Dreaming of a bright future

Career Guidance @ MSLA

At MSLA we believe that career guidance at school level has a pivotal role to play in addressing the high rate of youth unemployment in South Africa, as well as the very high dropout rate of first-year university students across the country.

career guidance 1

This is how we are reaching out!

  • Academic support to raise learner achievement
  • Digital literacy skills development
  • Career guidance camps
  • Job-shadowing opportunities
  • One-on-one counselling
  • Resources and guidance for online applications
  • Financial support for applications and NBT fees
  • Linking learners with local and international universities
  • Ongoing information about bursaries and deadlines
  • Inspiring youth to have a dream

Grade 11 Focus Areas

We include career guidance sessions in our Grade 11 winter holiday programme which is run over 5 days. The timing of these sessions has proved to be invaluable as the learners are made aware of the importance of their Grade 11 November results for applying to universities and for bursaries. It is a wake-up call for them to work harder to improve their results and their chances of realising their dreams.  These are the focus areas of our Grade 11 programme:  

Reflection time

Understanding what the real purpose of your life is

Have a dream

Aligning your dreams and aspirations with your potential

Mindsets

Developing a growth mindset

Self-management

Benefits of having goals

Admission Point Score - APS

How to calculate your APS

Research your options

University vs university of technology vs learnerships

How to fund your studies

Information on NSFAS, bursaries and scholarships

Inspiration

Change is an important part of our personal growth

What our Grade 11s have to say about career guidance ...

"I often wondered if I really knew what I wanted to do with my life - if I am ready to apply to universities. Career guidance has helped me realise what I should be focusing on. I now know how to look ahead, plan my future and spend my time wisely. Overall, I have grown as a person, and I can now make well-informed decisions so that I do not mess up my future."
★★★★★ 5/5
"Career guidance was WOW! Former MSLA students, who are studying at university, came to share their advice and insights on university life. Their experiences and tips on coping with challenges and staying focused, left an impression on me. The ten lessons of the butterfly also served as a powerful metaphor for overcoming future obstacles."
★★★★★ 5/5
"Career guidance has given me a lot of knowledge which I did not have. I did not even have a dream! I did not know that I can apply for bursaries. I did not know much about the university I want to go to. But - with the help of the career guidance sessions, I now have a dream and I know what I need to do to realise my dream!
★★★★★ 5/5

Before Covid-19 brought a halt to the MSLA programmes, the Grade 11 learners spent a week job-shadowing at local companies and government institutions during the winter school holidays every year.

After the pandemic, through the Ambassadors for Good Programme,  professionals from De Beers and other companies opened the door for Grade 11 learners to experience the world of work through amazing virtual job-shadowing experiences.

The virtual presentations can be screened live at the MSLA campus.

Opportunity for professionals from everywhere to help us grow this virtual programme in the future.

Contact us: 0836561587

Call to ACTION

Grade 12 Focus Areas

We include career guidance sessions in our Grade 12 autumn holiday programme which is run over 5 days. The learners are made aware of the opening and closing dates for applying to universities, for bursaries and for registering to write their NBTs. They are provided with as much motivation and support as possible. Career guidance sessions are also included in the Grade 12 Saturday programme. These are our Grade 12 focus areas:  

Online applications

Resources are available for online applications. 

How to ace an interview

After a session on the “do’s and don’ts” in an interview, the learners work in teams and take turns interviewing each other. A powerful real-life experience!

CVs / Resumes

Learners are taught how to use Canva for creating their CVs and resumes.

One-on-one support

MSLA tracks each learner to ensure everyone has applied to at least 3 institutions, including accommodation and for funding. Those who need are assisted with application and NBT fees.

What our Grade 12s have to say about career guidance ...

"The interviews we did were extremely powerful. Not only did we learn that some bursaries or scholarships require interviews, we even had the real-life experience! We were evaluated and assessed by our peers and their feedback taught us a lot about our shortcomings and strong points."
★★★★★ 5/5
"Career Guidance helped me a lot as I now have even more information about furthering my education. I am excited to share the information that I obtained with my friends at school. The interview was really nerve wracking as I was completely out of my comfort zone, but I did well and I am now hungry for more."
★★★★★ 5/5
"Once again, this opportunity was great. Our minds have been filled with a whole lot of positivity which motivates us to go for our chosen career. We got to do research about our chosen careers, and we’ve been exposed to university and bursary options. I feel more relaxed and able to process the career I’ve chosen."
★★★★★ 5/5

5 STEPS TO U.S. STUDY

01 Research your options

Learn about the variety of options available and how to identify an institution that best fits your needs.

02 Finance your studies

Need funding? Explore options or check out our university financial aid opportunity list.

03 Complete your application

Plan ahead and know the documents and requirements to apply for your program.

04 Apply for your student visa

Become familiar with U.S. student visa requirements and allow plenty of time to prepare your application.

05 Prepare for your departure

Pre-departure information including gathering documents for arrival and immigration compliance.

Inspired to DREAM BIG

Study in the USA

Amazing opportunities for South African youth to study in the U.S.
MSLA matrics are applying!

Learn more