Naviance is a website that helps students with college and career planning in high school. It is a helpful resource to use when thinking about colleges and college applications. It includes informative college profiles and matching algorithms that help students to find their best fit. All students from grades 9-12 have access to this tool, just ask your counselor how to register! The website can help you keep track of information about yourself and about colleges.
All students are encouraged to use this tool, especially as they get closer to junior and senior year of high school since that's when they focus the most on college. Students in ninth grade should try to have a basis of what they might want to do in their future and think of a few colleges. The main focus for ninth grade is to keep grades as high as possible and try your best. Complete the “Career Interests Test” to get an idea of the jobs out there that you might like. Don’t stress too much about using Naviance this year, the process mainly starts in tenth grade. Also try to join as many clubs/after school activities as you can!
Tenth grade is when students are exposed more to Naviance and use it more frequently. Make sure to store the username and password somewhere safe where you have easy access to it. If you forget or lose your username/password, email your guidance counselor for help. Try to familiarize yourself with the website and get an understanding of it.
Ninth and tenth graders are encouraged to complete the “Career Interest Profiler”, “Strengths Explorer” and inquire multiple quizzes about different career options. Find these quizzes by clicking on “Self Discovery and Careers” located at the top of the Naviance website. These quizzes give an understanding of who you are and what interests you might have that you weren’t aware of. There is time to think about what career you want later, so don’t stress if you see one that you aren’t sure of!
Eleventh grade is the most important year of high school because it's the year that colleges will focus on the most. This is a good time to use Naviance more often and research colleges. Juniors will use Naviance a lot more in the Springtime to create a college list. Look for colleges that are the best fit which can be influenced by your interests, beliefs, and passions in life. In order to research colleges, go to the “Colleges” tab located at the top of Naviance. It will then show “Find your Fit” to begin researching schools. You can also enter different criteria to explore specific information about colleges.
While in eleventh grade, make sure your grades are the best they can be. Try to be involved in school activities by joining clubs, taking AP or College Now courses, and even joining a sports team. You should also study for the SAT early to earn a high score. While some colleges are test-optional, do not wait till the last minute to start studying!
Twelfth grade is the time to apply to the colleges that were added to your favorites list on Naviance and any new ones that you learned about. In Naviance, you can also create a resume, journal, goals, to-do lists, and even track any community service you might have. Be sure to contact Ms. David, who is in charge of the college application process at Edison. She will post application materials on Naviance, such as teacher recommendation letters and transcripts, so it is crucial to stay on the lookout for this. During your junior and senior years, students will need to put school and future before anything else!
Overall, Naviance is a very useful tool for college and career planning. It is a multifunctional site that helps students with resumes, college decisions, and career decisions. Naviance will be your best friend in junior and senior years since you will be using it so much!
