Scholar Lab: Career Exploration (for All Grades)

*Exclusively for Access College America Scholars

*For all grade levels

This lab is designed to assist scholars in finding their WHY for going to college and is meant as an introduction to researching colleges for your Dynamic and Balanced college lists.

Topics include:

• Resources for determining academic, social and financial fit

• College visit tips and advice

• What to ask when talking to a college rep

• Recommendations and timelines for college list building

Important Information:

• No prerequisites required

• This is an interactive lab

• Scholars will be on-screen for this lab

• The scholar should be in a quiet location

PRESENTER:

Melissa Wood, M.Ed.

College Consulting Director

Access College America

Melissa Wood, M.Ed. is a licensed school counselor with Bachelor's and Master's of Music Degrees from Sam Houston State University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Texas State University, and a School Counselor Certification from Angelo State University. She has worked her entire career in public education, serving her campus community for 23 years in various roles, and has served as a school counselor for the past 5 years. Melissa has a true calling for assisting scholars in finding their chosen career path while also guiding them through the admission process to highly selective schools in Texas and across the country.

Melissa has served in roles ranging from band director to College & Career Transition Coordinator to Academic Guidance Counselor. She has a broad range of experience assisting everyone from those who are undecided in their major to those applying to some of the most selective colleges in the country with the intention of securing a STEM major. As Transition Coordinator & Guidance Counselor, Melissa has successfully assisted scholars through the course selection process for dual credit, Advanced Placement, the International Baccalaureate programs, along with numerous Career & Technical Education programs.