Resources on this page

ASPIRE has resources for all students, no matter their direction after high school. Scroll down for more information on the following:

• College resources
• Choosing & Applying for Colleges
• Student Athletes
• Common App
• Trade & Apprenticeship Programs
• Tools for identifying interests and skills
• Online Career Resources
• Military Options

College resources

Oregon Goes to College – a great resource for ALL colleges in Oregon.
Download the App to stay up to date with your checklist!
ASPIRE College Timeline

Choosing & Applying for College Online Resources

Online College Search Engines: BigFuture, YouCanGo!, CollegeNavigator, College Raptor
20 Questions to find your best college match
Apply 101 – free college application tracking tool
In Search of a Match – A Guide for Helping Students Make Informed College Choices
Questbridge Student Resource Center: Hints and videos on what to be doing to get ready or college for each of your four years in high school, selecting the right college for you, college applications, and paying for college.
Kahn Academy – College Admissions: find advice that is relevant for all college applicants in addition to portions tailored for high potential students who are worried about whether they can afford higher education.
Oregon Private College Week: Visitation opportunities with 11 Oregon private colleges.
National College Fairs: Portland, Boise, Seattle Spokane.  Check the website for fall and spring dates, registeration details, and participating colleges.

Online tool to Compare Colleges side-by-side.
ASPIRE form to compare Colleges.

Student Athletes

Interested in playing a sport in college?  Check out this great article to best prepare yourself.

If you are planning on playing at a Division 1 or Division 2 school, make sure you register with NCAA.

Common Application

The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that is accepted at over 500 colleges and universities (mostly private institutions). This means that if all of the schools you’re applying to use the common application then you’ll potentially only need to fill out ONE application (some schools require extra essays – be sure to check your school(s) specific requirements).
AXS Companion from OSU and IECA – Free, open online resource designed by professional consultants to be used side-by-side with Common App as students work through their application. Each section includes explanatory videos, helpful tips, a glossary of application terms, and links to resources mentioned in the videos.
Common App Essay Prompts – juniors, get a head start on senior year and start working on these over the summer!
How to write a successful Common App Activities List 2020
Common App Advice from a College Counselor – NPR article from Aug. 2014

Trade & Apprenticeship Programs

How to become an apprentice!

Build Oregon – Build-Oregon.com was created and developed by the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter (AGC). Since 1922, AGC has provided its members a forum for the exchange of ideas and services designed to enhance the professionalism of the construction industry, including workers’ compensation and health insurance, legislative and governmental representation, safety and loss control consulting, professional education, and training and workforce recruitment.

Oregon Apprenticeship – Apprenticeship is occupational training that combines on-the-job experience with classroom instruction. Industry and individual employers design and control the training programs, and pay apprentices’ wages.  Check out this website for a full list of apprenticeship programs in Oregon.

Full list of Oregon certified apprenticeship programs.

Identify your Interests & Skills

CIS (Oregon Career Information System) – All PHS Students should have a login from the Career Class they take Junior year.
My Next Move
Super-Strong Interest Survey (presented by ECMC)
College Majors 101
Jung Typology Test – This free test is based on Carl Jung’s and Isabel Briggs Myers’ typological approach to personality.
“Four Steps to Choosing a College Major“, article from the NY Times

Career Online Resources

Career Journeys website: Check out some great short videos of young adults telling their story about how they ended up in 30 different career occupations. Provided by the Oregon Department of Education.
U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Ouhttps://www.careerjourneys.org/stories/tlook Handbook – Research various careers including the job description, work environment, training/education needed to get into that career, pay scale, job growth and job outlook.
Career One Stop – Career, training and job search. Sponsored by the US Department of Labor
Job Outlook (PDF) – Concise career information by career area, employment prospects, & entry requirements for more than 95 occupational titles – based on US Dept of Labor Statistics & provided by Rochester Institute of Technology.
State of Oregon Employment Department – find jobs by region, skill sets, demand, etc.
Career Pathways – Explore career options and take the next step on your career pathways at one of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. Check out the program list here.

Military Options

Preparing for the ASVAB test: 4tests.com
For a full practice test, see SFC Gilliland at PHS.

Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance – funding for tuition at Oregon community colleges (up to 90 credits) and public universities (up to 180 credits) for current Oregon National Guard members.