The last few weeks of high school are an exciting time for students. It's a whirlwind of graduation parties and festivities, topped by the graduation ceremony itself. But it can also be overwhelming.

Whatever path a student is considering, college or career, the summer after high school is the perfect time to start planning for the road ahead. I've gathered some resources you can share with students that are fun, easy-to-use and offer guidance for what lies ahead. They're organized by topic.

1. Planning Your Career Path and Major: Although seniors have likely contemplated their major or have a plan for entering the workforce, it never hurts for them to start thinking about a five-year plan. Here are some resources for generating ideas and planning:
   • Career tests like MAPP (there's a free version available online), QuizRocket's quick career quiz, and this 240-question career quizfrom GoodTherapy.org are fun-to-take, and they can provide some ideas for unsure students.
   • BigFuture, an excellent planning resource from College Board, offers an easy-to-use Major and Career Search directory. BigFuture’scustomizable college planning tool is another great resource as well.
   • MappingYourFuture is a wonderful resource for career, college, and financial planning. Start with the "Get Prepared for Life After High School" resource, which offers advice for high school students of all ages.
   • "Life After High School," by Annie Murphy Paul on TIME

2. Financial Planning and Scholarships: I remember how overwhelming it was when I started researching financial aid, scholarships, and student loans. Each of these resources includes great information about securing financing for college and budgeting.
   • FastWeb offers a wealth of information for students researching how to pay for college. There are resources for finding and applying for scholarships, tons of information about financial aid and student lending, and plenty more.
   • “The Best Budgeting Calculators for College Students,” by Reyna Gobel on MintLife
   • The National Association of College Admissions Counselors producedthese resources for students and parents. It's a great place to start for those considering college, and the page features useful financial planning resources as well.

3. Getting Ready to Live On Your Own: Whether its a dorm or a first apartment, living on your own is certainly one of the biggest changes after high school. Along with the freedom comes a lot more responsibility. Here are some fun resources that can help students prepare:
   • “Countdown to Your First Apartment: 3 Steps to Get Ready,” by Alex on MyFirstApartment
   • “30 Things You Need to Know About Dorm Life,” by Robyn Tellefsen on CollegeBound
   • “26 Cheap and Easy Ways to Have the Best Dorm Room Ever,” by Gabby Noone on Buzzfeed

4. Write Your Resume: By senior year, many students have been introduced to resume writing. But once they've graduated, it's an important skill to master. For both students entering the workforce and incoming freshmen, a well-written resume can open a lot of doors.
   • Adventures in Education offers a ton of great resume writing resourcesdesigned for recent graduates. Plus, there are ideas for preparing for a job interview, as well.
   • StudyPoint produced this article for parents and high school students. The post features some useful strategies for building a resume throughout hi... for college admissions, and there's also useful information for students preparing to enter the workforce as well.
   • The “Help Wanted: Professional Resume Writing” course from ReadWriteThink can be used by teachers, as well as students. In addition to covering the fundamentals of resume writing, the course offers links to other useful resume writing resources as well.

5. Spend Some Time Preparing Mentally for College or a Job: Of course, graduates should enjoy the summer after high school. But it only lasts a short time. They should also remember to spend some time getting ready for the next chapter.
   • "A Pre-College Summer To-Do List," by Lynn F. Jacobs and Jeremy S. Hyman on New York Times The Choice Blog
   • The "Teaching Ahead" blog archive on Education Week covers the latest in career- and college-readiness. Many different strategies for reaching students are highlighted in this collection of articles.
   • "15 Good Things To Do The Summer Before College," by Lynn F. Jacobs and Jeremy S. Hyman on U.S. News and World Report