What should you be doing to get ready for life after high school? All of the above? Thinking about careers? Thinking about applying for college? Thinking about paying for college?

The Office of Financial Aid and the Career Services Center are here to assist you in making positive, self-aware, life-changing decisions regarding college. Therefore we will provide information regarding:Office of Financial Aid Career Services Center Financing Your College Education -- Grants -- Scholarships -- Loans -- Other Resources -- On-Campus Employment -- Off-Campus Employment Choosing What to Study in College -- Gaining work experience before graduation -- Calculating how much you will earn after graduation -- Knowing employment trends in your major In Just A Few Steps…

Step 1: Getting Here Step 2: Staying Here Step 3: Leaving Here The road to degree attainment and career fulfillment is not always a straight line or without detours. However, we will provide a map to your success by guiding you through three steps.

Paying for College Choosing What to Study Self-Assessment

Home Choosing What To Study Back Cleveland State uses The Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine your eligibility for loans, grants/scholarships, and work- study awards.The Free Application for Federal Student Aid Loans: Subsidized VS. Unsubsidized Loans StudentLoans.gov (Repayment Calculators, Plans, and More)StudentLoans.gov Scholarships & Grants: Fastweb On-Campus Jobs: CSU Student Employment Federal Work-Study

Home Continued…Paying for College Your Academic Advising Office My Next Move O*Net Online Occupational Outlook Handbook CSU Admissions FocusCareers MyPlan Resources to Help You Choose a Major: What can I do with a major in…? How much can I anticipate earning after graduating from college?

DISCOVER One valuable way to begin career exploration process is by taking a self-assessment. These tools can help you clarify your values, skills, personality, and interests and may provide insights in identifying major and occupational options. These instruments may: Serve as a good starting point for clarifying your career direction. Indicate some career areas that might be a good fit for you. Provide new insights or confirm things you already know about yourself. Help organize self-information so it can be more easily translated into potential career options Home Continued…Choosing A Major

Action Plan: What should you be doing each year to guarantee success? A Few Reminders

DEVELOP Freshman Year - Inquiry and Awareness 1.Consider college as preparation for your life. 2.Enroll in core courses with assistance from your advisors. 3.Enroll in Career Orientation Course to identify your interests, strengths, skills, abilities, & values and to explore the world of work. 4.Make a tentative selection of a major. 5.Begin to consider possible career choices meet with Career Coordinator. 6.Learn about resources available on campus. 7.Get to know faculty, counselors, and administrators. Summer vacation: Get work experience to develop interpersonal skills, help finance your education, and build responsible work habits. Volunteer if you are unable to work. Home Sophomore YearBack Make sure you stay on track each year by following these check lists!

DEVELOP Sophomore Year - Assessment and Exploration 1.Complete intro courses in your prospective major. 2.Continue self-assessment and develop professional work skills. 3.Learn about the world of work and explore occupations by working in a co-op or internship. 4.Research occupations: training and skills needed, demand for jobs, alternatives by working with Career Coordinator. 5.Conduct informational interviews with people in your field of interest. 6.Choose an appropriate major working with Academic Advisor. Summer vacation: Gain exposure to the world of work through employment or volunteer experience. Utilize these experiences to further develop your work-related skills and improve your self-confidence. Home Junior YearFreshman Year

DEVELOP Junior Year - Testing Career Decisions 1.Check your attitude toward your major/career - see you Career Coordinator. 2.Study your major in-depth with courses in your field. 3.Join student clubs and student chapters of professional organizations in your chosen field. 4.Gain relevant experience through an Internship or Co-operative educational experience. 5.Continue to get to know faculty, counselors, and administrators - they make serve as references later on. 6.Take electives in other areas to enhance your qualifications. 7.Begin to investigate the role of graduate and professional school in your chosen career field, and plan your application timeline. Summer vacation: Secure employment or an internship related to your career goals. Use this experience to evaluate your career decision. Home Senior YearSophomore Year

DEVELOP Senior Year - Job Search/Graduate School Applications Complete the course requirements in your major. Plan your job search. Attend Career Services Life & Learning Workshops to brush up on job search skills, including resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job search strategies. Conduct a thorough job search campaign. Take advantage of On-Campus Interviewing and attend Employer Information Sessions on campus. Discuss opportunities with faculty and counselors. Choose the faculty, administrators, and/or employers you want to act as references. Develop a timetable for your career development after graduation. Remember that Career Services provides career assistance even after graduation Home RemindersJunior Year

