College Planning Case Study

Karen thought she knew exactly what she wanted to do about college. She had her eye on a couple of small liberal arts colleges in the northeast where some of her friends had gone. When she took the Ability Battery though, she found out some startling information about herself.  Karen had strong abilities that had never been put to use in high school. These were abilities that she could use in a field like architecture or engineering – fields she had never considered before. What’s more, during the Future Directions workshop, she realized that one of her continuing interests had been historical buildings. She loved to visit them, observe their decorations, and learn their history.

Karen became fascinated with the possibilities that her new-found possibilities offered her. She decided that when she got ready to apply for college, she would leave the door open to try out some of these new directions. She ended up going to a college that offered a strong architectural curriculum, as well as a strong liberal arts program, so that she could continue to explore her options.

Without this chance to learn about all of her abilities, Karen would not have had these choices. She would have continued in the path of her friends – and she would have missed the opportunities that helped to light up her life.

The decision to complete the Highlands Future Directions Program impacted not only her present education, but her future life choices. It made the difference between an exciting, fulfilling life and a life full of doubts and missteps.