Choosing Your Path

2 Year Community College Path

The community college offers smaller classrooms, associate degrees, certificate programs, and workforce job ready options. Classes offered are the standard college credit (degrees/certificate) or clock hour programs (EMT, Fire Science. Etc.). Many of former AFHS students pursued areas as Cyber Security, Nursing, Business Administration, and education to name a few. Community Colleges cost less.

Your next steps:

_____ Attend College and Career Fair:

·         Wednesday Aug 27^th 8:45a – 9:45a in the old gym

Gather information of available schools you may be interested in attending

·         District Fair: Tuesday Sept. 23^rd 5:30p – 7p in the new gym

Gather additional information of additional schools or re-visit previously viewed schools

_____ Create your FSA-ID: (Aug - May)

·         Go to: www.studentaid.gov

o    You will need to know your social security number

o    This steps takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes

·         If you graduate with a 3.25 and higher unweighted gpa, many community colleges offers a scholarship to pay for your 2 year tuition.

·         If you graduate with a gpa of 2.9 and lower, you will be required to take a reading and math placement test.

o    FSA is the first step in the FAFSA process. FAFSA helps you pay for school.

_____ Apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

·         Return to www.studentaid.gov

o    Login with your username and password created previously

o    You will need to know:

§  Your parent/guardian(s) ssn, legal first and last name, phone and personal email address.

_____ Apply for admissions to the CC of your choice: (Jan-May)

·         You will need to know/have your social security number, address, phone, personal email, a copy of your driver’s license (or permit), and a copy of your unofficial transcript.

·         The CCC has many of the Arizona CC’s flyers and available programs.

·         If you are planning on attending Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), the representative is here weekly for you to make an appointment or drop in during lunch.

·         When applying, you will need to know which program you want to apply to. This is part of the process. You can change your plan with an advisor from the school.

____ Graduate high school

 

4 Year University Path

So you’ve chosen the 4 year path to a degree program. Whether you are pursuing a degree in business, nursing, engineering, or general education, this will be an experience. Preparing to attend the university will require a lot of preparation. Planning is the key.

Your next steps:

_____ Attend College and Career Fair:

·         Wednesday Aug 27^th 8:45a – 9:45a in the old gym

·         District Fair: Tuesday Sept. 23^rd 5:30p – 7p in the new gym

Gather additional information of additional schools or re-visit previously viewed schools

_____ Apply to a 4 year college/university: (Aug – Oct for early admission)

·         If you are planning on attending a university in AZ, go directly to the schools website.

·         If you are planning on attending a university out of state you have a couple of options:

o    You can apply for multiple schools through www.commonapp.org – this can be a lengthy process.

§   AFHS is a “Gear Up” school, this is a fee waiver for the application

o    Or go directly to your preferred schools .edu website

o    As you are completing the university application, you will select your degree program, input your grades from your freshman year to current. *It will be helpful to have a printed copy of your official transcript.

o    You will need to know, your unweighted gpa, class rank, number of students in the class and your ACT score.

_____ Create your FSA-ID: (Aug - May)

·         Go to: www.studentaid.gov

o    You will need to know your social security number

o    This steps takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes

o    FSA is the first step in the FAFSA process. FAFSA helps you pay for school.

_____ Apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (Oct – May)

·         Return to www.studentaid.gov

o    Login with your username and password created previously

o    You will need to know:

§   Your parent/guardian(s) ssn, legal first and last name, phone and personal email address.

____ College application (general admission cycle) (Oct – May)

·         Apply at the schools website or use the common app website

·         See the information from the early application section for info needed

____ College signing day – May 1^st.

·         Committing to a school

·         Take a photo with your school choice during lunch

____ Paying for college/university: (Aug – July)

·         Most college/universities will provide scholarship dollars based on your unweighted gpa

·         Complete your FAFSA

·         Apply for scholarships through various scholarship search engines. Click on the QR to direct you to the CCC website

·         Go to the class of 2026 Google Classroom for daily updates of new scholarships

·         Local scholarships will be available beginning in February. *Several of the scholarships are only awarded to AFHS students!

