Who Do You Think You Are?

STEPHEN M. SMITH is CEO of Intellispark, an education technology company. He is vice chair of the board of College Possible, a member of the board of the National College Access Network, and a cofounder of Naviance. He previously served as president and chief product officer at Hobsons, where he focused on helping students achieve college and career readiness and success. SHAUN FANNING is chief product officer at Intellispark and a cofounder of Naviance. He previously served as vice president of research and development at Hobsons, where he led new product initiatives focused on improving student success. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of roles in business analysis, finance, technology, marketing, and product management at AT&T and The Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters).

• About the Authors ixAcknowledgments xiPart I Who Are You?Chapter 1 How Do You Get Started? 3How do you have the crucial conversations? How do the choices of career and college fit together?How do the courses you take in high school affect the options you have in life?Chapter 2 What Are Your Interests and Strengths? 13Who are you? What do you like to do? What do you care about? What do you do well? How do others see your strengths?Chapter 3 What Does Work Mean to You? 25How do you balance money and meaning? What kind of work would you find fulfilling? What kind of life do you envision for yourself?Part II Where Are You Heading?Chapter 4 Are You Ready for a Career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math? 37Are you taking the right courses? Are you realistic about the requirements? Are you open to different career pathways (engineering, medicine, agriculture, business, information technology)? What special challenges and opportunities may be faced by women and minorities in STEM careers?Chapter 5 Can You Have a Good Career with a Degree in the Liberal Arts? 49Liberal arts can help to develop many critical career skills and can be a springboard for many different careers. What are the challenges and opportunities of finding a place to start your career with a liberal arts degree?Chapter 6 Can You Have a Career Helping Others without Sacrificing Your Own Needs? 61What are the rewards and realities of human services careers (medicine, social work, psychology, teaching)?Chapter 7 Do You Want to Work in Business or Be in Business? 73What are the primary business pathways (e.g.,management, finance, information technology, hospitality)? How does entrepreneurship work and feel in practice? Do you need a college education to pursue a career in business?Chapter 8 Can You Make a Living as an Artist or Musician? 85The odds of success in art, music, and other creative pursuits can be daunting, but how can you reframe assumptions about these careers to build a practical path?Part III How Will You Get to Where You Want to Go?Chapter 9 Should You Consider a Career in Law or Criminal Justice? 97There are many different paths to a successful career in law and criminal justice. What are some of the options?Chapter 10 How Can You Try On Your Career Interests? 113Do you know why it’s good to “try before you buy” when it comes to careers? How can you conduct career “experiments”?Chapter 11 Is College Right for You? 127What are the types of colleges, and where do you fit? How can you overcome your fears? Do you want to go straight to work? How can you hold on to your long-term goals if you need to go straight to  work? Is vocational education worth it? What about military careers?Chapter 12 Can You Afford College? 141Do you know the difference between the list price and the real price of college? How do you decide if a college is worth the cost? Will getting a degree pay off in the long run?Chapter 13 Does It Matter Where You Go to College? 153How do you find the best fit for you? How do you build a smart list of colleges for your applications? How do you make the most of college no matter where you go?Chapter 14 Is Community College a Better Place to Start? 167What is a 2+2 program, and what are the advantages? What are the upsides and downsides of starting in community college?Chapter 15 Closing Thoughts 179Additional Resources 181Notes 185Index 189