Who Do You Think You Are? Three Crucial Conversations for Coaching Teens to College and Career Success

Give your kids their greatest chance at success

Who Do You Think You Are? helps parents, school counselors, and administrators get teens thinking about?and interested in?their future careers. Success in college and beyond relies on thorough prior preparation; by identifying interests and passions early on, young people are better able to plan for the career they want by mapping out the academic path to support it. This book shows you how to guide teens along on this journey, and how to stick with them until they reach the goals they've set. From helping them discover just what it is they're interested in, to finding the institution that will help them flourish and setting out a clear "plan of attack," this book provides invaluable insight from an expert in student success. 

No one expects every student to have a definitive life plan by high school graduation, but having some idea of direction is critical. Nearly 3.3 million students will graduate high school this year, and most will head straight to college?but just 20 percent of those who pursue an associate?s degree complete within four years, and only 60 percent of those who pursue a bachelor's degree complete within six years. Even those who earn a degree may struggle to move from school to work. Those who do succeed have done so because they've planned their work and worked their plans. This book shows you how to help your child to be one of the success stories. 

• Map out an academic plan to support each kid?s field of interest
• Identify the best-fit institution to get them where they want to be
• Balance support and independence throughout your teen?s journey
• Help your child be prepared for college so they can succeed far beyond

Adults know that success in life comes from plenty of hard work and thorough preparation?but for kids in middle and high school, that lesson is just now beginning to hit home. Who Do You Think You Are? helps you guide them through the transition successfully, so they can come out the other side exactly where they want to be.

About the Authors ix

Acknowledgments xi

Part I Who Are You?

Chapter 1 How Do You Get Started? 3

How do you have the crucial conversations? How do the choices of career and college fit together?How do the courses you take in high school affect the options you have in life?

Chapter 2 What Are Your Interests and Strengths? 13

Who are you? What do you like to do? What do you care about? What do you do well? How do others see your strengths?

Chapter 3 What Does Work Mean to You? 25

How do you balance money and meaning? What kind of work would you find fulfilling? What kind of life do you envision for yourself?

Part II Where Are You Heading?

Chapter 4 Are You Ready for a Career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math? 37

Are you taking the right courses? Are you realistic about the requirements? Are you open to different career pathways (engineering, medicine, agriculture, business, information technology)? What special challenges and opportunities may be faced by women and minorities in STEM careers?

 Chapter 5 Can You Have a Good Career with a Degree in the Liberal Arts? 49

Liberal arts can help to develop many critical career skills and can be a springboard for many different careers. What are the challenges and opportunities of finding a place to start your career with a liberal arts degree?

 Chapter 6 Can You Have a Career Helping Others without Sacrificing Your Own Needs? 61

What are the rewards and realities of human services careers (medicine, social work, psychology, teaching)?

Chapter 7 Do You Want to Work in Business or Be in Business? 73

What are the primary business pathways (e.g.,management, finance, information technology, hospitality)? How does entrepreneurship work and feel in practice? Do you need a college education to pursue a career in business?

Chapter 8 Can You Make a Living as an Artist or Musician? 85

The odds of success in art, music, and other creative pursuits can be daunting, but how can you reframe assumptions about these careers to build a practical path?

Part III How Will You Get to Where You Want to Go?

 Chapter 9 Should You Consider a Career in Law or Criminal Justice? 97

There are many different paths to a successful career in law and criminal justice. What are some of the options?

Chapter 10 How Can You Try On Your Career Interests? 113

Do you know why it’s good to “try before you buy” when it comes to careers? How can you conduct career “experiments”?

Chapter 11 Is College Right for You? 127

What are the types of colleges, and where do you fit? How can you overcome your fears? Do you want to go straight to work? How can you hold on to your long-term goals if you need to go straight to  work? Is vocational education worth it? What about military careers?

Chapter 12 Can You Afford College? 141

Do you know the difference between the list price and the real price of college? How do you decide if a college is worth the cost? Will getting a degree pay off in the long run?

Chapter 13 Does It Matter Where You Go to College? 153

How do you find the best fit for you? How do you build a smart list of colleges for your applications? How do you make the most of college no matter where you go?

Chapter 14 Is Community College a Better Place to Start? 167

What is a 2+2 program, and what are the advantages? What are the upsides and downsides of starting in community college?

Chapter 15 Closing Thoughts 179
Additional Resources 181
Notes 185
Index 189

STEPHEN M. SMITH is CEO of Intellispark, an education technology company. He is vice chair of the board of College Possible, a member of the board of the National College Access Network, and a cofounder of Naviance. He previously served as president and chief product officer at Hobsons, where he focused on helping students achieve college and career readiness and success.

SHAUN FANNING is chief product officer at Intellispark and a cofounder of Naviance. He previously served as vice president of research and development at Hobsons, where he led new product initiatives focused on improving student success. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of roles in business analysis, finance, technology, marketing, and product management at AT&T and The Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters).