Feature Photo: Marian High School Students Get Guidance From Software

College choices, career choices, life choices. Students at Marian begin to navigate their course through these looming decisions early on in high school. It starts their freshman year with a variety of tests designed to help students uncover their talents and interests.

Students continue to receive help throughout their four years from Marian’s Naviance software program, a comprehensive tool that guides students through high school, to and through college. Naviance is a technology based guidance program that uses personal inventory and career interest tests to develop a personal profile for each student.

Each grade level has standards for testing that focus on students’ strengths, interests, and choices, and works into an overall four-year plan. Naviance also ties in state and national requirements, such as the ACT. Students have goals and use a success planner to insure that they are on target with their course load. Family involvement in the process is encouraged, allowing access to their daughter’s tasks and goals.

The benefits of Naviance for the students, family, and faculty are substantial. Naviance reduces the incredible amount of paperwork that used to be required for the college application process because transcripts are sent electronically. Students can search nationally for scholarships and enrichment programs in a national database. In addition, the ability to have a one stop look at all of the available choices makes the college application process easier and more effective.

The Hudson family, in particular, can attest to the benefits of the enriched guidance department at Marian. With two daughters, Macy, a Senior and Mallory, a Sophomore, they have diverse needs for Naviance. According to Mallory, "Naviance has been incredibly helpful with organizing my four year plan by giving me a better understanding of the classes I will take in the future. The best part is I can do it all on my computer at home.”

Macy has used it to assist her with college plans.

"Through Naviance I found dozens of scholarships I would've never known about otherwise."

This story was provided by Patch reader Holly Everly Mustion, who works in media relations at Marian High School. Have a great photo or two you'd like to share with the community in a quick and easy way? Post it on Bloomfield Patch's new "Neighborhood Gallery" by clicking on the button on the homepage. The gallery will be prominently featured on all article pages, so all of Patch will see your news! You can also always send them to Art.Aisner@Patch.com, with a few details.