Career Counsleing

One of the many hats that I wear as a campus minister is that of Career Counselor. I am not sure that anyone really takes my advice, but I enjoy showing students some options for majors, careers, and futures where they can be happy and serve the Lord. A job will never make anyone’s life! Solomon looked back on his wealth and ‘happiness’ and described it all as vain without God in your life. Our first priority is to direct students (and anyone who will listen) to the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else after that “is just gravy.” Christians need to be aware of career fields that exist where they can make an income to support their family, those in need, and the local church (in both time and money). They need to be aware of the dangers that are present in many careers and job settings. Christians need to know, need to be informed, about jobs where they can serve others, spend time with their families, and not be distracted from the true purpose of life: “serve God and keep His commandments.” Here is a great website that (especially) young people need to be aware of when looking at different career possibilities:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

It is the website for the Bureau of Labor Statistics which describes jobs and job categories. It gives information on requirements and education, work setting and regular work weeks, salary, related occupations, and other neat stuff.

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Selecting a College

A. Choosing a School
Size- The population of the city and school should be considered. Smaller universities provide a greater Student-faculty ratio and more one-on-one instruction. This provides great opportunities for relationships. However, larger universities usually offer more opportunities for research and recognition and varied class schedule. Also, larger universities are often in larger cites, but this is not always the case.
Type- There are technical schools, business colleges, junior colleges, and universities. Is it a private or public institution? All of these have benefits and drawbacks.
Location- How is the city? How are the surrounding towns? How far are you from home and family? What are you looking for in the surrounding area: stores and shopping? skiing and recreation? museums and cultre? Do some research on the city and area and visit the college and the surrounding town.
Student Body Makeup- College provides a great atmosphere to meet people of diverse backgrounds. Some consideration should be given in this area. Larger schools usually have a greater diversity in student bodies while regional schools are usually made up of peopel who live in proximity.
Academics- Will this school prepare me for my next step? Does it offer the major/field I am looking for? Does the school have recognition in academics? Will a degree from this school help me get a job? Some students want to go to the "best" academic univeristy that their scores and grades allow while others choose a school becuase of other factors. Usually, third party information is needed to determine how certain schools match-up against one another.
US News Rankings
Princeton Review Rankings
Peterson's Four Year Colleges
Cost- How much does the school cost? Is it public or private? Is it a junior college or 4-year college? How good are the financial aid options? All of this information should be available online or through the financial aid office of the school.
Programs/Sports- If a student is interested in choir, you may want to consider a college that offers choir. How important is a top-tier sports program? What are you looking for in your college experience?
Church- See point “B”

B. Choosing a Church
Is there only one congregation of Christ’s church in this community? Is it strong/sound? Are there multiple congregations of the Lord’s church? Which one should be chosen? I encourage students to make out a priority list of what they are looking for in a local congregation. Number one should be sound doctrine, adherence to Jesus Christ and His word (this should be seen in public and private teaching and in the lifestyles of members). Truth should be taught and practice. Other factors to consider: Do they have an eldership? Are there other college students? Do they seem to neglect college students (this is bad)? Do they make college students the focus of the church instead of Christ (this is also bad)? Let once again take a selfish opportunity to plug Texas State, the University church of Christ and the McCarty Student Center!

C. Choosing a Major
While you certainly do not have to choose a major before going to school (and most people change once they are in school), now is the time to consider the next step after college. These questions (at least) should be considered. Can I get a job with this major or will I have to go to Graduate School? Does this college/university have special qualifications or prerequisites in this major? Can I glorify God with this major? Generally, degrees that offer the gradaute with the opportunity to have related career are computer science (and computer related majors), engineering (and related majors), sciences like chemistry and physics (but often times you need more education),nursing, and education (teaching).
Some resources:
Idiot's Guide to Choosing a College Major
Guide to College Majors 2009
(One of these books or something similar would make a great high school graduation gift!)

D. Choosing Extracurricular Activities
There are many and varied activities to be involved in college. This is a time of godly experimentation and growth as well as a time of character development. While extracurriculars can add to your time in college and should be considered, be sure that extracurricular activities do not take away from regular Bible study opportunities and worship.

