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Your student is off and running on a
college education. Many parents wonder "What can I do to
help?" Here are some tips on what you can do to help your student
make good choices regarding college majors and career opportunities.
Career & Counseling Services is here to help your student succeed both in
college and in the world of work. Our programs are beneficial to students from
their freshman year through graduate school.
Career Counseling can help students choose a major and learn what
occupations are available in what majors.
Personal Counseling helps students with personal problems--everything
from minor issues to more serious troubles.
Experiential Education is a program that allows students to work in
their field, get paid, and receive academic credit. Our
Student Employment Services office lists part time job openings
available in the Amarillo/Canyon area for your student to pursue while in
school. We offer advice and assistance for any job search.
Additional Resources:
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What Can Parents Do? - A listing
of ideas that parents might try to insure their student's success.
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FAQ - Answers to the most commonly asked
questions we receive from parents
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Recommended Reading - Books that
can provide additional tips and insight for parents of college students
CAREER
COUNSELING
Many students come to WTAMU without a clear picture of what
I want to be when I grow up. Career Counseling can help them narrow
down their choices based on personality and interest assessments as well as
through one-on-one sessions with a professional counselor. This is a wonderful
tool for students who know what they want to major in as well. Visits with a
career counselor can confirm their choice and also allow them to explore fully
the career options available to them. For more information, call (806)
651-2345.
PERSONAL COUNSELING
Adjusting to college life can be stressful. Our personal
counselors are here to help your student through the bumpy times. We offer
basic assistance for study skills and time management as well as counseling for
more serious issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. All
sessions are confidential and free to the currently enrolled student.
Contact this office for further information at (806) 651-2345.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION / INTERNSHIPS
Sometimes, the best way to decide if a particular career
will be suitable is to "try it on for size." This is possible through
our Experiential Education program. Students work at major-related positions,
receive better-than-average pay, and also qualify for academic credit. Students
must have completed 30 hours of college work and have a 2.5 GPA to
participate. If this sounds like a good option and you need more
information, call (806) 651-2345.
JOB SEARCH
ASSISTANCE
Our office is available to help your student with all
aspects of the world of work. We offer resume, cover letter, and interviewing
assistance. We host several job fairs each year where students can come to
network and learn about job opportunities in today's market. In addition, our
office has a comprehensive program offering resume referrals and on campus
interviewing for seniors, alumni and interested community members. Your student
can get a head start on the job search with our office! Call (806)
651-2345 for more information.
STUDENT
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
The majority of West Texas A&M University students
work while attending classes. This office ~ centrally located in the JBK
between the Post Office and the Bookstore ~ is here to assist your student in
finding a part time job. We have listings from across campus and throughout the
Amarillo/Canyon area for positions ranging from child care to agricultural to
retail to office work. These listings are constantly changing, so be sure to
check often. In addition, your student can register with our office and then
access our jobs database via the web from home! Stop by or call (806) 651-2397
for more information.
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
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Encourage your child to take advantage of our services ~ we have a lot to offer
from choosing a major to finding that full time job after graduation.
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Help your student network with individuals you know who are employed in fields
he/she is interested in. Encourage him/her to meet with these people, ask
questions, and find out all they can about their intended field. See our
page on informational
interviewing for more details.
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Stress to your student the importance of planning now for the job search
process. While we are all in favor of students enjoying their college
experiences to the fullest, all too often we see students who have no idea what
they want to do with their lives - sometimes THE MONDAY AFTER THEY
GRADUATE! Help us prevent this from happening to your son or
daughter. We're here to help, and the sooner we are contacted by your
student, the better job we can do in preparing them for employment after
college.
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The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has some useful
information on their website about parenting a college student or a
college-bound student.
Click here to access this webpage.
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Encourage your student to follow the
College Success Timeline. By doing the activities listed in the
timeline, they will be equipped with both the knowledge and skills to
successfully implement a job search and secure their dream job.
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Encourage your employer to hire WTAMU students either as co-ops/interns,
part-time or full-time employees. Hiring students from WTAMU is a
win-win-win for all parties involved: the student, the employer and
WTAMU. Click on the following link for details concerning services we offer for
employers.
The National Association of Colleges Employers offers the
following resources for Parents of College students:
FAQ
1. Where is Career & Counseling Services located and when it is open?
We are located on the 2nd floor of the Virgil Henson
Activities Center at the north-east corner campus. CCS is in the same
building as the swimming pool and bowling lanes.
Our hours are 8 am - 7 pm Mondays and 8 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Friday
during the fall, spring and Christmas intersession and 8:00 am - 5:00 pm during
Summer. We are also open during most academic breaks, unless the entire
University is closed.
2. Whom does Career & Counseling Services assist?
We work with all admitted students-any major, any class year. We also assist
alumni, employers, faculty, and staff.
3. What does Career & Counseling Services do?
We help our clients make informed decisions about majors and/or careers. We
also assist our clients with finding hands-on experience, locating full and
part-time employment opportunities, and developing solid job search skills.
4. Does your student need an appointment to speak with a staff member?
If your student has a quick question, he or she can drop in without an
appointment. If your student needs more time with a staff member, 50-minute
appointments are available.
5. Your student has just graduated. Can Career & Counseling Services
still provide help?
Career & Counseling Services will assist your student for the rest of their
working lifetime. Once a member of the WTAMU family, always a member of
the WTAMU family.
6. When is the best time for my student to register with Career &
Counseling Services?
No registration is required to use Career & Counseling Services, and there
is never a bad time to visit our office. We encourage all students to take
advantage of our services as early as possible.
7. Can Career & Counseling Services help my student choose a major?
Career & Counseling Services doesn't provide academic advising, but we can
provide resources to help choose or clarify your student's major. If he or she
needs help deciding on a major, have them contact us to set up an appointment
with one of our counselors.
8. How can Career & Counseling Services help my student find a part-time
job, internship, co-op, or full-time job?
Your student can start by checking our website for basic job search
information, strategies, and web resources. Then he or she should stop by our
office to explore our Career Library and/or speak with a staff member for help
with customizing the job search.
9. Can Career & Counseling Services help your student with a resume
and/or cover letter?
We offer workshops at least two times every week to coach your student on how
to write resumes and cover letters. Additionally, we offer a critiquing
service to make sure the resumes and cover letters your student is using are
top- notch.
10. What is Career & Counseling Services eRecruiting system?
eRecruiting is an Internet-based tool that helps students search for all types
of jobs (co-ops/internships and full-time jobs) and schedule on-campus
interviews. Undergraduates interested in our Co-op/Internship program should
register their sophomore year. To maximize interview opportunities, graduating
students should register with Career & Counseling Services 12 months prior
to graduation.
Recommended
Reading
To further assist you in helping your student with the college transition and
career development, a list of recommended publications follows.
Helping Your First-Year College Student Succeed: A Guide for Parents
Richard Mullendore
National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in
Transition 2000
University of South Carolina
Career Coaching Your Kids
David Montross
Consulting Psychologist Press 1997
The Parents Crash Course in Career Planning
Marcia B. Harris
McGraw Hill - NTC 1996
When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parent's Survival Guide
Carol Barkin
Avon Books 1999
Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to
the College Years
Helen E. Johnson
Griffin Trade Paperback 2000
Almost Grown: Launching Your Child from High School to College
Patricia Pasick
W. W. Norton & Company 1998
Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years
Karen Levin Coburn
Harper Perennial 1997
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