We can all agree that college is not cheap. Figuring out a clear plan for you to achieve the goal of finishing takes a great deal of time, energy, and finances. Choosing how to invest your money is something to seriously think about, especially when life happens. Did you know that more than half of people who start a college or training program do not finish? If you fall into that category, or know someone who does, we encourage you to try again. Here’s why:

Wow! COVID-19 is probably giving you more time to reflect on your current employment status. Do you like what you do? Do you have a postsecondary credential you’ve been interested in getting, or finishing? Are you balancing your work life and home life well? Are you looking to move from a job to a career? Maybe you are looking for a promotion, or you’re looking to provide an example of life-long learning to your kids. Not sure where to start or how to make the right decisions for you? A...

Whenever I present on postsecondary options, I always start by explaining what I mean by “postsecondary education” – any educational program after high school or GED such as: workforce skills & career training, vocational/technical program, apprenticeships, associate & bachelor degrees, or military career/ROTC.

Being the first to do anything can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. Well, that’s how I felt my senior year in high school, especially since I was a first generation college student .

You think you know what type of job you're interested in, and you may have even researched the type of training/education you’ll need to be able to get that job, but have you considered the earning potential? Before you invest time and money preparing for a specific occupation it’s smart to find out what the future earning potential of that occupation might be. Here are 3 tools to help you find the earning potential of occupations you may be interested in.

Do you know someone who makes $500 per hour? That could happen with a scholarship application. It is worth the time it takes to pay close attention to the application instructions, the details of the application form itself, and the supporting documents required for the scholarship. Here are some tips to help you stand out in a stack of scholarship applications.

How are you preparing for you the workforce? What are your resources? Who is in your network?

Okay, so it was fun hanging out with friends this summer, you have taken a break and recuperated from all that fun, and it is now Fall many of your friends and family have been posting pics on their Instagram and Snapchat stories from Homecoming. Maybe you have gotten your own kids settled into their school routines, you want to get yourself in line for a promotion, and this is the year – you are going back to school!

Students are being affected by “Summer Melt”. No, we aren’t talking about the record-high temperatures we have been having in Alaska. This is happening across the nation. Students who graduate from high school in May/June with postsecondary plans are not entering the doors to classes and training programs in the August/September.

Before you can attend any classes, you have to schedule them. Here are some tips to maximizing your time at school.