Post-Secondary Options
How to Apply to Colleges
Four-Year Colleges/Universities
Community Colleges
Technical Colleges
Private Business and Trade Schools
Military
Americorps
Peace Corps
Apprenticeships
Employment
Post-Secondary Options Presentation Rubric
How to Apply to Colleges
Washington Four-Year Colleges and Two-year Colleges
· On-line applications are encouraged at all Washington colleges.
· Undergraduate applications to community colleges and four year colleges/universities are available online at each college/university website.
· Some college applications are also available at www.collegeNET.com or www.commonapp.org
Out of State Applications
· Research online or use the reference books available in the Career Center to provide basic information and addresses for most out of state colleges.
· E-mail or write directly to: Dean of Admissions
College
City, State, Zip Code
· Request: Application for admission, housing information and application, and financial aid information and application.
Fee Waivers
· See your counselor if you are on free/reduced lunch program or if you are unable to pay the application fee.
Application Do’s and Don’ts
Do . . .
· Read all directions carefully.
· Apply online.
· Have someone proofread your application.
· Use your essay as a chance to show admission officers that you are more than grades and test scores.
· Include anything that makes you stand out from the crowd, such as honors, awards, or special talents.
· Review your high school transcript for accuracy.
· Avoid using abbreviations and acronyms.
· Fill out the application legibly and professionally.
Don’t . . .
· Procrastinate.
· Lie or exaggerate.
· Leave off important details. For example, if you play in the school band, include what instrument you play.
· Send cash to pay the application fee.
Washington Public Four-Year Colleges/Universities
Four year colleges/universities offer students 4-year undergraduate liberal arts degrees as well as graduate degrees (master and doctor of philosophy). Bachelor degree programs are usually four years in length. Enrollment applications are due at specific times of the year usually by December of the students’ senior year of high school.
Entrance Requirements – College Academic Distribution Requirement (CADR) Coursework
· English = 4 credits
· Mathematics = 3 credits: Algebra 1, Geometry, & Advanced Algebra
· Senior Year Math-Based Quantitative Course: An additional math course or an algebra-based science course. (Completion of a higher-level math prior to the senior year exempts students from the senior-year quantitative course requirement. e.g., Pre Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus)
· Science = 2 credits of laboratory science, including one credit of algebra-based science.
· Social Science = 3 credits of history or other social science
· Arts = 1 credit of fine, visual, or performing arts
· World Languages = 2 credits of the same world language
· Students are encouraged to take a minimum of three credits of CADR courses each year of high school, including senior year.
· ACT/SAT score
· Other requirements vary depending on the college.
· For information regarding out of state colleges/universities, visit www.careercruising.com.
College / Web AddressCentral Washington University / www.cwu.edu
Eastern Washington University / www.ewu.edu
The Evergreen State College / www.evergreen.edu
University of Washington
UW – Bothell
UW – Tacoma / www.washington.edu
www.bothell.washington.edu
www.tacoma.washington.edu
Washington State University
WSU – Spokane
WSU – Tri-Cities
WSU – Vancouver / www.wsu.edu
www.spokane.wsu.edu
www.tricity.wsu.edu
www.vancouver.wsu.edu
Western Washington University / www.wwu.edu
Washington Independent Four-Year Colleges/Universities
Antioch University / www.antioch.edu
Bastyr University / www.bastyr.edu
City University / www.cityu.edu
Cornish College of the Arts / www.cornish.edu
Gonzaga University / www.gonzaga.edu
Heritage College / www.heritage.edu
Northwest University / www.northwestu.edu
Pacific Lutheran University / www.plu.edu
Saint Martin’s University / www.stmartin.edu
Seattle Pacific University / www.spu.edu
Seattle University / www.seattleu.edu
Trinity Lutheran College / www.tlc.edu
University of Puget Sound / www.ups.edu
Walla Walla University / www.wallawalla.edu
Whitman College / www.whitman.edu
Whitworth College / www.whitworth.edu
For information regarding out of state colleges/universities, visit www.careercruising.com.
Washington Community Colleges
Community colleges offer hands-on, job-related programs as well as courses for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college/university. Most programs are two years in length. In most cases, enrollment is possible throughout the year. When you enroll, placement assessments, such as the COMPASS are generally required and your background of education and experience is evaluated. You are then placed in courses according to your specific needs.
