505 W. Olive Ave. Suite 550 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: (408) 730-7640 Fax: (408) 522-9850 For more info about all of NOVA's programs visit our web site: http://www.novaworks.org "If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance." -Abraham Lincoln	Career Information Career Info Career Choices Career Futures Career Education Career Education There are many choices beyond high school. Sixty-two percent of high school grads do enroll in a college upon graduation. The other 38 percent (nearly 1,000,000 strong) get a job, join the U.S. Armed Forces, become volunteers or interns, go to a technical or vocational school, or become apprentices. Non-college choices let you explore who you are, get valuable real-world training, and learn about the world "out there" before you decide to continue your formal education. This section gives you the basics about making educational choices and offers helpful resources to learn more. STEPS 10-13 This Is A Test Links to State and Local Schools  Career Credentials Financing Your Education  Miscellaneous This Is A Test Step 10: This is ONLY A TEST... Achievement, occupational, and admissions tests are a fact of life when making preparations toward your educational career goals. Now you can burn the midnight modems and prepare when you want and where you want. Prep online and get a higher score! The Educational Testing Service Online Educational Testing Service administers achievement, occupational, and admissions tests for clients in education, government, and business. The SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and the LMAST and the PRAXIS tests for beginning teachers are all found at this web site. ACT: Alternative to SAT GED: Everything you need to know about GED testing can be found here. GMAT: Interested in business? This is for you. GRE: Standard Graduate School entrance exam LSAT: So, you want to be a lawyer? You're going to need this. MCAT: Future doctors, leave your stethoscope at the door. PSAT: Get ready for the SAT exam and qualify for a National Merit scholarship SAT I & II: College entrance exam KAPLAN: Live and Learn! Plug into a wealth of educational and career resources! Princeton Review Online Test preparation site Petersons.com Connects individuals, educational institutions, and corporations through its critically acclaimed books, Web sites, online products, and admissions services. Peterson's reaches an estimated 105 million consumers annually with information about colleges and universities, career schools, graduate programs, distance learning, executive training, private secondary schools, summer opportunities, study abroad, financial aid, test preparation, and career exploration. The Test Prep Center This site helps you prepare for the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT and SAT. These special sites will help you excel in the college entrance exams needed to enter the fields of business, law, medicine, and other areas. The GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT and SAT have daunting reputations. If, however, you study hard and master the techniques presented, your score will improve--significantly. top of page Career Credentials Step 11: Some careers require a license issued by the State of California to be able to work in our state. Other careers are developed on the job through apprenticeship programs. Get all the information you need to get your career credentails in order. Apprenticeships All About Apprenticeships Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, and/or employer associations. Apprenticeships in California Go to the State of California web site to learn all the details. Internships Internship News Articles Several great reads about internships. Internships in Youth Development Agencies Search by state for internships at nonprofit organizations. Paid and unpaid positions. Summer and year-round openings. Site developed by the National Assembly, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group that focuses on youth and careers. Other Opportunities American Red Cross Provides young people with meaningful opportunities for education, training, and volunteer/community service. Youth up to age 24 make up 40 percent of all Red Cross volunteers! Job Corps Job Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24. The program has provided more than 1.7 million disadvantaged young people with the integrated academic, vocational, and social skills training they need to gain independence and get quality, long-term jobs or further their education. SERVEnet SERVEnet.org is the premier website on service and volunteering. Through SERVEnet, users can enter their zip code, city, state, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with organizations needing help. SERVEnet is also a place to search for calendar events, job openings, service news, recommended books, and best practices. United Way: Volunteering What are you interested in? Choose an area of interest and a location near you -- over 700 youth volunteer opportunities! Youth Service America (YSA) A resource center and premier alliance of 300+ organizations committed to increasing the quantity and quality of opportunities for young Americans to serve locally, nationally, or globally. Volunteer Job Opportunities with the City of Sunnyvale Call (408) 730-7533   top of page Links to State and Local Schools Step 12: There are many ways to get an education after high school. You can be successful by doing what makes you happy. For some people that means going to college, into the military or on to a trade school. Here are some links to help you choose what's best for you. Sites With Links to Schools Guide to California Colleges & Universities California Community College Campuses California State University Campuses University of California Campuses Private Colleges in California Postsecondary and Vocational Education Database of U.S. Colleges and Universities Santa Clara County School Districts Links to elementary, high school and unified school districts in Santa Clara County Web U.S. Universities, By State Tech & Trade Schools Go to the California Enhanced Training Inventory to locate trade and technical schools in your area. Community Colleges Cabrillo College Merritt College Chabot College Mission College City College of San Francisco Ohlone College College of San Mateo San Jose City College De Anza College Skyline College Evergreen