Justin Ross Muchnick - Teens Guide to College & Career Planning

I could not have written this book without the help and support of many people. Thank you to Bernadette Webster and Robyn Thurman at Petersons for allowing me the experience to breathe new life into this title. Also at Petersons, Julie Ammermuller and Colleen Reusche helped with the books cover, design, and composition; and Stephanie Benyo helped promote this book. Jill Schwartz is a lifesaver and the best editor a writer could hope for. It is a pleasure working with and learning from you. Special thanks to the many professionals from near and far who took the time to comment on certain chapters, especially Mr. David Peters, fellow author and former U.S. Army Chaplain, for his insights on the military chapter and Jeffrey P. Vernamonti, Guidance Director and College Counselor at Calvert Hall College High School for his consulting and helpful advice on the financial aid chapter. I am grateful to my mom for assisting with many of the behind-the-scenes details so that I could focus on the writing and editing of the book. We shared many laughs along the way. To my dad, siblings, grandparents, and Ziggy, I love you all.

Justin Ross Muchnick

If you are a busy teen like I am, most of your research is probably done through web searches, social networking, or other electronic-based formats. Those are all great resources, and I totally get it. That said, I wrote Teens Guide to College and Career Planning to bring all of your high school, collegiate, and career questions into one comprehensive text (or e-book). This book was written to serve as your ultimate resource guide for any and all of your questions about high school, college, and careers. I hope that when you search a topic or puruse these pages, you will see that this book is chock full of useful information, links, and ideas to help you throughout your academic endeavors and future career experiences.

Think of this book as a roadmap. Knowing where you want to go and what roads will lead you there are the first steps in the process. You can always change your destination and chart a new course. Im providing the map. The rest is up to you.

The book is arranged in four parts. Part 1 has all the guidance youll need to make the transition to high school. Part 2 provides general introductory information about your options after high school and how to use your high school education to plan for the next phase of your life. Part 3 offers more detailed information about postsecondary educationwhether you choose a two-year or community college, a four-year college or university, a vocational/career college, or the military. Finally, Part 4 provides useful information about the workplace and how to handle any obstacles you may encounter in your early adult life.

I hope you will find this teen-authored, new, and improved 12th edition of the Teens Guide to College and Career Planning helpful as you begin thinking about the rest of your life. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please e-mail me at teensguidetocollegeandcareer@gmail.com, Like the Teens Guide Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter @BoardingSchl for helpful current student news and useful information.

Good luck in your academic and professional future!

Justin Muchnick
Author
Phillips Academy Andover, Class of 2016

Preparing for your future may seem overwhelming, but it doesnt have to be. You can pursue a variety of options after high school: getting a job, entering the military, or seeking further education and training, to name a few. Learning about the choices and creating a plan will help put you on the path to success. You can better understand these options and plan for the future by using this book. Although this guide is intended for students, parents should feel free to peruse it so everyone can approach this important process with the same information.

With this comprehensive guide for high school students, you can explore career options, plan a career path, and find the colleges or career schools that will help you reach your goals. In addition, Teens Guide offers alternatives to traditional four-year colleges, facts about many of the standardized tests you may be expected to take during the next few years, and information about financing your education or training.

As you are getting ready to read through Teens Guide , parents and teens should discuss these options together:

Going to college: A college education allows students to exercise their minds and learn critical thinking and analytical skills. And as an added bonus, studies show that college degrees lead to higher incomes. The United States alone has thousands of two- and four-year colleges, each of which offers dozens, and sometimes even hundreds, of majors that can lead to exciting careers. Today, everyone can pursue a college education, and youll find out why in Teens Guide.