Pathfinder Guidebook · FYE 100 Module 6 · Map Your Path — Academic Planning
10 Essential Skills in this module
  • 1Communication
  • 6Professionalism
  • 9Knowledge Application
  • 10Information Literacy
Mile Marker

Mile Marker #6: My Academic Plan

The assignment, with support, and a form you can fill in and save.

About 10 minutes 7 of 8 in this module

Not a final decision. A starting point for the conversation with your Success Coach.

You don't have to have everything figured out. What this Mile Marker asks is simpler than that: What did your interest results tell you? What's one direction worth exploring? What do you need to ask your advisor? And what could your next semester realistically look like? Those four things are enough to walk into an advising appointment and have a real conversation.

AI use: AI-supported

You may use AI as a thinking partner to explore your ideas. Work with what it gives you, then write your responses in your own voice. Keep personal identifying details, like your student ID or birth date, out of it.

See the AI Course Policy in the syllabus. Want a place to start? Try the optional AI thinking partner prompt.

Look back at

Lesson 1.4: AI use labels

Where to submit

Submit your responses in the Mile Marker #6 assignment in Blackboard. Check Blackboard for the due date.

Want help keeping it organized? The fill-in form at the bottom of this page saves your answers as a PDF named "Mile Marker #6" that you can upload to the assignment.

Prefer paper? A printable handout for this Mile Marker is with the assignment in Blackboard. Fill it in by hand, then upload a photo or scan.

You can also attach your Academic Planner if you'd like. That's your choice.

Jump to the fill-in form

Respond to each question

Question 1

Your Interest Results

After completing the Career Coach assessment (or the O*NET Interest Profiler), what did you find out about yourself?

  • What were your top two or three interest types, and do they feel accurate?
  • What career matches came up that surprised you, confirmed something, or left you curious?
  • What did the results suggest about the kind of work environment or people you might thrive with?
A strong answer

Names your top interest types, says honestly whether they fit you, and connects your results to at least one career direction.

Look back at

Lesson 6.2: The six interest types

What to do with your results

Question 2

One Direction Worth Exploring

Based on your results and your own instincts, name one program or pathway at OCTC you want to know more about.

  • What program are you considering, and why does it feel worth exploring?
  • Which credential type (certificate, diploma, AAS, or AA/AS) fits your goals right now, and why?
  • How is that credential different from the other options, and would a transfer pathway matter for your plans?
  • What do you already know about it, and what do you still need to find out?
  • Is there anything about it that feels uncertain or doesn't quite fit yet?
A strong answer

Names one real OCTC program, explains why that credential type fits your goals and how it differs from the other options, and is honest about what you still need to find out.

Look back at

Lesson 6.3: What each credential means

Connecting your results to programs

Question 3

Your Questions for Your Success Coach

Write five specific questions to bring to your advising appointment, in priority order, most important first.

  • Make them about your situation, your program interest, and your timeline, not questions any student could ask.
  • Include at least one question about transfer, financial aid, or the order you need to take courses in.
A strong answer

Lists five real, specific questions in priority order, with at least one about transfer, financial aid, or course sequence.

Look back at

Lesson 6.4: Questions to bring to your Success Coach

Question 4

Your Next Semester

Sketch a realistic course load for your next semester. The Academic Planner can help.

  • Which courses are you thinking about, and about how many credit hours would that be?
  • Why is that load realistic with your work, family, and other commitments?
  • What did you learn about prerequisites or course sequence that shaped your choices?
A strong answer

Names specific courses and an approximate credit load, explains why it's realistic for your life, and mentions one thing about sequence or prerequisites. It's a draft. Your Success Coach will help you finalize it.

Look back at

Lesson 6.4: Think like a strategist

Academic Planner (your plan)

Optional: AI thinking partner

If you'd like help generating advisor questions or thinking through your results, try this prompt in Microsoft Copilot or another AI tool:

Try this prompt

"Based on my interest in [program or career area], what are five specific questions I should ask my academic advisor before registering for next semester?"

Use what's useful, but make the questions your own. Generic questions won't serve you in the appointment.

Check before you trust it

AI doesn't know OCTC's programs, prerequisites, course schedules, or application deadlines. Anything it tells you about requirements needs to be checked with your Success Coach or the KCTCS catalog (opens in a new tab).

Look back at

Using AI to explore your plan in Lesson 6.4

How it's scored

Full credit goes to responses that are specific, honest, and clearly connected to your actual situation, written in your own voice. Generic answers that could apply to any student won't earn full credit. Your questions for your advisor should be real questions, not placeholders.

Mile Marker scoring guide
ScoreWhat it means
4Strong ProgressYour response is thoughtful, specific, and clearly connected to the purpose of the Mile Marker. You show strong reflection, effort, and engagement with the topic.
3On TrackYour response addresses the main parts of the task and shows reflection and engagement. Some ideas could be explained in more detail or connected more clearly.
2DevelopingYour response is partially complete or too general. More detail, reflection, or clearer connections are needed.
1Needs RevisionYour response is very limited, incomplete, or unclear and does not fully address the task.
0No EvidenceNo submission was provided, or the response does not meaningfully engage with the task.

Fill it in and save as PDF

Type your responses below, then select Save as PDF. Upload the PDF to the Mile Marker #6 assignment in Blackboard.

Pathfinder Tip

Your typing is saved in this browser as you go, so you can come back later on the same device. It isn't sent anywhere until you upload it.

Mile Marker #6: My Academic Plan

Question 3Your Questions for Your Success Coach

In the print window, choose Save as PDF (or Microsoft Print to PDF) as the printer. The file name will start with "Mile Marker #6".