For high school students in the Over the Mountain area, it is time to start making decisions about college.
In an environment where attending college is getting more and more expensive and a college degree no longer guarantees a good job, a new test is helping Over the Mountain students discover their ideal majors and careers.
Several local students recently took an online test called Latitude, launched in December by the Tennessee-based company YouScience.
The test measures students’ interests and abilities based on a two-hour online assessment. The idea, company officials said, is that job success is more likely if someone pursues a career for which they are naturally suited.
“Our mission is to help young adults successfully transition from dependent high school students to independent, employed adults in the career of their choice,” said Philip Hardin, chief executive officer of YouScience.
The test is also available to college students who are still trying to determine their career paths.
Genny Pittman, a senior at Homewood High School, and her sister, Ashley Pittman, a senior at the University of Alabama, both recently took the test.
“Initially, I thought an aptitude test would be a waste of time,” Genny said. “But after taking Latitude, I am now more confident than ever in my strengths.”
Ashley said the test affirmed that she is on the right career path.
“As a senior in college, I was shocked to see that all of the career options matched to the major I was in,” she said.
The test begins with a series of exercises that measure 14 of the aptitudes that are most indicative of college and career success. These aptitudes range from spatial orientation to inductive reasoning. Each exercise takes anywhere from five to 12 minutes.
A Mountain Brook High School sophomore said the test indicated he has untapped strengths.
“Some aptitudes I knew I had, but others were pointed out that I had never realized,” Charlie Cope said. “The results are so interesting.”
Olivia Burton, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, said her test results were spot-on.
“My results from Latitude were surprisingly detailed and accurate, and they told me a lot about my current strengths and weaknesses,” she said.
Mike Washburn, father of Spain Park High School senior Ally Washburn, said the results helped his daughter focus on college and career options she had never considered.
“The experience was eye-opening for the entire family,” he said.
Susan Peddy, mother of Vestavia Hills High School senior Michael Peddy, said she wished the test had been available when she was applying to college.
In addition to Homewood, Mountain Brook, Spain Park and Vestavia Hills students, students from Altamont, Briarwood, Indian Springs, John Carroll, Oak Mountain, Pelham and Westminster School at Oak Mountain have also taken Latitude.
