Look2College Handbook

Look 2 College for 6th Graders

What do you want to be?

How will you get there?

How will you pay for it?

Think ABOUT…

Tired of people asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Wouldn’t it be great to answer them with an awesome career you have in mind? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

This “career wheel” shows six major career fields. There are many jobs you could pursue within each field.

Here are some in-demand careers in Nebraska:

- Soil & Plant Scientist - Environmental Engineer

- Loan Officer - Financial Manager

- Software Developer - Computer Support Specialist

- Construction Worker - Truck Driver

Nebraska Career Education Model

- Social Worker - Teacher

- Radiology Technologist - Registered Nurse

To get the career you want in the future, you’ll need education after high school. This might be:

• 4-year college • 2-year college

• Trade school • Military

These career fields are “in-demand” in Nebraska - meaning there are lots of jobs! See how much you’ll earn depending on your level of education.

SKILLED & TECHNICAL SCIENCES Truck Driver (transports goods and materials)

HEALTH SCIENCES

2-year associate’s degree from a community college $19/hour* or $39,520/year Radiology Technologist (take & review x-rays) Education: Starting pay:

Education: Starting pay:

6-8 week certificate from a community college $15/hour* or $31,200/year

Registered Nurse (provide advanced patient care)

Construction Manager (oversee projects and workers)

Education: Starting pay:

bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college $23/hour* or $48,700/year

bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college $27/hour* or $56,900/year

Discover more careers at MyNextMove.org.

What do you think you’ll want to be? Answer these questions and then share your responses with someone.

What career fields interest you? For example: health sciences (red)

What careers have you considered?

Think ABOUT…

HOW WILL YOU GET THERE?

Most careers require education after high school – what we typically call “college.” What can you do to make college happen?

You’re like…why talk about this now? College is a long way off! The thing is, there are choices you can make now that will prepare you for college later.

Be your best self!

One big thing you can do is make good choices. What we’re talking about is character. It’s things like being respectful, kind, responsible, and trustworthy.

How could you show character in these scenarios? Good character makes a difference.

I’ve got this covered!

You're last to leave the lunch table and it's a mess. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ You're assigned to work in a group with someone you don't get along with. ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Good character and strong work skills are important now – and will be in your future job. Your employer will expect you to get along with others and get your work done on time. Being your best self matters – as a student and future employee!

Another way to be your best self...

Learn how to study and get organized !

Let's see how much you know about study skills. Are the following statements a Truth or Lie ?

1. 2. 3. 4.

It’s better to study right after school instead of late at night. Do your easiest homework first. Find a different place to study each day. Unless needed for school work, remove your phone or laptop from the room where you’re studying. Truth Lie or Truth Lie or

Truth Lie or

Take big assignments, like a project, and break it into smaller tasks. Then it’s not so overwhelming.

Study Tip

Building good study skills now = success in high school later!

Check the study and organization habits you currently have:

I get to school and class on time.

I use a planner to write down assignments for each class.

I ask the teacher questions if I don’t understand.

I turn off distractions, like texts or videos, when studying.

I use color folders or binders to organize papers for each subject (ex., green binder for math).

What’s something else you do? _____________________________

Any boxes unchecked? Choose one habit to try this week.

Think ABOUT…

HOW WILL YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE?

As a sixth grader, there are things you can do now to pay for college later - including earning and saving money. If possible, your parents should also start saving money for your future education. We’ll show you how that money can add up!

There are things you want to buy with the money you earn, right? That means you’ll have to save some of that money.

Here are a couple examples:

Short-term purchase:

If you make $20 a week mowing your neighbor’s lawn and want to buy a $160 tablet, how many weeks will it take you to earn that money?

160

= _______ weeks or _______ months

That won’t take so long, right? A little bit of patience can pay off!

Long-term purchase:

Let’s say you make $40 a month babysitting and want to buy a used car by the time you’re 16 at an estimated cost of $3,000. Do the math.

$40 per month 12 months __________

= $ _______ x 4 years (That’s when you’ll turn16!) = $ _______

You’ll probably have to do more than babysit to earn money for the car!

529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLANS If your parents, or other caring adult, put money into a 529 College Savings Plan, it would typically earn more than it would in a bank savings account. The 529 Plan in Nebraska is called NEST or Nebraska Educational Savings Trust.

How will the money grow? This shows the average amount earned on $100 invested into a bank savings account and a 529 College Savings Plan.

If you save $50 a month for the next six years, you’ll have $3,600 plus earnings when it’s time to go to college!

Bank Savings Account

$.10

$100

529 College Savings Plan

$100

FINANCIAL AID: another way to pay for college In addition to savings, financial aid can help you pay for college. You and your parents will apply for financial aid when you’re a senior in high school. It might include: Scholarships and Grants - sometimes called “gift aid” because you don’t have to pay it back. Student Loans - money you will have to pay back. Work-Study - money you earn from a job on campus.

EDUCATIONQUEST CAN HELP YOU START YOUR JOURNEY TO COLLEGE.

We’re a nonprofit organization that provides FREE services and programs for Nebraska students and families including: • College-prep information and tools at EducationQuest.org • One-on-one help at college planning offices in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, and Scottsbluff • Outreach services for community agency clients • Statewide efforts such as college fairs, financial aid programs, and Apply2College campaign • Look2College, KnowHow2GO, and Exploring College programs for younger students

We also provide need-based scholarships for students referred by colleges or community agencies, and award College Access Grants to Nebraska high schools.

FOR FREE HELP WITH COLLEGE PLANNING, CONTACT THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU.

OMAHA Rockbrook Village

LINCOLN 1300 O St.

KEARNEY 2706 Second Ave.

SCOTTSBLUFF 1601 E 27th St. 800.303.3745, ext. 6654

11031 Elm St. 402.391.4033 888.357.6300

402.475.5222 800.303.3745

308.234.6310 800.666.3721

EducationQuest.org

09/20

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