JUMP START CAREER STUDENT EMPLOYMENT COOPERATIVE EDUCATION MOCK INTERVIEWS Home Continued…Back

Home Continued…Back REMEMBER! Renew your FAFSA each year on January 1 st.FAFSA Maintain satisfactory academic progress.satisfactory academic progress Utilize the FREE services offered by Cleveland State: Tutoring & Academic Support Services Writing Center Counseling Services

Home Continued…Back REMEMBER! When it comes to loans… ALL loans must be repaid, so utilize scholarships and grants (free money!) before you consider loans. If you do need to borrow, try to stick to Federal loans, as private loans usually have higher interest rates. Consider the starting rate for the career you intend to pursue after graduating. Is it enough to pay off your loans on top of living expenses? Calculate how much your monthly payment will be based on how much you borrow and compare it to how much you will be making.Calculatehow much you will be making Only take out loans to cover the cost of school and basic living expenses.

Home Continued…Back REMEMBER! At the end of the semester, Did you have money left over from your loan refunds or did you struggle? Make adjustments to how much you borrow next year, don’t just accept whatever is offered! However, you should also adjust your own personal budget. Mint is a great resource that pools all of your banking information so you can see in one place how much you’re really spending on coffee at those “study groups”.Mint If you have money left over, make a payment on your loans. It can save you hundreds of dollars if you make quarterly payments on your Unsubsidized loans, which are already accruing interest.

Home Continued…Back REMEMBER! Pay yourself first: when you get money, set aside a percentage in a savings account and forget that it is there so you won’t be tempted to spend it. Always be conscious of your lifestyle choices and the effect they have on your budget: bring a lunch from home, or invest in a coffee pot (a one-time $20-30 purchase) to save money on all of those pricey trips to the café! If you pay off a debt, continue to make those payments into your savings account – you’re already used to not having the money, so trick yourself into a good habit. Build up an emergency fund for those unexpected colds and doctor’s visits.

Home Continued…Back REMEMBER! Learn how credit scores are calculated and what you can do to improve yours. To get started, go to FICO.FICO Keep your credit rating high by learning how to properly use credit cards. Do NOT adopt a “pay it later” mentality. Pay your balances in full so that you do not get charged interest for having a balance each month. Get a credit report done quarterly, and provide as many numbers as you can for these reports so they are accurate. Avoid scams! There are many different kinds out there, but a good rule to follow is that if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Home Continued…Back Common Types of Scams: Financial aid scams Debt consolidation Pyramid schemes Erasing bad credit schemes Also avoid financial traps, such as rent-to-own and especially payday advancement loans. These are usually used to steal your money and/or social security number, the key to your identity. It is important that you keep a close eye on your credit rating and bank accounts so that you can react properly and quickly to identity theft.

Home Continued…Back Scams such as these are used to steal your private information, and then your identity. 30% of identity theft occurs in individuals under the age of 30, so here are some steps you can follow to make sure you aren’t one of them: Use secure passwords that are not easy to figure out. Keep personal papers in a lock box, or shred them if you plan to get rid of them. Do not give out personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call. Monitor your credit score. Check your bank accounts daily and react immediately to transactions you do not recognize.

Home Continued…Back By now you’re probably thinking that student loans and credit cards are bad news, but that is not the case. When handled properly, they’re actually a good way to build up your credit score, which is crucial to buying a house or car in the future. The most important thing to keep in mind is to not miss payments. It is also important to make good choices now, as they will benefit you in the long- run. Eat healthy foods and exercise to keep up your immune system and live a longer, healthier life so you can reap the full benefits of your college education.

Remember all of those good budgeting and saving habits you developed during college? DON’T STOP NOW! Put away a portion of every income that you receive. Have a budget for emergencies. Have enough money saved up that you could sustain yourself for at least a month or two if you unexpectedly lost your job. Constantly assess and adjust your budgets. Make healthy, smart choices about the food you eat and activities you spend your money on. Home Continued…Back

Your main focus now must be paying off your loans quickly without disrupting your day-to-day life. Ask yourself these questions: How many different student loans do you have? Are the loans consolidated? How much of your loan dept is subsidized? Unsubsidized? Who are the servicers of each loan? List their names and contact information. Do you know the interest rate on each loan? To find the answers to some of these questions: Try using the federal website to do some research. Review your student loan history and know what you owe, and become familiar with all the loan terms such as loan dates, loan amounts, cancelled, outstanding principal and consolidation.federal website Home Continued…Back

RESUMES JOB SEARCH IDEAS REVIEW STEPS Home Continued…Back

Opportunity Costs...And it Pays! Thinking about paying for college?