Prospective Student

Planning for College While Still In High School

The transition from high school to postsecondary education can be a smooth one with less anxiety and fewer surprises if a special education student and their family plan strategically and consistently throughout the high school journey A tool that can assist with this process is a series of checklists that should be followed and reflected on from the freshman to senior years so that the student is mentally, academically, and socially ready for the change of postsecondary setting. Thinking and planning ahead is a skill that will help students in the transition phases. 

High School Sophomore Year: Checklist

Actively plan your IEP meetings with your case manager, and the student should speak on their own behalf. 

  • Review freshman year checklist.
  • Continue to build your graduation file. Contents may include high school activities such as awards or recognitions, a list of hobbies or leisure activities, and immunization records.
  • Actively plan your IEP meetings with your case manager, and plan to speak on your own behalf.
  • Set academic goals that are achievable.
  • Practice requesting your own accommodations rather than relying on your case manager.
  • Investigate other service providers with your case manager who can offer assistance after graduation such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security, mental health counselors, or a school or county social worker.
  • Begin to explore colleges, programs/degrees, and entrance requirements.
  • Discuss with your counselor college options, career choices, and preparation for college entrance exams.
  • Begin career exploration activities such as skill inventories, career aptitude, and career investigation.
  • Build your resume through school activities and volunteer experiences, as most scholarship and entrance applications place importance on student involvement.
Helpful Resource: Explore ACT Student Resources to support your test readiness.

High School Junior Year: Checklist

Explore assistive technology that may be helpful now and at the postsecondary level. Improve your skills to advocate for preparation for college. 

  • Review progress made during your Freshman and Sophomore years.
  • Continue building your graduation file. Add items like scholarship applications, test scores, and recommendation letters.
  • Help your case manager plan and lead your IEP meeting. Set new IEP goals.
  • Learn when and how to talk about your educational needs with instructors.
  • Invite outside service providers (e.g., Voc Rehab, social workers, counselors) to your IEP meeting.
  • Explore assistive technology tools that can support your learning now and in the future.
  • Practice self-advocacy skills to prepare for postsecondary environments.
  • Strengthen your organization and time management skills with planners, calendars, or digital tools.
  • Begin narrowing down your career options and match them to postsecondary programs.
  • Attend college fairs, open houses, and weekend campus visit events.
  • Schedule in-depth visits to colleges or technical programs, especially with disability services offices.
  • Explore scholarships, including those offered by parent workplaces and local organizations.
  • Schedule and prepare for required tests like the ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer.
  • Take practice assessments online or attend test prep workshops.
  • Consider taking the ASVAB if military options are of interest.
Helpful Resource: Explore ACT Student Resources to support your test readiness.

High School Senior Year: Countdown Checklist

Finalize the graduation files. Include college applications, college visits, FAFSA, and financial aid information. 

  • Continue to build your graduation file. Include items like college applications, FAFSA info, transcripts, IEP/504 Plan copies, and letters of recommendation.
  • Lead your own IEP meetings and clearly outline your postsecondary plans and goals.
  • Make your senior year feel more like college: manage your time, keep track of assignments, and use a planner or calendar consistently.
  • Develop an organized system for storing and accessing your class materials.
  • Challenge yourself academically. Take rigorous classes without modifications if possible.
  • Only use accommodations that are available at the postsecondary level and get familiar with how to access them independently.
  • Research and begin using assistive technology that can support you after high school.
  • Complete assignments on time and build strong habits for academic responsibility.
  • Practice self-advocacy by speaking with teachers and staff directly, instead of relying solely on your case manager.
  • Understand how disability support changes after high school. Learn the differences between high school and college disability laws.
  • Complete and submit college applications and entrance essays. Most are available online—check deadlines early!
  • Meet with your counselor to discuss scholarships. Search online, but never pay for scholarship listings—they should be free.
  • Have financial aid and debt conversations with your family and counselor.
  • Submit the FAFSA early and know your college’s priority deadline.
  • Visit potential colleges. Schedule meetings with admissions and disability services to review documentation requirements and accommodations.
  • Retake the ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer if necessary to meet admission or scholarship criteria.
Tip: Prepare for financial aid season with FAFSA.gov and use College Board's Scholarship Search to explore funding options.

First Year College Experience: Student with Disabilities Checklist

 

  • Attend orientation—even if offered multiple sessions, try to attend more than once to get comfortable.
  • Locate and register with Accessibility/Disability Services to begin receiving accommodations. Re-register each semester.
  • Identify the Student Success Center or Tutoring Center and explore available academic support options.
  • Connect with Academic Advising—understand course selection, degree planning, and program mapping.
  • Locate housing options, especially if accommodations are needed in a residential setting.
  • Learn about dining services—including meal plans, kitchen access, or dietary accommodations.
  • Set up your student communication tools (email/StarID) and check them regularly for critical messages.
  • Familiarize yourself with campus layout: library, disability office, advising, tutoring, health services.
  • Meet with disability staff and instructors early to establish accommodations for the semester.
  • Explore assistive technologies on campus and ensure they're set up (e.g., screen readers, note-taking aids).
  • Practice self-advocacy: communicate needs directly to instructors or staff.
  • Attend workshops or support groups (if offered) to connect with peers with disabilities.
Pro Tip: Use the college’s online student portal to find tutoring schedules, advisor contacts, and dining/housing portals. Contact your Accessibility Services early to submit documentation each semester.

