Schools
Home/ Schools/ College/University/ Products and Services/ Iowa Choices

Iowa Choices

Career Development and planning is an essential component of a student’s education. Understanding the importance of career and educational exploration and planning will help students make successful decisions and achieve their future goals. 

The Iowa College Student Aid Commission assists colleges and universities, students and families with career and educational development by providing a free software program that is part of the Iowa Choices system, for the 2007-2008 school year. 

Iowa Choices is comprised of nine different software programs and is the State designated Career Information and Decision-Making System. Iowa Choices is designed to equip educational professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to assist students and families with career exploration and information, as well as knowledge about educational and financing opportunities. The products open a world of opportunities for students by helping them implement career and educational plans with connections to postsecondary school options and career related information.

For the 2007-2008 school year, Choices Planner is provided free to all Iowa colleges and universities as well as high schools and area education agencies.

Choices Planner is targeted to college students and offers 5 different assessments to help match students to various careers, programs and majors.   Students can also search for specific career and labor market information and scholarships, take interview practice questions, create a resume and cover letter and design a career plan. 

Choices Planner offers an electronic portfolio and planning tools section for students. Information that is on Planner, including a resume, can be saved to a student’s portfolio and can be accessed from any computer with internet connection. The portfolio is transferable and can be kept by the student through college allowing them to build upon the information and plans already saved in their portfolio starting in middle school and high school. 

Iowa Choices is made up of a partnership between the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (ICSAC), Iowa Student Loan College Access Network (ICAN), the Iowa Department of Education, (DE), and the software company, Bridges Transitions Co. Funding for Choices Planner was provided by ICSAC and ICAN.

Free training and technical support is available from ICSAC and Iowa Student Loan College Access Network (ICAN). Lesson plans, activities, reporting features and customization options are also available in Choices Planner.

If your school would like more information on the Iowa Choices products or how to request training, please click here for the Order Guide or call 800-383-4222 and ask for Mary Beth Griffin. To access the program, go to www.collegeplanning.org/iowachoices.