(written be Rising STAR, Meryssa)

Hey Readers, it’s Meryssa.

Today's blog is about what I think colleges are looking for on your transcript. Since I want to become a registered nurse (RN) I know I have to have a lot of math and science classes because people in the medical field use math and science on a daily basis. So for my senior year I am taking an extra math and science that is not required for me to take in order to graduate. I am also taking health science at the trade school I go to.  

My advice to my readers, especially those of you who are going to be seniors next year, is once you get all your requirements for graduation, think of what career you want to have and find classes that go along the lines of that career. For example: if you want to do anything in the medical field take extra math and science classes. If you want to do something in the criminal justice field, see if your school offers criminal justice or crime scene investigation classes. 

Once you know what career you want to go into and you have all your classes picked, you can also look outside of your school. Looking outside your school is something not many people think of. When I say to look outside your school I mean find something that would look good when you are applying for a job in the field you want to get into. For example: if you want to work in the food industry try to get a job in a restaurant so you get some hands on experience with the equipment and a feel for how things are run. If you want to be an EMT or a fireman (or woman) see if your town has a fire explorer program. If you want to work in the medical field you can become a candy striper at your local hospital or you could even volunteer at a nursing home. 

I have also come to the conclusion that colleges like to see a foreign language and lots of school sports and clubs on your college transcript also. So my advice to my readers who are underclassmen (because it’s a little too late for incoming seniors to start to do this) is to take a foreign language while you are in high school. If you are not great in a foreign language (like me) or even if you are good at speaking a different language, look into the different clubs and sports that interest you. The good thing about school sports is that in some schools if you take two full years of a sport they will take that as your physical education credit. 

So keep in mind the career you want in the future as you pick your classes and as you are looking for a job. Trust me, it will help out in the long run. 

Smiles,
Meryssa