College and Career Center

Planning for College

• ACT Test Information
• SAT College Boards
• Test Taking Strategies
• Mind Tools Memory Techniques

College Admissions Timeline

• Junior Year
• Senior Year

Planning Resources

• Senior/Junior Naviance
• First in the Family - Resources to help first generation college students.
• KnowHow2Go - Take the quiz to find out what you know about going to college; steps to apply to college.

Choosing a College

• Petersons.com - Find the school that's right for you. College information and admissions advice.
• Princeton Review - Search schools and majors. View college rankings.
• College Board - Step by step advice and interactive tools for college planning. Explore majors.
• Virginia Public Four-Year, Two-Year and Community Colleges
• Virginia Private Institutions
• Virginia Community College Guaranteed Transfer Agreements
• Richard Bland Junior College Transfer Agreements
• College Virtual Tours
• College View
• TNCC Transfer/Guaranteed Admissions

College Athletics

• NCAA Eligibility Center
• Sports in College: Want to Play on a College Team?

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Starting on October 1st of their senior year, students and parents can begin their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  All students who plan to attend college, whether 2- or 4-year, vocational or technical, need to complete a FAFSA.  Remember to check the priority deadline for each college to which you are applying.  Apply early so that you can receive the maximum funds available to you.

• Apply for Financial Aid: FAFSA
• FAFSA- Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (grants, loans, and work study funds) for college or career school.
• What are the steps to completing a FAFSA?
• Monthly Scholarship Bulletin
• What You Need to Know About Financial Aid

Planning for a Career

Career Assessments

• Senior/Junior Naviance

• Virginia Education Wizard - Students can take interest, skills, and values assessments. The Wizard contains a number of tools to help users explore careers, plan education, pay for college and much more. There are also Parent Resources available to assist parents with planning for their children's education. Students can take the assessment on-line at home or in the College and Career Center.

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program - This is a comprehensive career planning program that includes a multiple-aptitude test battery, an interest inventory, and various career planning tools. This assessment measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success i military. The ASVAB is offered at Heritage High School each year.

• Dream It Do It Virginia - Create a free on-line account to learn about yourself, the employment options available to you, and the training that will prepare you. This career resource was built by Virginia's advanced technology sector to help you learn more about exciting fields and future employment.

Career Exploration

• Virginia Employment Commission
• MyFuture.com- Figure out what's next! Explore career areas, find a college or trade school, and explore the military.
• Mapping Your Future - Your journey starts here! Explore careers, prepare for college and learn about financial aid.
• VA Career Clusters - Research occupations and salaries in each of the 16 career clusters.  A career cluster is a grouping of occupations and broad industries based on commonalities. Each includes technical and professional career specialties.
• Virginia Career View - The Career Search option allows students to learn more about various careers by name or career cluster.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook  - A classic reference that with information on careers from A to Z, compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• O*NET - Tool for career exploration and job analysis.
• Salary.com - Use the Salary Wizard to view salaries for various job titles.

Apprenticeships and Vocational Training

Apprenticeship Programs

Newport News Shipbuilding: The Apprentice School

New Horizons Center for Apprenticeship and Adult Training - Provides Apprenticeship related instruction for the VA Community College System and works closely with the Department of Labor.

BAE Systems Apprenticeship  - Ship Repair, Norfolk, VA

Learn about and find apprenticeships near you!

Workforce Development Programs

Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) Workforce Development Programs - Quality training specifically designed to meet the changing technical requirements for today's jobs. Opportunities include accelerated workforce training, certification programs, and on-line classes. Often programs can be completed in as little as a few weeks or months depending o program. (Please note: Workforce Development Programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid.) Programs include:

Career training in the following areas:

• Business & Entrepreneurship
• Culinary Arts & Hospitality
• Cybersecurity & Technology
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing & Construction Trades
• Transportation & Licensing

TNCC Workforce Development Healthcare Programs  - Earning your certificate is the first step to finding a rewarding career in the medical field! Programs include:

• EKG Technician
• Clinical Medical Assistant
• Hand-on Caregiver Class
• Medication Aide
• Healthcare Information Technology
• Nurse-Aid
• Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Personal Fitness Trainer

Continuing Education - More than 400 courses offered including Healthcare and Computer, Green Programs, Tradesmen and Manufacturing, and Transportation.

Career Readiness Certificate - Assessment-based credential valued by 60+ area quality employers.

New Horizons Center for Apprenticeship & Adult Training:

Available training programs include:

• Automotive Technology
• Barbering & Cosmetology
• Construction Technology
• Cybersecurity
• Electrical Technology
• Healthcare & Healthcare Administration
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Welding