Postsecondary Transitions — Resource Library

Prospective Student

Transition to College

Transition to Employment

System Tools & Transfer (Minnesota State)

Rights & Policies

Preparing for Employment

Preparing for employment can begin while students are still in high school or college. Work-based learning, internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing give students opportunities to explore careers, build confidence, practice workplace skills, and connect classroom learning to real jobs and career pathways.

These experiences can help students learn more about different work environments, understand employer expectations, and identify the supports they may need to be successful in the workplace.

  • Work-based learning connects classroom learning with real workplace experiences.
  • Internships provide hands-on experience in a career area of interest.
  • Apprenticeships combine paid work experience with related instruction and skill development.
  • Job shadowing allows students to observe professionals and learn about daily responsibilities in a career field.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a way to learn a job by working with experienced professionals while also receiving education and training. Apprenticeships combine hands-on learning with classroom instruction and may allow students to earn a paycheck while learning important job skills.

Apprenticeships can help students explore careers, build confidence, develop workplace skills, and prepare for future employment. Students may participate in apprenticeships in career areas such as healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, construction, transportation, hospitality, education, and other skilled trades.

Apprenticeships are often structured programs with support from employers, colleges, workforce agencies, and career training organizations. Some students with disabilities may also receive accommodations, assistive technology, job coaching, or other supports to help them succeed in the workplace and training environment.

Steps to Learn About Apprenticeship Opportunities

  1. Talk with your school counselor, advisor, or disability services office about apprenticeship opportunities.
  2. Visit apprenticeship and workforce websites to explore careers and available programs.
  3. Ask employers, instructors, or career center staff about hands-on training opportunities.
  4. Attend career fairs, workforce events, or informational sessions to meet employers and training providers.
  5. Learn what skills, training, or certifications may be needed for careers that interest you.

Questions You Can Ask About Apprenticeships

  • What apprenticeship programs are available in career areas that interest me?
  • How do I apply or sign up for an apprenticeship program?
  • Will I be paid while participating in the apprenticeship?
  • What skills and certifications will I learn?
  • What supports or accommodations are available if I need them?
  • Can this apprenticeship help me continue into college, training, or full-time employment?

Minnesota Apprenticeship and Employment Resources

Apprenticeships can provide valuable real-world experience while helping students build independence, confidence, workplace skills, and career connections. Many students begin exploring apprenticeship opportunities while still in high school or college as part of their transition planning and career development.

Internships

An internship is a short-term work experience where you learn about a career and gain hands-on experience. Internships can help you explore career choices, practice workplace skills, and learn from professionals in a field that interests you.

Internships may be paid or unpaid, and some internships may also offer college credit. During an internship, you may work on real projects, observe employees, attend meetings, complete tasks, or learn how a workplace operates.

Internships can help students with disabilities build confidence, learn about workplace expectations, and identify any accommodations or supports that may help them be successful at work.

Steps to Learn About Internship Opportunities

  1. Talk with your college advisor, career center, or disability services office about internship options.
  2. Look at your college website, career services page, or job boards for internship postings.
  3. Ask your instructors or professors if they know about internships in your field of study.
  4. Join clubs, student organizations, or professional groups related to your career interests.
  5. Attend career fairs or employer events to ask about internships and future job opportunities.

Questions You Can Ask About Internships

  • What internship opportunities are available through my college or program?
  • How do I apply for an internship?
  • What kinds of jobs or career areas can I explore through an internship?
  • Will I earn college credit or get paid for the internship?
  • What skills will I learn, and how will this help me in the future?
  • What accommodations or supports are available if I need them?

Minnesota Internship and Career Resources

  • CareerForce Minnesota — Explore careers, job openings, internships, training opportunities, and workforce support resources.
  • CareerOneStop — Learn about careers, resumes, interviews, job searching, and work experience opportunities.
  • Disability Hub MN — Find disability-related employment resources, planning tools, and support services.
  • Disability Benefits 101 — Learn how work and benefits may work together while planning for employment.

Internships can help you learn what a career is really like before you choose a long-term job path. They can also help you build your resume, meet people in your field, and prepare for future employment.

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is a way to learn about a career by spending time with someone at their workplace and observing what they do during the day. Students in high school or college can use job shadowing to explore careers, ask questions, and better understand different work environments.

During a job shadowing experience, you may observe meetings, watch workplace tasks, learn about job responsibilities, and see how employees work with customers, coworkers, or technology. Job shadowing experiences are usually short-term and may last a few hours, a day, or several days.

Job shadowing can help students with disabilities learn about workplace expectations, discover career interests, and build confidence before participating in internships, apprenticeships, or employment opportunities.

Steps to Learn About Job Shadowing Opportunities

  1. Talk with your school counselor, college advisor, teacher, or career services office about job shadowing opportunities.
  2. Ask family members, friends, teachers, or community organizations if they know professionals willing to host a student for job shadowing.
  3. Attend career fairs or career exploration events to meet employers and ask questions about careers.
  4. Think about careers or workplaces you would like to learn more about and ask how you can observe or visit the workplace.
  5. Prepare questions ahead of time so you can learn more during the experience.

Questions You Can Ask During a Job Shadowing Experience

  • What does a typical workday look like in this job?
  • What skills are important for this career?
  • What education or training is needed for this type of work?
  • What do you enjoy most about your job?
  • What challenges do people sometimes experience in this career?
  • What advice would you give to students interested in this field?

Minnesota Career Exploration and Employment Resources

Job shadowing can help students explore careers and better understand what different jobs are like before making decisions about college programs, training, or future employment goals.