College Guidance, Preparation, and Success

This seminal report, published earlier this week, tracks progress of Latino families and their access to higher education over the last thirty years. The report indicates widening disparities in family income, declines in relative participation of Latino males in American colleges, declines in first choice college attendance, and rising concerns about financing college. However, the report also note that despite these barriers to access, Latino/a population remain passionate about education, have a strong drive towards post-secondary success, and have remained committed to strong values and career-oriented goals. To learn more, visit http://www.heriucla.edu

Pennsylvania Governor provides grants for college and career counseling. The new $3 million grants will help 33,000 students in 19 school districts receive postsecondary planning assistance. To read more visit this State of Pennsylvania page.

ThroughCollege created a Facebook Application for use with students called “What’s My Calling?” The description is this: “What should you do with your life? Have your friends help you figure it out! What’s My Calling helps you find a career that matches your personality by asking the people who know you best…your friends! Or….if you don’t feel like thinking about your career right now you can suggest to your friends what careers they should pursue!”

Here is our philosophy behind this application. When you know who you are from your experiences–your strengths, skills, values, and passionate interest–and you know what others know of you, you can combine these to start the journey to find your calling. For this facebook application you identify your career areas, and then most importantly type in specifically your ideas for what your calling is based on what you’ve identified. The powerful part is when you ask friends you know you to do the same for you…and then the app will bring it all together, show you the top career calling areas for you, and show you the ideas and insights your friends typed for you. This is our philosophy that drives this app. How do you think you find your calling? Email us at darin@throughcollege.com and we will blog about the findings we get from people. We will also be sharing more about using Facebook in class, with students, and within a standardized curriculum. We will also share more about the development of this activity as well as provide some accompanying curriculum materials on this site in a week or so.