universities also have a broad range of schools within them, such as a school of business, school of engineering, or school of health sciences, for example. Some focus on more specific sets of majors like STEM-related fields (such as Georgia Tech or MIT), or Fine Arts-related fields (such as SCAD or a conservatory school). 

While we often refer to these schools as "four-year schools," it is important to note that some schools may have programs that require five years or more to complete a degree. A good example of this is the Architecture program at Kennesaw State University. Students are also not required to complete a degree in four years, however some college majors have time limits as to how long you have to complete the degree before having to retake courses. 

The admission criteria for these schools vary greatly, so it is important to utilize the schools' websites to determine whether or not a school would be a good fit for you. Ultimately, if you are interested in a four-year college or university, we encourage you to start researching and gathering information about the schools you may be interested in so that you may make an informed decision as to where to apply. 

Technical School

Some students may express interest in a particular occupation and would like to start working as soon as possible. Technical schools afford the opportunity for students to gain skills for employment in a more hands-on environment. Technical schools generally offer three options: 

Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC): TCC programs are generally less than a year in duration and have strictly program-related courses and training

Diploma: Diploma programs aim to broaden a student's knowledge base beyond what a TCC offers and typically take about a year and a half to complete. They have program-related courses as well as some general core classes. 

Associates Degree (AS): An Associate's degree is the highest level of education a student can earn at a technical school. This degree offers industry-specific instruction as well as a higher number of academic courses. Students may also use this option to obtain a General Associate's degree to transfer to a four-year college or university. 

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships afford students the opportunity to learn a skill or trade through on-the-job training while getting paid! That's right...you can get paid to learn! Currently, the average starting pay for apprenticeships is $15/hour, and wages continue to increase as students gain more knowledge and improve their skills. 

Military

Comprised of five branches, the Military offers a variety of training and career opportunities, consisting of both active-duty and part-time opportunities. Full-time participants typically live on base or in military housing, and they can also live on ships or in homes off-base. Part-time service members include the Reserve and National Guard, and these members train one weekend per month and two weeks per year. Contrary to what we assume from what we see in the media, there are plenty of options in this field in which students aren't "fighting on the front lines." Many of these opportunities allow students to gain an education or skill in which they can be a supportive force for the Military, such as a nurse, electrician, engineer, physician, accountant, and much much more. Please see the section below on Military for more information. 

Overview

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) Test are the two main college entrance exams are the two main college entrance exams colleges use. All Georgia schools accept both the SAT and ACT equally. Most schools in the country accept either test, although there are some schools that do prefer one test to the other. Always check with the college or university you are interested in to review their testing requirements. 

When and how many times should I take the test(s)?

It is a good idea to consider testing in the spring of your junior year and/or when you are close to completing Algebra II. If you are applying early action or early decision anywhere, you should aim to obtain your best score(s) by the June test date of your senior year.

Generally, we recommend students take each of these tests at least once, as many students prefer one test to the other. Should you wish to improve upon your test score, we recommend you focus on improving the score for the test in which you were most comfortable. Ideally, you should take your preferred test 2-3 times.

Comparison

In recent years, the commonalities between the SAT and ACT have increased. However, there are still differences between the two. Click here to view a comparison chart for the two tests.

Dates

Click here for SAT dates

Click here for ACT dates (be sure to scroll down)

Fee Waivers

Students who are currently enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program qualify for fee waivers for the SAT and ACT. Fee waivers may be used up to 2 times for each test. Each fee waiver also includes four college application fee waivers. Students interested in receiving a fee waiver should see Mrs. Rodriguez in the counseling office. 

SAT Subject Test

SAT Subject Tests are used to measure knowledge and ability for a specific subject. Please refer to your colleges and universities of interest to determine whether a subject test is appropriate for you. 

SAT partners with Khan Academy to provide free, personalized test prep for all students.

Please click below or here for more information about this opportunity: 

SAT Test Prep Flyer

Naviance is a tool that is now part of a county-wide initiative to streamline the college application process. Students will still use certain programs such as Common App to begin the college application process. However, Naviance will take the place of these programs for submitting supporting documentation to the colleges you are applying to. For example, you might begin the main application process to a college via Common App, but Common App is going to prompt you to access your Naviance account to submit things such as recommendation requests, transcripts, school profile, and other supporting documents. 

Naviance offers many different options to support students in the search for colleges, careers, and to complete college applications. Please see the help videos below for information on how to utilize Naviance's features!

Building a list of colleges I'm applying to

Editing colleges I'm applying to

Letter of recommendation requests

Common App registration and account matching - IMPORTANT

Naviance student tour and overview

Students wishing to pursue options at a Technical School have many amazing opportunities available to them! Something you may not know - students wishing to attend technical schools have access to state scholarships! HOPE Grant is available to students wishing to pursue an education at a technical college, and there is NOT a GPA requirement. HOPE Grant is similar to HOPE Scholarship in that it doesn't have to be repaid, and it pays for 80-90% of the student's academic tuition. Once in college, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to retain the grant. HOPE Career Grant is also available IN ADDITION to HOPE Grant for students majoring in one of 17 high-demand career areas. This Career Grant offers additional funding to offset more remaining costs and fees that weren't covered by the HOPE Grant. For these 17 high-demand career areas, students ultimately attend college for free, minus cost of living! 

Information about HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant

Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) 17 high-demand career areas information

Gwinnett Tech Programs

Technical College Systems of Georgia Website

Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for students to gain skills and knowledge at no cost while also being paid! The average apprenticeship wage STARTS at $15/hr and increases as the years of experience in the program increases. Students interested in learning more about apprenticeship programs should check out the links below:

Georgia Department of Labor Apprenticeship Information

Major apprenticeship programs in Georgia - This document contains links to 17 apprenticeship programs in the state of Georgia.  

Build Your Future - Building a career in the construction industry

Apprenticeships through Technical College System of Georgia - Some apprenticeship programs can be completed while enrolled at a technical school

There are several options for students who are considering a military service career.

ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) 

Learn about your options

Types of Service