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Grow Up

Each generation seems to be less responsible and less mature than the one before it. One of the signs of this is the fact that many adults live with and depend on their parents. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “Statistics reveal that 25 percent of adult children between 30 and 34 still live at home or have returned home over a period of time (60 percent for the 22-to-24 set and about 30 percent for those from 25 to 29).”
We could postulate a number of different reasons for this phenomenon. People are getting more education, people are getting married later in life, and ultimately everyone (especially parents) is putting less and less responsibility on the shoulders of young adults. So, twenty-year-old guys sit around playing video games all day and party all night with their underwear hanging out of their pants. This is why twenty-year-old girls talk like ‘valley girls’ about meaningless things and wear too little with their underwear showing above their pants.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things,” 1 Corinthians 13:11. This is a principle. The church needs to lead the way in this society and the world concerning the way people should act. We should not shun proper responsibility. We should not put off growing up. Maturity should be sought by each and every one of us.
Christians are commanded to grow. “But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ,” Ephesians 4:15. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…,” 2 Peter 3:18. God wants us to grow up and be more and more like Jesus. We also are to develop more grace (thankfulness) and knowledge. This requires that we encourage one another to grow and take the steps needed ourselves in order to mature according to the purpose which God has called us to His glory.

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Preparation for College 3

Spiritual Preparation

As a student nears the point of leaving home they must be ready to display their OWN faith. At college one will encounter an onslaught of forces from the world (unfortunately some of these are even present at Christian Colleges) and the prince of this world. Ephesians 6 would call these attacks "fiery darts":

1. Atheism – the belief that God does not exist (it has an ugly cousin “agnosticism” which means we cannot know that God does exist). Atheism exists on college campuses unlike any other place in the world, be ready for it. (Hebrews 11:1)

2. Evolution – life came from non-life and eventuated to human beings (it also has an ugly cousin “theistic evolution” which means life came from God who used evolution to get us to where we are today). Evolution is the predominant ‘science’ on college campuses. (Genesis 1:1-2:1)

3. Secular Humanism – the belief that everything man needs is within himself, and therefore he does not need to rely on God. (Jeremiah 10:23)

4. Immorality – drugs, alcohol, dancing (and “clubbing”), cheating, sex, and gambling will all be made readily available on 99% of ALL college and university campuses. These things are ‘normal’ for most college students. (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 1 Timothy 4:12)



Parents and students need to be aware of each of these, have the knowledge of Scripture to weather the storms brought on by them, and have the ability to show from reason and the Scriptures that a worldly life is against God's will.

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Preparation for College 2

Financial Preparation

1. Students should begin researching local scholarships as soon as possible.


2. FAFSA: This was a term I had never heard before my senior year of high school. This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If a student is not going to have his/her way paid to college, they must fill this form out. It is due between January 1 and June 30 of the year preceding the Fall Semester of enrollment (so if I were to enroll for classes in September 2010, my FAFSA would be due June 30, 2010). For any student in the US to get Federal tuition assistance (Grants, Loans, or Work Programs), he/she MUST fill out a FAFSA. It cannot hurt you to fill out a FAFSA; it can only help. By filling one out, you are not obligated to take a student loan or anything of that sort. You may fill one out online or a hard copy to be mailed in. You will need parents/students bank information and tax information (they ask some really personal financial questions). It is easier to fill out once you have compiled your taxes.

Website: www.fafsa.ed.gov/



3. Parents may have to consider how much they are willing to help/support college students. From my limited experience, I have noticed that students who receive full or most support from parents are able to not have to have a job and to have more time to participate in church and volunteer functions (as well as other imaginable activities). However, these students seem less appreciative of their college education. Whereas students who support themselves through academic or non-academic scholarships (or through work and even loans) seem to have less time, but they often value their education more. Balance seems to be the best where it is possible.