College / Web AddressBellevue College / www.bellevuecollege.edu
Big Bend Community College / www.bigbend.edu
Cascadia Community College / www.cascadia.edu
Centralia College / www.centralia.edu
Clark College / www.clark.edu
Columbia Basin College / www.columbiabasin.edu
Edmonds Community College / www.edcc.edu
Everett Community College / www.everettcc.edu
Grays Harbor College / www.ghc.ctc.edu
Green River Community College / www.greenriver.edu
Highline Community College / www.highline.edu
Lower Columbia College / www.lowercolumbia.edu
North Seattle College / www.northseattle.edu
Olympic College / www.olympic.edu
Peninsula College / www.pencol.edu
Pierce College – Ft. Steilacoom / www.pierce.ctc.edu
Pierce College – Puyallup / www.pierce.ctc.edu
Seattle Central College / www.seattlecentral.edu
Shoreline Community College / www.shoreline.ctc.edu
Skagit Valley College / www.skagit.edu
South Puget Sound Community College / www.spscc.ctc.edu
South Seattle Community College / www.sccd.ctc.edu
Spokane Community College / www.scc.spokane.edu
Spokane Falls Community College / www.spokanefalls.edu
Tacoma Community College / www.tacomacc.edu
Walla Walla Community College / www.wwcc.edu
Wenatchee Valley College / www.wvc.edu
Whatcom Community College / www.whatcom.ctc.edu
Yakima Valley College / www.yvcc.edu
For information regarding out of state colleges/universities, visit www.careercruising.com.
Washington Technical Colleges
The courses at technical colleges are job-related and the emphasis is hands-on. Most programs are under two years in length and tuition varies according to individual colleges and courses.
In most cases, enrollment is possible throughout the year. When you enroll, placement assessments, such as the COMPASS or ASSET, are generally required and your background of education and experience are evaluated. You are then placed in the course according to your specific needs.
Note:
· Many programs have waiting lists.
· You may need to sign up on a waiting list the fall of your senior year.
· Clover Park Technical College offers open orientation for new students. Call to find out specific days and times.
· Bates Technical College offers various information sessions throughout the week based on different programs. Call to find out specific days and times.
College / Web AddressBates Technical College / www.bates.ctc.edu
Bellingham Technical College / www.btc.ctc.edu
Clover Park Technical College / www.cptc.edu
Lake Washington Institute of Technology / www.lwtech.edu
Renton Technical College / www.RTC.edu
Private Business and Trade Schools
There are thousands of private schools across the United States that offer post-high school training in trades and technical careers. We encourage students to compare programs and fees of these private schools with state community and technical colleges before making a final selection.
Examples of business and trade schools in the Western Washington area include:
School / Web AddressArt Institute of Seattle / www.artinstitutes.edu/seattle
Ashmead School of Massage Therapy / www.ashmeadcollege.com
Bryman College / www.bryman-college.com
DeVry University / www.devry.edu
DigiPen Institute of Technology / www.digipen.edu
ITT Technical Institute / www.itt-tech.edu
For information regarding out of state colleges/universities, visit www.careercruising.com.
Military
There are many career opportunities in the Military Services. Many of the military careers are transferable to civilian jobs after your military service. You can take advantage of career training and get paid at the same time. Listed below are addresses and phone numbers of the local recruiting offices.
U.S. Air Force15018C Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98444
253-539-8607 / U.S. Army
15018 Pacific Ave. Suite B
Tacoma, WA 98444
253-537-1634
U.S. Navy
22219 Mt. Hwy, Suite B
Puyallup, WA 98373
253-875-0924 / U.S. Marine Corps
10317 122nd St. E, Suite F
Spanaway, WA 98387
253-840-1898
U.S. Coast Guard
Tacoma Mall Office Bldg.
4301 S Pine St., Suite 102
Tacoma, WA 98409
1-800-438-8724 / Washington Army National Guard
10020 Bridgeport Way SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
1-800-537-7522
253-589-7041
ROTC Program (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Air Force ROTC www.afrotc.com
Army ROTC www.armyrotc.com
Navy ROTC www.navy.com/careers/nrotc/
ROTC is part of a college curriculum, which includes classes and field training. ROTC students have the opportunity to earn a college degree while working toward becoming an officer. Scholarship opportunities are also available to ROTC students. Scholarships may be awarded based on GPA, test scores, physical standards, serving active duty or reserve component.