Valley College Vista College Foothill College West Valley College Gavilan College Laney College California State University System: California Maritime Academy Sacramento State University Cal Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Jose State University Cal State East Bay San Francisco State University Cal State Monterey Bay Sonoma State University Statewide Office University of California System: UC Berkeley UC San Francisco UC Davis UC Santa Cruz Statewide Office Private Colleges and Universities (Bay Area): Academy of Art College Menlo College Bethany College Merritt College Cogswell Polytechnical College Mills College California College of the Arts Santa Clara University College of Notre Dame Stanford University College of San Mateo St. Mary's College of California Dominican College University of San Francisco Golden Gate U University of the Pacific Holy Names University Graduate Schools All About Grad Schools All About Grad School provides a comprehensive geographic directory of graduate schools in the United States. Choose from one of the following categories: Business School Directory Engineering School Directory Law School Directory Medical School Directory top of page Financing An Education Step 13: The links below will help you find scholarships, grants and loans to pay for the education your career choice requires. Plan ahead and review these resources now to pave the way toward your success. ArisNet The ACADEMIC RESEARCH INFORMATION SYSTEM'S HOMEPAGE (ARIS) provides up-to-date information on federal and private sources of grants, fellowships, scholarships, contracts and awards to colleges and universities, research centers, and individuals. It publishes three reports covering the areas of the arts, humanities, and the sciences. The reports are issued every six weeks to provide the most current information. The "Student Report" covers programs for undergraduate and graduate students in all the above areas in one annual edition. FastWeb This site provides a search of more than 200,000 scholarships, grants and loans for undergraduate and graduate students. The student fills out a questionnaire and within 15 minutes, receives by email a list of financial-aid sources, addresses, deadlines, and form letters for requesting details. Financial Aid Information Page Welcome to FinAid, the Financial Information Page. This page provides comprehensive, independent and objective guide to student financial aid. Mapping Your Future's Paying for School Guide This site will take you through the steps you need to consider or complete when planning to pay for your education. The Student Guide Financial aid information from the U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education News about the department, guides, programs and services, and publications and products. Check "Money Matters" for student financial aid information. top of page Miscellaneous There are so many great resources on the web to assist you when planning your educational and career goals. Do you have Major Confusion? Have you considered the military? Now's the time to think about your options - and you do have options, even if university isn't part of your picture. Follow these links to help in your decision making. ASSIST Information about course transfers between public institutions providing higher education within California. Center for Media & Independent Learning A University of California Extension offering developmental courses on-line College Board Online Brings together all the information and tools that students and parents need to plan for the transition from high school to college. It is the only place where students can register online for the SAT® and practice online with actual SAT test questions. Students and parents also use collegeboard.com to identify and search for suitable colleges, apply to college online, explore career options, learn about college costs, and navigate the confusing world of financial aid. CollegeNet CollegeNET lets applicants complete, file, and pay for their admissions applications entirely through the internet. Over 350 colleges and universities are included. You'll find other great resources here too, such as a guide to U.S. colleges and universities searchable by various criteria including geography, tuition, and enrollment. College View The CollegeView site offers an extensive library of multimedia virtual tours of colleges and universities. It also features a college information database. Embark.com For college-bound individuals this site features the most complete repository for exploring higher education including information on over 5,000 accredited two and four-year higher education institutions; detailed profiles on over 1,000 careers and majors; and comprehensive financial aid data, including information on over 500,000 scholarships. English As a Second Language This home page is a starting point for ESL students who want to learn English through the World Wide Web. This page links you to a variety of ESL sites and materials which will allow you to choose something appropriate for yourself. English As a Second Language A fun site to learn practical English. Learning in California Click on EDUCATION AND TRAINING to learn all about education in California. Mapping Your Future's Selecting A School Guide Here you'll find out what characteristics to look for when choosing a college or training program and how to find the best school for you. Monster.com's Campus Zone Advice to newly hired grads and interns, learn more about Monster's Campus Ambassadors, read current legislative updates on the Senate floor, Job Q&As, gain the the insight of insiders through the Experience Network which interviews thousands of alumni- without having to make cold calls. Peterson's: The Education Supersite Peterson's helps connect individuals and educational institutions. Santa Clara County Library Links to county libraries and listing of job search sites for youth. Santa Clara County School Districts The different school districts within Santa Clara County Santa Clara County Office of Education Information about education in general and links to public schools within each respective county San Mateo County Office of Education  top of page

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505 W. Olive Ave. Suite 550
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Phone: (408) 730-7640
Fax: (408) 522-9850
TTY: (408) 774-5448