4. A Student Budget
For an average college student, money is tight. There are always places to go, food to eat, and things to do; but there is not always the money to do it. Though we should become knowledgeable with handling finances before college, this is the time when young people are on their own and should be responsible for living within their means.
Budget For Dummies


5. Credit Cards

If students have and live by a good budget, then credit cards "shouldn't" be too much of a problem. BUT, credit cards create huge problems. Often, we are guilty of paying for those burgers and movies we enjoyed in college well after we begin our careers. Speaking with first hand experience, stay away from credit card debt in college. The average college student graduates with $3,000 in credit card debt in addition to over $17,000 in student loan debt. Young people need to know the dangers of credit card debt and overall poor stewardship.

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Life Lessons from a College Graduation

Tonight I was able and honored to attend the college graduation of two upstanding Christian women. I am excited about what they have planned ahead and hope and pray that they continue to serve God wherever they find themselves.

1. There is no place like college. Whether a football game, lunch in the cafeteria, sitting in class, or graduation, there is no place like college. Love it or hate it, there is no place like college. It is an atmosphere like no other. Every campus has its quirks and traditions. Though lives could certainly be complete without going to college or university, it is indeed an environment that is unlike any other.

2. Take time to celebrate accomplishments. Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” A cheerful heart is a good thing. With all the hustle and bustle today, it is nice to stop and celebrate the achievements of the people who God has graciously put in our lives. When graduates crossed the stage for Ph.D.s, Masters’ Degrees, and Bachelors degrees, that moment was the finish line they were looking forward to for 4, 6, 10, or more years.

3. It is good to be with family and friends. Celebration would only be half what it could be if we didn’t have families and friends to rejoice with us. At the graduation, the parents, then grandparents, then aunts and uncles, then friends were all asked to stand with the graduates. As the thousands of people rose to their feet, I hope the graduates noticed all the people who loved and cared for them.

4. An individual or two can ruin someone’s night. As families anxiously waited on their loved one’s name to be called, there was a pretty good chance that name they waited on would be drowned out by an obnoxious fraternity, screaming family, or air horns. It is nice that they were there to support and celebrate, but it is too bad that their celebration was at the expense of others. As students imagined their graduation day for the years leading up to it, I doubt that they imagined their name being drowned out by air horns as they received their diplomas.

5. College is a stepping-stone not a destination. Even though it takes some people 6 or 7 years to get an undergraduate degree, college should only be the next step in life. Though graduation is a time to celebrate, if it is the greatest accomplishment of your life, your life is a failure. School is where we are educated. Education means nothing without the action to follow it. Education has never made a successful life nor for a life pleasing to God.

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Preparation for College 1

Academic Preparation

1. College Prep Classes: Physics, Calculus, English 4, Chemistry, Algebra
(These are just some of the classes that students should take before going to college in order to be better prepared for the work load.) You might also consider elective classes in business or psychology if your school offers them. In many places today it is possible to take dual credit classes, earning credit for both high school and college. These college hours will come in handy in college!


2. Standardized Tests
ACT (learn more at www.act.org/ and http://www.testpreview.com/ )
SAT (http://www.sattest.com/)
*Most colleges accept both
The ACT is more content based (usually what is taught in public schools) whereas the SAT is more problem solving/critical thinking (or the application of knowledge). You choose which schools receive your scores, and some schools award scholarships based on these scores. If you take these tests early, you have the opportunity to take them again.


3. Student Interests:
We will discuss more about choosing a school later, but now is a good time to mention that students should be considering schools which match their interests. Most schools, colleges, and universities (if not all) have valuable information on their websites. However, these sites will only give you positive information. So there are some third party assessors of schools (e.g. Princeton Review and US News). Another good way to get information is by visiting the college campus and talking with professors or by visiting a college fair where multiple schools are on display for comparison.


4. Volunteer Works:
Colleges and scholarship committees love applicants who volunteer with local or national organizations. Even giving a little time makes a student more desirable. Talk to parents, counselors, those in healthcare, and small business owners about local opportunities. Some national organizations probably have area chapters. Check these out:


Red Cross
Scouts
Boy and Girls Club
CASA


Test help guides for high-school juniors and seniors:
SAT Study Guide by The College Board

Cracking the SAT by Princeton Review

Extensive but Expensive Kaplan ACT Test Prep

McGraw-Hill's ACT Test Prep

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