December 19 - January 2: Winter Break: No School

January 13: End of 6-Week Grading Period

January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: No School

January 19: Thursday Trade Day

January 30: Non-Student Day

February 7: Community College Night at RBHS

When you think about your plans after high school, there are many different options:

• Immediately start in the workforce
• Decide the Military is your path
• Enjoy a gap year
• Begin a trade school program
• Attend a two-year community college
• Choose a four-year college/university

As we head into the spring months, you may continue exploring these options, or you may say to yourself, how do I get started? Your journey can start by researching different career options, gathering online information, creating a college list, getting a job or internship, and/or asking questions to those around you about their career paths. We've listed a few resources below to help you with this process. Finally, remember to enjoy the journey. Take a deep breath, know that you don't need to have it all figured out right now, and believe that you've got this! Counselors will give homeroom presentations to all Juniors in January reviewing career and college options.

How do I get started?

• Xello - explore careers and colleges. Every student has a username and password. Email ITHELP@powayusd.com for technical assistance.
• College Board - create your college roadmap
• Niche.com - create your college list
• Cappex.com - compare colleges
• The ASVAB Program can help with career exploration. Taking the ASVAB does NOT commit a student to enlist in the military.
• Building Your College List worksheet
• Watching informational interviews with industry professionals in various career sectors
• Attend College Visits in Fall 2023
• Watch PUSD CTE College & Career Fair Fall 2022 Presentation Videos
• In-person or virtual college campus tours

First, research! Think about the things that are most important to you - student life, academics, location, size, and more. Start by looking at each college's Instagram account, and what is featured on each school's website. You can get a great feel for the campus vibe and student life by exploring these sites for your college research.

Areas to research:

• Majors and Minors
• Extracurricular Activities
• Community Service
• Study Abroad Opportunities
• Campus Vibe
• Internship Opportunities
• Housing Options

• School Traditions

Secondly, visit (virtually or in-person)! Not only can you get a feel for the school culture by exploring their social media accounts and websites but also visit each campus online from the comfort of your home. We recommend that you reach out to the admissions team and ask if the college offers virtual information sessions and on-line campus tours. Also, ask if they would be willing to connect you with a current student so you could ask questions over the phone or Zoom. It's important to try to get information from current students and learn about their college experience. If you decide to visit a campus in-person, we recommend that you chat with other students, ask them what they like about the school or what they don't like, sit in on a class to get a feel for the learning environment, and check out the housing options.

We encourage you to check out our Scholarship Deadline Log on our website. Local scholarships are added weekly. In addition, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. This application will let colleges know that you need money to attend their school. Review our Scholarship Workshop Presentation to learn about additional resources to help with searching for scholarships.

The San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship program provides scholarship opportunities for local students to help pursue their educational goals and achieve their higher education dreams.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Application available online: Jan. 19, 2023
• Deadline to finish application: Mar. 8, 2023

Dress the part:

Your appearance is important. Every job has different attire requirements, depending on the line of work, so it's important to do your research and ask questions ahead of time to ensure you are dressed appropriately. In some cases, the culture of the organization may allow for a more casual look. For an office/business type setting, you might wear a nice dress shirt or blouse and nice pants, not jeans. Your clothes and your hair are an important part of your appearance, but it shouldn't be the focal point. The most important thing is to look presentable.

Arrive on time:

Get to your interview 10 to 15 minutes before you are scheduled. This is an easy way to make a good impression. It also gives you time to take some deep breaths and relax before you start the interview.

Eliminate distractions:

Avoid chewing gum and leave your cell phone in the car or turn it off.

Body Language:

It's normal to be nervous, but try to relax. Sit with both legs on the ground and hands placed in front of you or next to you. Try not to sit with your arms tightly crossed or leaning back too much. Make eye contact when the interviewer is asking a question or you're answering a question. If you have a difficult time with looking people in the eye, focus on an eyebrow or on the space between the person's eyes. This makes it appear as if you are looking at them.

Asking questions:

The interview is about you, but you should come with a few questions to show interest in the organization. It helps to learn about the place you are working before hand, so a quick google search can be helpful to come up with questions to ask. There is no such thing as a wrong question, but try to avoid talking about pay or award amount. One of the best questions to ask is "What are you looking for?" and then follow up with an answer on how you fit their needs.

Talking about yourself:

This can be both difficult and easy. Try talking about your education, your interests, your accomplishments, sports, class projects, clubs, volunteer work, etc. Have a few topics in mind before your interview and be ready to talk about them, giving specific examples. Stay positive and humble.

After the interview:

Write a thank you note! Either email, or snail mail. Your email or written note should be short and sweet. Double check your note for typos and make sure you spelled the person's name correctly. See resources in Titan Center or Google thank you notes!

This list is a nice start with a few basic rules for an interview. The Titan Center has reading materials with more in depth information to help with your first job and job interviews. Students can browse through them during off-roll, lunch, and after school. Good luck with your interview!

Yes, that is correct! Community colleges offer up to 2 years of free tuition, book assistance and so much more to first-time college students - must take a minimum of 12 units per semester, maintain a 2.0 GPA, must be a California resident, and no income requirement, but explore the college website for more details. It is a first-come, first-serve program and funds will run out! The Palomar Promise Grant application is required in addition to the college application and FAFSA or Dream Act.

The FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is the financial aid form students must complete to be considered for federal student aid programs, including federal student loans, work-study, and federal grants and scholarships. Your FAFSA information may also be used by your state and by colleges to determine your eligibility for non-federal aid. You can fill out the FAFSA online or print out a copy and mail it in. Either way, the FAFSA is an important form you’ll want to fill out correctly. Avoid these common FAFSA Mistakes

Free tutoring is available after school in the Titan Center on Mondays from 3:45-4:30pm and before and after school on Wednesdays from 8:55am - 9:55am and 3:45-4:30pm.

Paid Student Tutors

We also maintain a list of students who are approved by PHS Teachers to tutor students. Please contact Jaime Brown in the Titan Center for the list.