Website Resources

 

The World Wide Web has a lot of helpful resources; below are a few that may be helpful. This list is not meant to list all options, but is a starting place. They have been broken down into categories with a brief description.

 

Career Exploration

Career Bridge is a one-stop, searchable database of education and training programs throughout Washington State where you'll discover:

The new home of the state's Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List: www.wtb.wa.gov/etp

  • Average earnings and employment outlook for each career choice.
  • Hot jobs for the future.
  • What you'll need to learn to get those jobs.


Career Voyages was developed by the Departments of Education and Labor. It provides information for students, parents, career advisors and people changing careers. Check it out: http://www.careervoyages.gov

  • Where to start
  • How to qualify for and get a job
  • Where will the demand be
  • Does education pay and how to pay for it

CareerOneStop is a Department of Labor-sponsored Web site that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers, students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent development in a global economy. On www.careeronestop.org you will find:

·         Your source for employment information and inspiration

·         The place to manage your career

·         Your pathway to career success

 

Post High School Education Prep

GEAR UP stands for Giving Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. This grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Check with your local school to see if GEAR UP is available and if your youth qualifies for this program. The national website is: www.ed.gov/gearup.

 

College during High School

Running Start It is intended to provide students a program option consisting of attendance at certain institutions of higher education and the simultaneous earning of high school and college/university credit. The program is available to eleventh and twelfth grade students and has minimal eligibility and procedural requirements. For more information check out the website: www.k12.wa.us/RunningStart/default.aspx


Career Technical Education (CTE) during High School

Tech Prep is an innovative and integral part of the education which includes more technical training, applied academics and opportunities mentoring and internships in the workplace. Students may receive college credit for approved high school courses; for more information check out their website: www.techprep.wa.org.

 

Preparing for Independence

Independence for Foster Youth focuses on the needs of Foster and Kinship Youth as they prepare for post high school education and the world of work. Much of the information is also valid for youth not in Foster Care or Kinship Care. Information on this site, www.independence.wa.gov includes:

  • Jobs
  • Education and Financial Aid
  • Housing
  • Budget

Other Programs

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. In addition to career training, they also provide academic training, including basic reading and math. Students who don't already have a high school diploma can enroll in their GED/high school program. Courses in independent living, employability skills, and social skills are also offered to help students transition into the workplace. Unlike traditional school, Job Corps runs year round. For more information their website is: www.jobcorps.org.

AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Full-time members who complete their service earn a Segal AneriCorps Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school or to pay back student loans; members who serve part-time receive a partial Award. For more information check out their website: www.americorps.gov.

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

One of the greatest challenges facing our youth pursuing post high school education is how to pay for it, where to find the money, and how to apply for assistance. Do not pay for scholarship and financial aid searches, most of those sites are scams. You can find most of the information on scholarships and financial aid you need or want free. We do not recommend or endorse one website over another.

The first step to applying for financial aid and scholarships is completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid). The forms and information can be found on their website www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students under age 23 must include parent’s federal income tax return from the previous year. Check with the website for application deadlines, also check with the school to find out their deadlines for the upcoming school year.

Once you have information back from your FAFSA then you can start with one of the websites listed below. This list is by no means exhaustive, but a starting place. Do not forget to check out college, university and technical school websites as well. Each institution of higher education will have private scholarships available only for students enrolled in their institution.

 

FinAid was established in the fall of 1994 as a public service. This award-winning site (www.finaid.org) has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools -- on or off the web.

Scholarships.com was founded in 1998 and has had one goal: to help students find the money they need to get a college education. Over the last several years, they have become the largest independent online free college scholarship search and financial aid information resource available. Their mission is to assist students and their families in finding college scholarships and to help them explore a variety of valuable financial aid opportunities.

FastWeb (www.fastweb.com) is a comprehensive website that is continually being updated with the most current information. Each user answers a detailed questionnaire about themselves. The site then uses this data to generate a personalized suite of information of scholarships, colleges, internships, jobs, and more.

The goal of Scholarship Help (www.scholarshiphelp.com) is to educate students about scholarship access and the necessary requirements for achieving maximum financial aid. In addition, they provide information free of charge to help students. They explain how college funding works, the types of scholarships available, how to find them and how to apply for them.

ScholarshipExperts.com was created in July 2000. It currently offers a highly rated free scholarship search service on the Internet at www.scholarshipexperts.com, and assists parents and students at no cost as they look for ways to pay for college.

The CollegeBound Network (www.collegebound.net) is a leading source of education information has more than 20 years experience in providing quality content to potential students and their families.

Institute of International Education (www.iiepassport.org) designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources. IIE administers the Fulbright Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State; IIE also designs exchange programs and technical training for other governmental agencies, corporations and foundations. IIE conducts policy research and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.