This paper evaluates the usefulness of career and college counseling websites available to students, many of whom are expected to make major academic and professional decisions as early as eighth grade. The author reviews several websites, rating each on a ten-point scale, and distinguishes between government-affiliated or university-based resources that provide substantive guidance and commercial sites that use scare tactics to sell expensive counseling packages. The paper concludes with a proposal for an ideal, comprehensive career counseling website and offers practical advice for students navigating this landscape.
Students are increasingly expected to consider their college and career choices at a younger and younger age. By eighth grade, some students have already decided which school they want to attend and what career they will pursue. But how do they arrive at these decisions, and what information can they draw on? In the past, students were largely limited to guidance from family, friends, or a school counselor. Times have changed, however. The World Wide Web is now full of websites that claim to help students make these decisions. Unfortunately, most of these sites offer little or no useful help. Instead, they are designed to make the student feel lost and in need of guidance — guidance that comes at a price.
Many career counseling websites provide no real information and focus instead on convincing students that they cannot manage without purchasing paid services. They do not discuss colleges or universities at all; rather, they offer tests and counseling sessions for career choice — in some cases targeting students as young as eighth grade (Independent College Counselors). Fees range from $250 to $700 for testing and counseling, and these sites typically offer no links to other resources.
Microsoft's career site, for example, appears prominently when one searches for "student career counseling" or "student college counseling," yet the site focuses exclusively on recruiting candidates for positions at Microsoft. No broader career guidance is offered, and no links to other sites are provided.
It took some searching to find websites that could genuinely be considered useful. One of the better examples was authored by Laura Kapelski, M.S., Career Consultant in the School of Management at George Mason University. She offers specific advice about programs students can take advantage of and plan for during their high school years.
One program she highlights that has seen increased participation is the federal government's Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). SCEP allows college students to work for a federal agency or department in an internship capacity for up to 640 hours while completing their degree. Upon finishing both the program and their degree, students may be offered the opportunity to be non-competitively converted into a full-time position (Kapelski).
The site is designed for students, parents, and counselors, with a dedicated link for counselors. Another useful feature is a link that helps students match their choice of major with possible careers. Because it is educational and provides genuine, practical information, this site receives an eight out of ten. It loses points for slightly overemphasizing government positions and not covering the full breadth of career options, but its many links are a clear strength.
The National Career Development Association (NCDA) is a founding member of the American Counseling Association and provides its resources completely free of charge.
The California Department of Education also maintains a strong career counseling website. It is informational and educational, and is "intended for use with students in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades, as well as students in post-secondary schools" (California Department of Education). The site would also be useful to parents and counselors. It notes that "The National Career Development Guidelines provide a framework for building and evaluating comprehensive career development programs for youth and adults in a variety of settings" (California Department of Education).
The site is clearly run by a government entity and does not appear to have any hidden agenda. It includes links to the California Career Development Association, the National Career Development Association, the Career Development Advisory Committee, and the California Community Colleges, which "provides resources and information about community college faculty, staff, and administrators" (Department of Education).
It also links to the Armed Services Vocational Assessment Battery. "The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is intended for use with students in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades, as well as students in post-secondary schools" (Department of Education). Another useful link connects students who may be interested in teaching with the Center for Credentialing and Education. A more general link leads to the National Career Development Guidelines, which "provides a framework for building and evaluating comprehensive career development programs for students and adults in a variety of settings" (Department of Education). The site also includes a link to 21st Century Real Estate, bringing its total to 17 links.
The California Department of Education website receives an eight out of ten. It loses points for its emphasis on government programs and government jobs — particularly the ASVAB and the education link — and would benefit from a longer introductory article highlighting the importance of each linked resource.
"Life Transitions site uses scare tactics"
"Proposed features for a comprehensive site"
4. A comprehensive guide to the college enrollment process, covering essays, letters of recommendation, and the qualifications needed for admission to various schools.
5. A test that helps identify a student's career inclinations and interests.
It would be ideal if the government or some nonprofit entity could provide such a resource. The challenge is that career counselors responding to student inquiries would need to be compensated. However, it is possible that the database, links, and enrollment guide could be made available to the public at no charge.
For now, career-seekers must remain alert for signs of unreliable or predatory sites — particularly those that offer no links and charge high fees for vague services. Students should gravitate toward websites provided by the government, professional associations, or individual colleges and universities, as these tend to offer genuine information without a commercial agenda. Learning to distinguish between sites designed to inform and those designed to sell is itself an important skill for students navigating their academic and professional futures.
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