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Middle School Students

In the years leading up to high school, students may start thinking more about potential career paths and begin taking part in preparatory programs or activities. Continuing to develop good habits and utilizing resources early on can help set the foundation for success.

College: Making it Happen

With the help of their families and mentors, middle school aged students can begin setting the groundwork for a bright future by exploring their academic interests and corresponding careers, researching colleges that will help them earn the knowledge and experience they need to pursue their chosen path, and educating themselves about financial aid and scholarships options that will help them reach their goals in the most affordable way.

WATCH: Karla Whitaker from San Diego and Imperial county Cal-SOAP’s College: Making It Happen Presentation

RIASEC Framework Self-Assessments

RIASEC Self-Assessment -The RIASEC framework helps match people’s interests with careers using six different themes.

When someone’s job fits their interests, they tend to do better at work, achieve more in school and their career, and might even make more money. 

The six RIASEC themes are arranged in a hexagon, meaning the themes next to each other are more similar than those farther away. These themes are also called “Holland Codes.” Most people identify with a mix of 2 or 3 themes.

People’s interests can change as they grow older, but sometimes they stay the same. You know your likes and dislikes best, so it’s up to you to explore and decide! 

Two middle schools in the Southern Border have a Launch Pad. The Launch Pad serves as a gateway to the World of Work for students and their caregivers, facilitating career exploration and experimentation. It provides valuable resources needed to take the next step in their career journey.

Connect to Career Exploration

  • O*NET Interest Profiler
    • Discover Your Interests with the O*NET Interest Profiler!
      The O*NET Interest Profiler is a fun and easy way to learn about your interests and see how they connect to different jobs. By using this tool, you can discover what activities and subjects you enjoy the most.
    • Why Use the O*NET Interest Profiler?
      • Find Out What You Like: Learn more about the things you enjoy doing and what makes you excited.
      • Explore Careers: See how your interests match up with different careers and start thinking about what jobs you might want to explore in the future.
    • The O*NET Interest Profiler helps you start planning for your future by showing you careers that fit your interests. Give it a try and see what exciting possibilities are out there for you!
  • California Career Zone
    The California CareerZone can help you choose a goal and make a plan!
    The California CareerZone site is powered by Headed2, a secure web-based platform designed to help you explore, plan, and prepare for a career you’ll love.
    Using our innovative technology, you are afforded an end-to-end career discovery journey. By working through the system, you can access:
    • Self-assessment modules including interest, work-importance and skills profile tools.
    • Financial literacy tools including our popular “Budget your Life” assessment
    • Over 900 occupations, as well as information on US colleges and certifications
    • Personalized pathway recommendations based on student exploration

  • Are you age 14-24? Check out GetMyFuture.org to:
    • Take an Interest Assessment
    • Learn about careers
    • Explore education and training options
    • Find and keep a job

  • Why Middle Schoolers Shuold Take the Myers-Briggs Test
    • The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a fun way to learn more about yourself! It helps you understand how you see the world and make decisions by assigning you one of 16 personality types based on these categories:
      • Introvert (I) or Extrovert (E): How you get energy
      • Sensing (S) or Intuition (N): How you take in information
      • Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): How you make choices
      • Judging (J) or Perceiving (P): How you organize your life
    • For example, you might get a result like "INFJ" or "ENFP."
    • Why take it?
      • Know Yourself: Discover your strengths and how you work best with others.
      • Explore Careers: Learn what jobs might fit your personality.
      • Improve Learning: Find study habits that suit you!
    • The MBTI can help you plan for your future and understand more about who you are--starting today!

  • Discover the A-G Guide! 
    The A-G Guide is like a secret menu for high school courses. It shows you what classes count towards college prep, like English, Math, Science, and History. This way, you can compare schools and see which ones offer the classes you're interested in, like Robotics or Advanced Art.

    Here's what you can do with the A-G Guide:

    • Pick a high school: See which schools offer all the A-G courses you need for your dream college.
    • Plan your classes: Pick high school classes that are fun AND help you get ready for college.
    • Be a course detective! Use the A-G Guide to see if that cool new class at your school counts towards college! 

    Check out the A-G Guide here: Link to A-G Guide

    Remember, planning for college starts in middle school! This website is your secret weapon to pick the perfect high school and get ready for a bright future!

Additional Resources