Life After High School

So, you are thinking about going to College! What’s next?

Search here for colleges with your choice of degree and training.

College and Degree Finder - Nationwide

College and Degree Finder - Washington Community Colleges and Trade Schools

Ready to apply to the colleges of your choice? Mrs. Estes is ready to help! Contact her at lisa.estes@rsd.edu or call extension 2623 at your high school.

Paying for college

Think you won’t qualify for financial aid? Think again! Paying for college can be a stressful prospect. There are resources available to help you such as loans, grants, scholarships and more.

You should apply for financial aid as soon after October 1 as possible. Do not wait until you are admitted to a school to apply for aid. Before you apply for financial aid you will need to create an FSA ID, one for the student and one for a parent/guardian.

In Washington, there are two different applications for financial aid, but you only need to file one:

1. File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

• Before you start, check the list of the documents you need.

2. File the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) if you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid.

• Before you start, check the list of the documents you need.

Watch these helpful videos with information. It is worth the watch!

Completing the FAFSA 2020-2021 (English) 

Completando la FAFSA (Espanol)

How to avoid common mistakes

More about financial aid can be found on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

Scholarships

There are millions of dollars that go unclaimed every year! Make sure you are taking the time to search for scholarship opportunities!

Search millions of tuition funding sources

Search for a scholarship for schools/programs in Washington

Search for scholarships specific to Washington State

RSD Scholarship opportunities

College Disability Services

7 Things to Know About College Disability Services

Are There IEPs and 504 Plans in College?

Ready to step up and serve? Thank you!

• Talk to recruiters and find out what each branch has to offer. 
• Ask about benefits, culture, bases and leadership opportunities.
• Participate in recruit functions (optional)
• Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to determine the Military Operations Schools for which you qualify.
• Choose your branch and career of choice.
• Process through MEPS (Military Entrance Processing)

You are on your way!  Thank you!

Practice ASVAB Resources

Military.com

Union Test Prep

ASVAB Tutor

U.S. Military Service Branches

Local Union Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships through the Department of Labor

Farm and Ranch Apprenticeships

ANEW Pre-Apprenticeship Program - Seattle

ANEW Apprenticeship Opportunities Project

Cosmetology

Real Estate and Real Estate Support careers 

Learn about Insurance and being a business owner

Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Training

Aviation

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Love’s Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship

Contacts for Trades, Colleges and Programs

Post-Secondary Education

Perry Technical Institute  -  Yakima, Washington

Perry Tech has several trade-type programs that offer hands-on learning coupled with job experience in a student's chosen area.

Explore their programs here, there are a lot of great options and most of the programs/certificates can be completed in 18 months to two years.

Perry Tech's student to instructor ratio is 16:1, their job placement success rate is over 94%, and they have many scholarship and financial aid options.

Columbia Basin College - Pasco, Washington

Columbia Basin offers a variety of trades programs that create a clear pathway to careers. Do you love learning how things work? Are you passionate about building and creating? Do you enjoy diagnosing problems and developing solutions? In the School of Professional Technical, you can explore many careers that turn your passion and talent into a high-tech, in-demand and rewarding job. 
 

For students who want to go to work right out of high school, there are several resources that can help make that possible.  

WorkSource Washington 

• Job search
• Explore careers
• Assistance with applications and interviews
• Economic information
• Workshops and hiring events
• Video

CareerOneStop 

• Job Search
• Explore careers
• Find training opportunities
• Help with resume and applications
• Tutorial Videos
• Video

My Next Move

• Search careers with keywords
• Browse careers by industry
• Take an interest survey to match you to careers
• Search for careers by the amount of prep required 

Washington Career Bridge

• Explore Careers
• View Job Trends
• Find education
• Video

Students can also visit their high school’s College and Career office or webpage to find current, local opportunities, applications, and job fairs to attend.

Contact Mrs. Estes when you need help with any of the steps required for applying to a job.

Some students have an adventurous spirit with a desire to do something meaningful and make an impact on the world that is bigger than themselves. They want to see the world and help others.