See the above websites for information specific to each branch and for participating colleges/universities.
Military Academy Appointments
Air Force www.usafa.af.mil
Army www.usma.edu
Navy/Marines www.usna.edu
US Military Academies offer students a four year undergraduate degree and training to be effective officers in military service. Students should apply for admission between April of their junior year in high school and January of their senior year in high school. Candidates for the military academies must be qualified academically, physically, and medically. Each candidate must also obtain a nomination from a member of Congress.
For more information, see the above websites or contact a military recruiter.
AmeriCorps
www.americorps.org
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency created to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation.
AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities throughout America, including:
· Tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth.
· Fighting illiteracy.
· Improving health services
· Building affordable housing.
· Teaching computer skills
· Cleaning parks and streams.
· Managing or operating after school programs.
· Helping communities respond to disasters.
· Building organizational capacity.
AmeriCorps Benefits:
· Work and Life Skills - As an AmeriCorps member, you will gain valuable experience in an area that interests you that can translate directly into job experience in your chosen field. You will learn team work, communication, responsibility and other essential skills that will help you for the rest of your life while gaining the personal satisfaction of taking on a challenge and seeing results. Many find their AmeriCorps year to provide them with more experience and skills than they would have gotten in a traditional, paying job.
· Financial Benefits - Full-time members who complete their service earn an AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. Members who serve part-time, receive a partial awards. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a modest living allowance during their term of service.
Peace Corps
www.peacecorps.gov
Today’s Peace Corps is more vital than ever, stepping into new countries like East Timor, working in emerging and essential areas such as information technology and business development, and committing more than 1,000 new volunteers as a part of President Bush’s HIV/AIDS Act of 2003. Peace Corps Volunteers continue to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities.
Peace Corps volunteers work in the following areas: education, youth outreach, and community development; health and HIV/AIDS; agriculture and environment; business development; and information technology. Within these areas, the specific duties and responsibilities of each volunteer can vary widely.
Peace Corps Benefits:
· The chance to make a real difference in other people’s lives.
· Professional and Career Benefits - Volunteers gain valuable skills and experience that will help in any career path.
· Educational Benefits - Peace Corps or Graduate School? Two unique programs, Masters International and Fellowship/USA, offer the best of both worlds.
· Financial Benefits and Loan Deferment - Find out about monthly living allowances during Peace Corps service, funds for transition after service, and deferment of student loans.
· Life after Peace Corps - The benefits of Peace Corps service will last a lifetime.
Apprenticeships
www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/apprenticeship
Students who prefer a hands-on approach to learning may want to consider an apprenticeship program. Apprentices learn a skilled trade through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Apprenticeship programs are considered by many to be the best way to receive training in the skilled trades.
Employers, labor unions, and employer associations, administer apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs are available in over 800 different occupations; however, over half of the apprentices work in the construction trades. The following are some of the most popular apprenticeship occupations.
· Auto Mechanic
· Bricklayer and Stone Mason
· Carpenter
· Cook
· Electrician
· Firefighter
· Machinist
· Painter and Paperhanger
· Plumber
· Roofer
· Sheet-Metal Worker
· Tool and Die Maker
If you are interested in any of these and still have questions, please call:
Apprenticeship Coordinator
950 Broadway Suite 200
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 596-3930
You may also check out these websites:
www.career.com
www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/apprenticeship
Employment
Wages
www.dol.gov (Department of Labor - labor market and wage information)
Students entering the workforce directly after graduation from high school should expect to earn minimum wage. The current minimum wage in Washington is $9.32.
Jobs that require high levels of education and skill pay higher wages than jobs that require few skills and little education. For this reason, we encourage students to pursue further education following high school graduation.
For information regarding careers and training needed for specific careers, visit www.careercruising.com.
Interview Skills/Techniques
www.monster.com (Information about resume’s, job interviews, job openings, etc.)
· Research the company/employer before you interview to learn more about the company/employer. This may also help you think of questions you could ask in your interview.
· Think of questions that might be asked in your interview and begin to formulate your answers.
· Collect and neatly arrange your important papers and work samples in a portfolio to bring to the interview. Don’t forget to bring several copies of your resume’.
· Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
· Practice interviewing with parents, teachers, and/or friends.