Welcome

Sami James: College and Career Counselor

Brooke Davidson: College and Career Specialist

Ann Voorhees: College and Career Specialist

TO SEE NEWSLETTERS FROM THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR CLICK HERE

Use the College and Career Calendar to get information about college visits, workshops, and more.

College and Career Calendar

For additional resources on Career Information and College Information:

Career Information

College Information

Financial Aid & Scholarships

CAREER ED

School to career

Career Related Learning Experience (CRLE) Opportunities

Please click here to find a list of the upcoming Career Spotlights.

Space is limited. When you are approved for an event attendance is important. If you have any questions please stop by the WHS CCC.

Options After High School

The Oregon Career Information System (CIS) is a wonderful resource for students and parents to research post high school options, including two and four year colleges and universities. Login using the Beaverton School District Student Bookmarks or click the image below to go directly to the BSD Student bookmark page.

See an short and easy directional video here:

Searching for colleges can be very overwhelming. It is important to narrrow your search based on factors such as; major, location, size, cost etc. See below for helpful college search websites:

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/

College Applications Portals usually open August 1st, just prior to your senior year. Please see below for common college applications portals:

Common App Portal: https://www.commonapp.org allows you to complete one application for multiple colleges

UC Application Portal: https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login

2 Year Schools

Military

Students can also choose to enlist in the military as a post high school option, either as enlisted personnel, through an ROTC program, or by applying to one of the Military Academies. Those accepted to Academies or who earn a ROTC scholarship have free college with a military commitment as an officer. Standards are rigorous. See individual military branch website for further details or visit with a recruiter at WHS. Make appointment in the CCC.

General Military Information https://www.todaysmilitary.com/

Gap Year

In the field of college applications, a GAP-year is a year taken between high school and college. During this GAP-year, students engage in extra-academic and non-academic courses, language studies, volunteer work, travel, internships, sports and more, all for the purpose of improving themselves and their resumes before going to college. These academic GAP-years are also called Pathways, Prep-Year and Bridge-Year.

A simple google-search will yield much more about GAP Year programs, considerations and things to ask. Do diligent research before deciding on the GAP Year option, including reaching the college or university you would like to apply to in order to find out what their philosophy is on the GAP Year. Some colleges will defer admission for a gap year, most colleges will not defer scholarships offered to the student if they choose to take a gap year before starting college.

Careers and Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship is a training program where you earn wages while you learn a skilled profession in a specific field, such as construction, health care, or culinary arts. Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional. Much like a college education, it takes several years to become fully trained in the occupation you choose and to earn the wages of a professional, or journeyman in the craft.

The Oregon Career Information System (CIS) is a wonderful resource for students and parents alike to research post high school options, including pre-apprenticeship programs. Login using the Beaverton School District Student Bookmarks or click the image below to go directly to the BSD Student bookmark page.

In partnership with Oregon businesses and local apprenticeship committees, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Division works to ensure that programs offer quality career opportunities through paid on-the-job training and education, with a focus on construction, industrial and manufacturing trades.

Click this link to go to https://www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ATD/pages/index.aspx

Future Planning Resources

Westview Resources

For enrolled Westview students, please check out our College & Career Canvas and website pages for more information.

Future Planning Slides review the many options available to you after you graduate.

Book an appointment with your Westview School Counselor (through your Class of Canvas page) to discuss your options.

Westview Pathway options provide students with a "road map" with information on which courses to take related to a career of interest.

Check out Westview's Career Technical Education Programs.

ASPIRE Program for juniors and seniors. Matches students with a one on one volunteer to support their post high school plans. See you WHS counselor for more information.

Beaverton School District Resources

Visit Beaverton School District's Career & College Readiness page for more information.

Beaverton School District students also have a Career Information Systems, or CIS, free account to use for career and college exploration and planning, including occupation, college, scholarship searches as well as resume and other employment readiness tools.

Beaverton School District Career Technical Programs

Full Day High School Option Programs, including Early College High School where eligible juniors and seniors take their coursework at PCC and tuition is paid for by the district.

Opportunity Knocks is a district program that allows juniors and seniors to take up to one class per term at PCC in addition to taking classes at their home high school.

Career Encounters is a class for interested juniors and seniors to take at Portland Community College that offers hands-on career experience in high-demand, high-wage careers.

