College and Career Corner

It's been a busy season! February was packed full of events, changes, and things going on, so I apologize for missing last month's newsletter. In March, we are gearing up for testing season and Spring Break, along with some other program offerings. See below for details!

On Feb 28th, three groups of students had the opportunity to job shadow with UAB to learn about health professions! One group visited the School of Nursing where they learned how to dress wounds and provide CPR, then had the chance to take a tour of the Emergency Room and speak with the Nurse Manager-- and even see a medical helicopter take off! Meanwhile, a second group spent the morning with the School of Social Work where they learned about important services that Social Workers provide to their clients, and finished the afternoon with the Psychology department where they engaged in a role-playing scenario that allowed them to consider social roles. Our third group visited the Forensic Science department where they practiced three different strategies for gathering and analyzing fingerprints. We had an amazing experience and are grateful to the professionals at UAB who planned a terrific agenda for our groups!

This month, we focus on careers in Technology and Engineering. In Alabama, technology and engineering careers span diverse fields, with opportunities in manufacturing, design, and operations, including roles like mechanical, electrical, and computer engineers, as well as technology-focused positions like computer support specialists and technicians.

Careers in this field are growing and can be very high-paying, which means that students interested in this pathway can expect job opportunities and financial stability.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that the engineering job market may grow by 8.6% by 2033.
• This growth translates to around 195,000 new job openings each year.

Although students may pursue degrees in a variety of engineering fields, there are also certificate programs that allow you to enter the technology job market with just a training certificate, including roles in cybersecurity, information technology (IT), coding, web development, and more.

Check out O*Net Online for information on a variety of technology and engineering career pathways, including salary and job growth data!

If you missed it, we had a great session with Ms. Greta Green from Jefferson State Community College who spoke with students and families about opportunities for Dual Enrollment. Juniors and Seniors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher may qualify to take English 101 and 102 here at MCAA next year, and Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors may also choose to take summer term courses. If you would like more information, please reach out to me via email!

Next week, our Juniors will sit for their ACT! This important test can unlock scholarship and admission opportunities for students. They have been working hard in their small-group virtual tutors with Varsity Tutor this month, and I am excited to see the impact of this effort and focus on their results next week! On Tuesday afternoon, please encourage your Junior to get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, wear comfortable clothing, charge their laptop, and take a deep breath! They got this!!

At the beginning of the school year in September, students completed a Career Shadowing interest form to indicate their preferences for participation during the shadowing program this year. This month will include at least one more visit. I will share information as soon as details are finalized!

Get Ready for College! Many students have received their acceptance and financial aid offers from the universities they have been applying to-- and now is the time to begin talking with their families and making some decisions! College Decision Day is May 1st, which is when most universities ask students to accept their admission offers, pay their deposits, and begin making plans for the fall. Check in with your student to make sure they are taking the steps they need to be ready in this important time. Feel free to set up a meeting with me and your Senior to talk through questions you may have -- I am happy to support you as you consider these decisions!

Ready to Work Program: We have gotten through our first round of interviews with local employment partners, and students did a great job! We will be embarking on a few industry tours in the next week leading up to our In-Person Interview event on March 21st! s.munkachy@mcaabhm.org.

The FAFSA is open! Remember that the state of Alabama requires all students to complete the FAFSA form or a waiver form in order to qualify for graduation. This important process is the first step to qualifying for financial aid in a university, community college, or training program. If you or your family need support in completing this, please reach out to me to schedule a meeting any time! My email is s.munkachy@mcaabhm.org

Deadline for the April ACT is March 16th. We will hav a registration day to sign up for the April 5th ACT next week on Thursday, March 13th. If your student would like to take the ACT in April, please make sure they have access to their myACT account prior to the registration day. They will also need to take a photo to upload into their account to verify their identity on test day.

REMINDER: Share acceptance letters with me! I am continuing to build out our shout-out wall on the 2nd floor, and would love to celebrate EVERY acceptance that your student has received! This is also an important record-keeping process for me, as I work to document and support your students' decisions and further applications for financial aid or scholarships. Students can either send a screenshot of an email, or a scanned copy of their official letter-- really anything that shares their admissions decision. I redact all personal information and change any dead names before including it on our shout-out wall.