Oregon Student Access & Completion (OSAC) & ASPIRE

To help parents and students plan for what comes after high school, OSAC and ASPIRE provide free online resources for families to form plans, explore options, find the best post-high school fit, and identify funding options.

ASPIRE Resources
ASPIRE Weblinks
Timeline for Applying to College

Preparing for College Online Resources

Prepare for college starting in MIDDLE SCHOOL with these 7 simple steps.
College Preparation Checklist (PDF) – starting in Elementary School!  It’s never too early to start talking about college!
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog: Follow these posts as they follow one young woman’s journey through her college admission process – Post One, Post Two, Post Three, Post Four, Post Five, Post Six

Choosing & Applying for College Online Resources

College Raptor – online search engine to help match schools to your academic and financial options
Apply 101 – free college application tracking tool
In Search of a Match – A Guide for Helping Students Make Informed College Choices
Online College Search Engines: BigFuture, YouCanGo!, CollegeNavigator
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.

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).
2018/19 Common App Essay Prompts – juniors, get a head start on senior year and start working on these over the summer!
Summary of application requirements for the 500+ Common App schools.
Common App Advice from a College Counselor – NPR article from Aug. 2014

Blue Mountain Community College Application

For students applying to BMCC, click here for the list of steps in the BMCC Application process.
If the student has above a 2.5 GPA, be sure to apply for an Oregon Promise Grant before March 1.

Placement Tests for Community College

Students planning to start out at a Community College will need to take a placement test to determine which classes to start in.  If you have BMCC dual credits from a class you took at while at PHS in either Math or English, those credits will be used instead of taking a placement test.

Most Community Colleges use the Accuplacer Placement Test, some take the Compass Test.  If you are going to BMCC it’s free to take.  If you are headed to another Community College you can still take the test at BMCC, but it will cost $25.  Find more information on the BMCC Testing Center here.

Review first – It is important to give yourself time to review before testing. It could save you money and time!
ACCUPLACER:
See sample questions and test strategies at Accuplacer(link is external) or download the student app. at www.Accuplacer.org(link is external). Down at the bottom of the page click on student.
COMPASS:
www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html
www.testprepreview.com/compass_practice.htm
www.math.com

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
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

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook 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.
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.

PHS ASPIRE Resources

Parents and/or students may check out these resources by visiting the ASPIRE Room 201 and completing a check-out card.

• Books on Scholarships.
• Books on “Letting Go” of your senior.
• Books on colleges for those interested in careers in the arts, theater, and creative arts majors.
• Books on colleges for students interested in technology careers.
• Books listing best hidden colleges, schools that offer good education; small colleges.
• Books on studying for the SAT and ACT.
• Books on studying for the ASVAB and PSAT.
• Books on jobs not requiring a Bachelor’s (4 year) degree; apprenticeship & training programs.
• Insiders guides to colleges, visits of colleges by students rating colleges.
• Books on colleges for students with learning disabilities or ADD.
• Scholarships for Black, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic Students.