·         Many of the universities will have their own scholarship search engines on their websites

____ Graduate high school

 

Trade School Path

 

Electrician | Welding | Automotive/ Diesel Mechanic | Refrigeration Mechanic | HVAC Technician/ Engineer |Plumbing | Electrical Powerline Technician |Pipefitter | Fiber Optics Tech | Truck Driving

These are a few of the many Trade School paths that are available to you. There are many schools that provide apprenticeship programs within Arizona both at these service schools or at a community college or university.

Next Steps

_____ Attend College and Career Fair:

·         School Fair: Wednesday Aug 27^th 8:45a – 9:45a in the old gym

·         District Fair: Tuesday Sept. 23^rd 5:30p – 7p in the new gym

                 *Gather information of trade schools, colleges, and universities that provide this training

_____ Create your FSA-ID: (Aug - May)

·         Go to: www.studentaid.gov

o    You will need to know your social security number

o    This step takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes.

o    FSA is the first step in the FAFSA process. FAFSA helps you pay for your training

_____ Apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (Oct – May)

·         Return to www.studentaid.gov

·         Login with your username and password created previously

·         You will need to know:

o    Your parent/guardian(s) ssn, legal first and last name, phone and personal email address.

_____ Review the schools that you are interested in and ask yourself:

·         How much will it cost?

·         Will they accept FAFSA dollars?

·         How long is the training?

·         When can I start?

·         What are the steps to apply?

_____ Select your school

·         Go to their website and apply

 

Military Path

The Military option is a good choice, but also not for everyone. Regardless if you enlist or become a commissioned officer, this will be a life changing opportunity. Whether you join the Army, Air Force, Marine, Navy, Coast Guard, or the National Guard, you need to choose wisely.

Your next steps:

_____ Attend College and Career Fair:

·         Wednesday Aug 27^th 8:45a – 9:45a in the old gym

Gather information of available schools you may be interested in attending

·         District Fair: Tuesday Sept. 23^rd 5:30p – 7p in the new gym

Gather additional information of additional schools or re-visit previously viewed schools

            *There will be military representatives at these fairs to obtain information of what they can offer to you

_____ Meet with the military representatives during lunch

·         Tuesday’s – Army & Navy

·         Thursday’s – Marine Corps & Army National Guard

_____ Do you know your ASVAB score?

            *Knowing your score will open additional doors to various jobs in each of the military branches

·         Check with Mrs. Espinoza to obtain your ASVAB score

·         Know the AFQT score for each branch to be able to enlist

_____ Get to know your military recruiter

·         You can obtain their contact info by scanning the QR code below or visiting the CCC.

Most importantly, you must GRADUATE School!

Workforce/ Jobs Path

Post Secondary education is not for everyone. Sometimes just getting out into the workforce is the best option.

Next steps:

_____ Create/ update your resume

            *If you need assistance, please check in with Mrs. Espinoza in the CCC

_____ Ask yourself:

·         What kind of work do you want to do?

o   Work with your hands, outdoors, indoors, work with others, customer service?

·         If you are currently working, would you want to stay there?

o   Are there opportunities for advancement, pay raise?

_____ Things to consider:

·         What are your goals besides “making money”?

o   Goal #1: ________________________

o   Goal #2: ________________________

o   Goal #3: ________________________

·         What are the steps you believe are needed to make these goals come to fruition?

o   Step #1: ________________________

o   Step #2: ________________________

o   Step #3: ________________________

o   Step #4: ________________________

o   Step #5: ________________________

_____ Job Search websites:

·         Job Opportunities | Sorted by Job Title ascending | Careers (City of Avondale)

·         Career Opportunities | City of Goodyear

·         Job Listings - City of Tolleson Jobs

·         Job Search | Indeed

·         Monster Jobs - Job Search, Career Advice & Hiring Resources | Monster.com

·         Job Search: Millions of US Jobs (HIRING NOW) Near You - 2025

·         Job Search, Career Advice, and Salary Info | CareerBuilder

·         www.azstatejobs.com

·         USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site

*If you are inclined to work in the retail environment, such as Fry’s, Kohls, JC Penney, or at the local mall, go directly to their websites and search their available jobs.