Beyond High School
Your Choices After Graduation
At DUSD, it’s our goal for all students to graduate with a 21st Century education that ensures they are college and career ready, globally competitive and citizens of strong character.
But one size doesn’t fit all. For some students, college is the logical next step of their journey while others are eager to leave the classroom and enter the working world. Explore your options with these resources.
College Information
Financial Aid
Career Information
Resume Help
Military Information
College Resources
Tips for Deciding on Your College
- Know your ability
- Pick three colleges by the end of 8th grade
- Know their admissions qualifications
- Know your family’s financial abilities
- Talk to your counselors in the 9th grade
- Always know your GPA
Universities & Colleges
University of California Campuses
Cal State Campuses
- California State University Bakersfield
- California State University Channel Islands
- California State University Chico
- California State University Dominguez Hills
- California State University East Bay
- California State University Fresno
- California State University Fullerton
- Humboldt State University
- California State University Long Beach
- California State University Los Angeles
- California Maritime Academy
- California State University Monterey Bay
- California State University Northridge
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- California State University Sacramento
- California State University San Bernardino
- San Diego State University
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- California State University San Marcos
- Sonoma State University
- California State University Stanislaus
Community Colleges in Southern California
- Allan Hancock College
- Barstow
- Cerritos
- Citrus
- Coast
- College of the Canyons
- College of the Desert
- Compton
- Cypress College
- El Camino
- Fullerton College
- Glendale
- Grossmont-Cuyamaca
- Imperial Valley
- Irvine Valley
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles Community Colleges
- Los Angeles City College
- MiraCosta
- Moorpark
- Riverside
- Mt. San Antonio
- Palomar
- Rancho Santiago
- Rio Hondo
- Saddleback College
- San Diego
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Monica
- South Orange County CCD
- Ventura County
Associate Degree for Transfer
The California Community Colleges and partnering institutions created a transfer program to make it easier for students like you to start at a community college, transfer to a guaranteed saved spot at a participating four-year university, and earn a bachelor’s degree.
Other Colleges & Universities
- Art Center College of Design
- Azusa Pacific University
- California Institute of the Arts
- California Institute of Technology
- California Lutheran University
- California School of Professional Psychology
- California Western School of Law
- Chapman University
- The Claremont Colleges
- The Fielding Institute
- Independence University (formerly California College for Health Sciences)
- La Sierra University
- University of La Verne
- Loyola Marymount University
- The Master’s College
- Mount St. Mary’s College
- National University
- The Neurosciences Institute
- Occidental College
- Pepperdine University
- Phillips Graduate Institute
- Point Loma Nazarene College
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- University of San Diego
- Scripps Research Institute
- Southern California College of Optometry
- Southwestern University School of Law
- University of Southern California
- Vanguard University
- West Coast University
- Westmont College
- Whittier College
- William Howard Taft University
More Resources
California Colleges
CaliforniaColleges.edu provides students with an all-inclusive guide for their college & career paths & enables educators to track their progress.
Visit CaliforniaColleges.edu
Community College Review
Learn about community colleges, find colleges, get financial aid help and college life tips.
Visit communitycollegereview.com
California Community Colleges
Apply Online: CCC Online
Cerritos Complete Program
Get 2 years of college for free.
Visit cerritos.edu
Cerritos College
Visit cerritos.edu/
Financial Aid
Ask school counselors and the college financial aid office about state, college, and nonprofit grants and scholarships you can apply for. Be sure to meet application deadlines. Start saving before you get to college.
Career Resources
The resources and links below can help you find a great career.
Local Careers & Jobs
Long Beach Job Corps Center
No-cost education and career technical training program.
Visit longbeach.jobcorps.gov
Los Angeles Job Corps Center
Offering the skills you need to succeed in today’s workforce, at no cost to you or your family.
Visit losangeles.jobcorps.gov
California Conservation Corps
Learn skills, earn scholarships, make friends – the best year of your life!
Visit ccc.ca.gov
California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association
Apprentices not only learn occupational skills in the classroom, their learning is expanded to include hands-on, paid, on-the-job training!
Visit calapprenticeship.org
Career Exploration Resources
Find yourself to find your career.
EUREKA provides powerful self-assessment and career information tools to enhance the career decision-making process.
Visit eureka.org
California CareerZone
Learn about yourself, the employment options available to you and the training that will prepare you for them.
Visit cacareerzone.org
Engineering Careers
Career Quiz
Take this personality-based quiz to see which careers might be a good match for you!
https://www.careergirls.org/explore-careers/career-quiz/
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Find out which careers are in demand.
Visit bls.gov
Tips for Creating Professional Resume
When you apply for a job, you will be asked to provide your resume. Here are some tips and resources to help you create a professional looking resume.
High School Resume Template
How to create a high school resume with examples: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/high-school-resume-template
More information: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/high-school-resume-tips
How to Make a Resume with the Microsoft Word Template
How to Make a Resume with Google Docs
Join the United States Military
Army – Navy – Air Force – Marines – Coast Guard
Are you thinking about joining the military after high school? You’re not alone, and there are many benefits to joining a branch of our military. However, it’s important to fully understand what you’re signing up for and what will be required of you for the contracted years you sign on.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident with valid “green card”
- Must be at least 17 years old (with parent permission) or 18+
- Each branch of the military has a different enlistment age limit
- High school diploma or GED
- Must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test
- Must pass a physical exam and meet weight limits
Steps to Enlist
- Contact a recruiter
- Report to a military entrance processing stations (MEPS)
- Await orders for basic training
U.S. Air Force (USAF)
- Department of Defense
- Aerial military operations
Website: www.af.mil
U.S. Army (USA)
- Department of Defense
- Major ground combat
Website: www.army.mil
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- Department of Homeland Security
- Maritime law enforcement
Website: www.uscg.mil
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)
- Department of Defense
- Supports other branches
- Land, sea-based, and air-ground operations
Website: www.marines.mil
U.S. Navy
- Department of Defense
- Protects waterways outside of Coast Guard jurisdiction
Website: www.navy.mil
Ace the ASVAB
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
To join a branch of our military, you’ll need to take the ASVAB test. This timed test scores four areas: Arithmetic Reasoning, World Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Mathematics Knowledge. Your scores in these four areas will determine your eligibility to enlist in the military. Prep for the exam with practice ASVAB tests or learn more with these helpful resources.