College Info

A note on College:

Do you know what college you want to attend? Have you ever visited the campus? Why do you want to attend that one? Most Middle School students who have their heart set on a specific college or university, do so because somebody they know (usually parents) was a student there. While it may be a great organization (prestigious, award-winning professors, supportive alumni association), that doesn't mean it is the right school for YOU.

Start by considering:

• What field do I want to work in? You don't need to know the specific job title. This would be like "I want to do something with sports."

• What education do I need for the different jobs in that field? You can be a sports photographer without any formal education, as long as you know how to take good action shots. You can be the team's physical therapist or on-call doctor, which both require specialized degrees. You could even be a coach or athlete, which doesn't require a specific education, but most athletes DO play in college before playing professionally.

• If I need a degree, what should I major in? Most colleges and universities offer the same majors and classes, but some are known for certain programs. CSULB is known for their nursing program. UCI is known for their biology program. Chapman is known for their video production program.

• How long will it take me to complete that major? If you choose to be a dental assistant, you can take the 2-year certificate program through CUSD (for free) after school at the CTE campus while you are still enrolled in high school. That means you graduate high school with your regular diploma AND a certificate allowing you to get a job immediately as a dental assistant. On the flipside, if you want to be an oral surgeon, you will need to graduate from a 4-year university THEN graduate from a 4-year dental school THEN complete 4 years of residency (usually unpain labor). These 2 careers are in the same "dental" field, but the amount of education needed is very different.

• If I choose to major in ____, what other careers could I have with that degree if I change my mind? Let's say you want to be the physical therapist for the LA Kings. You do it for a few years and love it, but eventually you get tired of all the travel and want to find a job where you can stay in one place. What else can you do with this education? You could open your own PT clinic. You could move to LA and do home visits for celebrities. You could be an athletic trainer for teens, teaching them how to prevent injuries while playing their sports. You could work at a hospital and help people regain muscle movement after they have been through physical trauma.

General College Resources

College Exploration Resources

Below is a list of recommended websites to explore colleges and conduct research.

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Transfer Bound: Explore majors available at UC and CSU campuses - for freshmen and transfer students

Art Schools: Search art schools and programs

Big Future College Search: College search engine with comprehensive college information and data

Big Future Major/Career Search: Information by college majors and careers

CaliforniaColleges.edu: College, career and financial aid information; not limited to CA colleges

Cappex: College search tool; provides estimate of your chances of acceptance using admission data

College Confidential: College search tool and online forum with student/alumni reviews

College Navigator: Data-focused college exploration tool

College Scorecard: College site, including data on average annual cost, graduation rate and salary post-graduation

Common Application: Explore 700+ colleges that accept the Common Application

Independent CA College & Universities (AICCU)

Khan Academy College Exploration: Short videos on conducting the college search

OC Program Finder: Tool designed to connect high school students with community college career education programs

*The referrals listed are not sponsored, endorsed, supported or specifically recommended by the Capistrano Unified School District or any of its employees. The referrals are provided as a community service based on information gathered from the providers or other sources. The District has not done any independent investigation or evaluation of any resource and does not take any responsibility for the quality or competency of the services provided.