A growth year is a time between a student's studies. They have completed their diploma and are taking time in between studies to gain experience, participate in service and humanitarian work, and to stretch their thinking beyond what they know.  This can come in many forms.  It is a time to explore, help, gain experience and reflect on that valuable growth.

Look for opportunities in the following areas:

• Medical
  • Nursing - Midwifery - Mental Health - Dentistry - Physical & Speech Therapy
• Conservation and Wildlife
  • Wildlife - Marine - Veterinary - Big Cats - Sea Turtles
• Development
  • International Development - STEM Internships - Energy & Sustainability - Law & Legal

2020's Best Volunteer Abroad Programs & Projects

Teaching, environmental and wildlife conservation, medical, business, etc. 

There are so many opportunities!

There is a ton of information to wade through, and so many exciting opportunities, so reach out for help as you need it.

Intern Abroad Programs

Once you click on the link you can scroll down to explore many options. Some programs offer college credits, some offer the experience as part of your pay, and some you pay for the travel and get paid for your work. There is a ton of information to wade through, and so many exciting opportunities, so reach out for help as you need it.

AmeriCorps

What is Americorps?

Stories of Service

By joining Washington Service Corps’ AmeriCorps program, you can help local non-profits, schools, government agencies, tribal nations and faith-based organizations meet community needs. 

WSC members serve in a variety of fields, including: environmental stewardship, education, health, disaster preparedness, financial literacy, and so much more! Take a look at the member stories of service to see how WSC members are making a difference in their communities.

Service with WSC is very similar to a paid internship.

Members receive:

• Monthly living allowance $1,495 before taxes and withholdings
• Basic health insurance
• Education Award $6,195 grant that members can use towards the education of their choosing. (For 10.5 month commitment)
• Student loan forgiveness program availability - if needed

Summer positions are listed during the months of April and May.

Fall positions are listed during the months of June and July.

APPLY TO BECOME A MEMBER

Training Centers in the Northwest - Map and Trades Offered

***Click in the black boxes to go to the trades exploration page. There is so much to explore!***

Did you know that students can earn credits for working? 

WHO: Any current sophomore/junior who has identified their career path, has a minimum 2.5 GPA, and has completed or enrolled in a class that is related to their career path and job placement (connecting class).

WHAT: Worksite Learning (WSL) is a CTE (Career and Technical Education) program designed to place students in a working environment that matches their career path. WSL is a partnership between the school, employer, and student. WSL provides exposure, experience and paid (some unpaid) training – a capstone experience to the student’s program of study. The experiences are monitored and supervised by both representatives of an educational institution and a community partner.

• Students must provide their own transportation.

• Students receive a 0.5 semester credit while working part-time in a local business.

• Hours per semester work will be determined by the IEP team and can count for a maximum of 1 credit per year if the student is meeting program requirements. 

• Students in the program are released 1-2 periods from the school day to go to work. 

• Attendance at WSL Seminars is required. 

Authorization Form

Some career research and job searching sites can be found here.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

A state-wide program for people with disabilities that need assistance to procure and hold gainful employment.  The services each DVR customer receives are based on the unique needs of the individual and are designed to eliminate or reduce the barriers to employment being created by the individual’s disability. It is important that an individual be able to actively participate in the rehabilitation process and the disability be as stable as possible.

Not everyone with a documented disability is eligible for DVR services. DVR is designed to assist students who will need help learning how to live independently and may need assistance with managing a job and finances.

DVR services offered

DVR Application - Ask Mrs. Estes for the paperwork and the process.

Responding to Autism 

What We Believe: For over 13 years, Responding to Autism has provided support, education, and guidance to families, educators, and individuals with autism of all abilities and backgrounds. We provide an individualized approach that offers support and facilitates attainable opportunities.

We believe that every human being is born with the drive for continued growth and competence. Somewhere along the line, autism camouflages or covers this drive with obstacles, but it never truly disappears. We know that when provided with the necessary tools, support, and guidance individuals of all abilities, can lead a life of inclusion, empowerment, and purpose.

Learn More About Responding To Autism

Services:

• Autism screening

• Parent Education and Support

• Educational Consulting and Training

• EmployAbility Services

• Adult Socials