By Allison Danielsen, Executive Director, BigFuture Careers and Partnerships at College Board
Reading time: Three minutes
This blog post is the first in a two-part series from BigFuture about supporting college and career pathways for students. Read the second part here.
“One size doesn’t fit all, especially in high school when you’re discovering yourself.”
That’s what Isabella, a rising student at Rhode Island College and enlistee in the Rhode Island Air National Guard, recently shared with educators, employers, and policy leaders. Isabella joined representatives from College Board’s BigFuture and three high school graduates for a conversation on planning for life after high school at Horizons, a platform hosted by Jobs for the Future.
The students on the panel shared their experiences after graduation, and it wasn’t surprising to hear they pursued different routes to future success. There are many ways to reach a fulfilling career, and these options are rapidly evolving to align with
the jobs of the future.
Today’s high school graduates are considering various options, with the majority taking a more direct path to careers than four-year college.
At BigFuture, we believe a successful career should be an attainable option for all students, regardless of the pathway they take.
BigFuture, the free online planning resource that helps students take the right first step after high school, is evolving to meet this reality so all students can connect to future opportunities. Accurate and comprehensive information about careers and
pathways can create meaningful impact at scale. But exposure to information alone isn’t enough. Organizations must create opportunities to hear from students, develop guidance that reflects students’ needs, and work together with students to ensure
they have the necessary support to succeed.
BigFuture is in conversations with millions of young people every year as they personalize a plan for their future. From exploring careers to planning and paying for college, students who use BigFuture provide ongoing feedback that is used to continuously
improve the program’s resources.
Key Drivers for Future Careers
With a better understanding of what drives high school students to make decisions about the future, those who serve and support young people can help them discover pathways that align to their interests, values, and skills, and build a plan to pursue
their goals.
“[I] was doing extracurricular activities, I did the morning announcements... [it] helped me gain a different perspective, help me find what I like to do, and my voice,” shared Isabella.
Isabella explored activities during high school that connected to her interests. Discovering those was important - and she’s not alone according to a survey that BigFuture commissioned of students pursuing various pathways after high school.
When it comes to careers, students are motivated by their passions (92%), salary information (91%), work-life balance (90%), and work environment and setting (88%). These should be top of mind when creating effective career navigation resources to increase
students’ awareness of career options. That’s why one million students have completed BigFuture Career Quiz. It matches their answers to 30 relevant careers
based on what they’ve shared. In fact, in another recent study of students who used BigFuture Career Quiz, 72% of students expressed interest in the careers suggested and 74% found them relevant.
With exploration underway, students can identify education or training options that are aligned to their goals, learn in-demand skills, and support long-term career success.
Caring Adults Play a Key Role
“My advice is to really talk to people, gain different perspectives from different audiences. Talking to people helped me figure out what is best for me, what pathway would be best," Isabella said.
And according to the BigFuture survey, all students, including those who haven’t started career planning, say they prefer to receive information from families and teachers. This summer, BigFuture connected with over 100 teachers nationwide to better understand
how to support their work. Not only do the free tools appeal, but educators exchanged many ideas about ways they are or plan to bring BigFuture into the classroom. Those ideas have led to new complementary resources that are simple to navigate and
use and connect students to personalized support.
A new school year is a chance to listen to students and create intentional opportunities that connect what they are learning with who they want to be and what they want to do later in life.
In doing so, young people can thrive not only as students, but as leaders, thinkers, and engaged citizens in the future.
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