Local & State Resources

Hillsboro Chamber & School to Career Events. They facilitate Career Related Learning Experiences for Washington County high school students.

Oregon Goes to College: A helpful and informative website to help students prepare for college.

Western Underground Exchange: The Western Undergraduate Exchange is an agreement among WICHE’s 16 member states, including Oregon, and territories, through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students.

ASPIRE Oregon Career Options offers resources around career and college information and exploration, including 2-year Path & 4-year Path.

Oregon Youth Corps builds on strong connections between positive experiences, work skills, personal responsibility, commitment to education, and future employment for Oregon's youth.

Explore Oregon Apprenticeship programs.

Pacific Northwest Association's National Fall College Fairs

Web & Other Resources

CollegeBoard BigFuture College Search

CollegeBoard Career Finder

You’re a What? Interesting occupations

Occupations That Have it All: Many Openings, Fast Growth and High Wages

Careers for People that are Creative

Apprenticeships: Outlook and Wages in Selected Occupations

Career One Stop: Get My Future

Schmoop gives you the real scoop on career paths.

Engineering: Go For It

College Timelines

College Entrance Exams

Test Optional Admissions

from Oregon Goes to College

When a college or university is “test optional” for admissions, it means that they don’t require an SAT or ACT score from all applicants to be considered for admissions. Many colleges, including all of Oregon’s public colleges and universities and many of our private, not-for-profit colleges, do not require students in the class of 2021 and beyond to submit test scores with the application. Due to coronavirus, most students planning to start college at any Oregon college in the fall of 2021 will not need to take the SAT or ACT.

Students choose whether they want to submit their test scores with their application. In most cases, if you do send scores, the admissions committee will use them when making admissions and scholarship decisions. If you do not submit test scores, you will not be penalized for admissions. While the majority of applicants have a choice, some students may still be required to submit scores (Note: Because of testing interruptions as a result of the coronavirus, applicants for Fall 2021 & Fall 2022 may not be required to submit test scores). At some colleges, you may be required to submit additional information if they choose not to send test scores. It’s important to know the requirements for each college where you plan to apply.

When to Take the SAT and/or ACT

from Oregon Goes to College

Check the admissions requirements to find out if the colleges and universities you may apply to are test-optional, meaning they do not require you to submit SAT and/or ACT scores.

If you plan to take one or both tests for admission purposes, scholarships and other programs, you should verify which test is accepted (SAT only, ACT only or both). If the organization accepts both tests, it is up to you whether you wan to take the SAT only, the ACT only or take both. Read this article to help you determine which option is right for you: SAT vs ACT: 11 Key Differences to Help You Pick the Right Test article

If possible, take the test in the spring of your junior year. If you like, you can take the test again in the summer or fall of your senior year.

If you take a test more than once, most colleges and universities will “super score” your tests. They will use the highest score you earned on each section when evaluating your application.

Both tests are offered on some Saturdays at testing sites around the state. Westview hosts the ACT test for all juniors in February.

Whether you take it on a Saturday or during an all-school testing day, take it seriously. Get plenty of rest the night before, eat a good breakfast, and do your best on the exam.

Fee Waiver

If students are on free or reduced lunch, they qualify for 2 fee waivers for the SAT and 2 fee waivers for the ACT. See your school counselor for more details. You must be a current junior or senior to request the fee waivers.

CollegeBoard has additional benefits for students that are eligible for the fee waiver. Check out this link for more information.

Per act.org, fee waivers cover only the basic registration fee and late fee for your test option on a national test date, including up to four college choices. After registration, the student can request any number of additional score reports for free.

Score Reports

Free Options to Prepare for the SAT and/or ACT

ASPIRE

Community volunteers play a vital role in the number of ways we can support students at Westview High School and add great value and depth to our school. If you have an interest in participating in our volunteer mentoring program, ASPIRE, please contact Ann Voorhees in the College & Career Center or the state ASPIRE website. We'd be delighted to have you involved!

ASPIRE matches students with trained volunteers to help them Explore career and educational options, Choose the best fit Apply and Pay for their post high school educational choice.

If you are a junior or senior, stop by the CCC to enroll in this free program.

If you are a community member, please contact Westview High School College Career Center for information on how you can volunteer. Visit the state ASPIRE site Oregonstudentaid.gov/aspire