Student Resources
At A Glance:
An enormous database full of resources to help you learn, produce research papers, and get excellent facts and tips. There are also links to help you deal with personal issues like grieving the loss of a loved one.
Extensive and easy-to-understand study skills in bite-size chunks. Topics include: good habits, listening, taking notes, reading, organization, etc...
Offers on-line and personal tutoring, as well as 24-hour phone assistance with your homework. You have to pay for everything but the "links" page; but check it out for some cool info!
FamilyFriendly links of all kinds having to do with education.
Register to take practice tests for the GED, as well as a variety of other tests. Great resources, articles on study skills, success, etc... (you also receive complementary email service!) When you register, be careful not to check off too many "yes!" options; you might find yourself flooded with spam...
California Department of Education: GED
Extensive and very useful information about the availability, schedules, structure, and content of GED tests, as well as many other standardized school tests. Find out CA requirements concerning who is eligible and who is recommended to take the GED test. Contains CA reading lists based on age and grade, so you can see what level of literature your age group should be reading. Also available in Spanish.
Center for Adult Learning & Educational Credentials: An incredible resource, full of helpful information regarding the GED, as well as other opportunities including the Military and adult education.
PBS offers a televised set of 39 half-hour sessions preparing you for the GED.
California Department of Education: CAHSEE
Detailed descriptions of the program, why it was implemented, and what the expectations are from the state when students take the exam.
California Department of Education: CHSPE
Gives a detailed description of who may take the CHSPE,how to apply for the test, and what you can and cannot do once you obtain your certificate. Also has a list of FAQ's, and the site is linked to other standard tests offered in California.
Find out all about what ROP is, which classes are available, how to get enrolled and what the cost and committment is. Offers courses in business, health care, service jobs, and technical & trade industries.
Lists all ROP offices and websites posted in California.
Offers links to adult education programs and alternatives to high school. Includes information on independent study, as well as local colleges' home pages.
Online courses offered to enrich your skill set. Courses offered in a variety of areas, including internet/web design, running a small business, SAT preparation, etc... Each course runs for 6 weeks and costs less than $100.
Spanish translation of on-line courses.
provides extensive community resource information regarding places and times when various classes are available. Go to the KQED homepage for educational information and other community resources. GED tutoring/pre-exam class information is available, as well as literacy programs and all sorts of other classes to promote the well-being of your life.
Cabrillo Adult Education Classes
Offers adult education classes on-line, as well as real classroom courses. (Read the handbook they provide for information on who may attend classroom courses.) Also, check out their link to "Independent Study" for information on how to complete high school through independent study.
List of California Tech Schools
Find schools all over California that offer degrees in everything from aviation to the culinary arts.
The Association of Bay Area Governments offers technical training in many different fields. Courses offered both online and in classrooms.
Located in Sunnyvale
San Francisco Institute of Architecture
Located in San Francisco
International Technological University
Located in Santa Clara
Northwestern Polytechnic University
Located in Fremont
An easy-to-read guide for students and adults (both parents and those planning on attending college as adults). This guide will take you step by step through the planning, applying, and funding process involved in attending college. Also available in Spanish.
This is a complete listing (by county) of all the colleges and universities in the Bay Area. Each name provides a link to that school's web site.
Classes are offered in many different locations throughout the city of San Francisco. Summer courses are also available for high school students.
San Francisco State University
Located in San Francisco. $2005/year registration fees, not including room & board costs. 27,000 students, 200 student organizations on campus. Extensive disability services.
California College of Arts & Crafts
Offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in everything from Architecture to Wood/Furniture. $11,485/semester for full-time tuition. Payment plans & financial aid available. 1,400 students, transfer credits applicable from other colleges.
Located in Redwood City. Cost of attendance is $11/unit, plus small student fees. 6,217 students, excellent services for students with disabilities, great ESL program.
Notre Dame de Namur University
Where your mentors are coming from! Located in Belmont. Don't be intimidated by the high tuition costs; the school is very generous about supplying you with financial aid.
Located in San Mateo. Cost of attendance is $11/unit, plus small student fees. Concurrent enrollment available for FREE if you are in high school and have a GPA of 2.0 or above. Online courses available.
Located in San Bruno. Cost of attendance is $11/unit, plus small student fees. Concurrent enrollment available for FREE if you are a high school student and have a GPA of 2.0 or above. Online courses available.
Located in Los Altos Hills. Cost of attendance is $7/unit, plus small student fees. Online courses available.
Located in Cupertino. Cost of attendance is $7/unit, plus small student fees. Online courses available.
Located in San Jose. Cost of attendance is $125/unit. Financial aid available.
Located in San Jose.
San Jose/Evergreen Community Colleges
Located in San Jose.
Apply online, find out about financial aid and courses offered, and get informed about the current public lecture series at the school.
This site is a very helpful source of information to get you educated about all the ways out there to receive financial aid. Check out scholarships, grants, and loans. Find out the different types of each one and how to apply for them.
Here's all you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The site will walk you through your eligibility, getting a PIN number, and all the other stuff that seems so mysterious about receiving financial aid! (Tip: You have to be enrolled in a college or university to be eligible. However, looking at this site will help you get informed about what you'll need to know in order to apply for money from the government.)
This site helps you understand what you should be doing as a high school student to get ready for college and get the most benefit from the government. Provides information on preparing for college, choosing a school and applying for it, as well as funding, planning for your career, and repaying school expenses in the future.
This is the Web's largest database for publicly offered scholarships. Go through the process of signing in and giving all your information, and you will get continual updates on your own personal page concerning what scholarships are currently available to you. You will also be emailed about new scholarships and upcoming deadlines. (Tip: This web site runs off of corporations' advertising, so make sure you check off all the "no, thank you" buttons they offer, or your email inbox will be flooded with junk mail!)
The best list of apprenticeships ever! Read about different trades and what each one really is, from installing air conditioning to conducting trolleys. Learn about the benefits of each job, what the qualifications are, and how to apply for these careers.
PBS: Workplace Essential Skills
PBS offers 24 programs and online lessons preparing you with the skills required for excellence on your job.
This is a huge listing of local job fairs, classes teaching job skills, and other support systems for working adults.
Check out jobs that are listed around the Bay in every profession. Also, look at what potential employers require for the jobs you're interested in, so you can prepare yourself in advance for success!
So what is WorkAbility, anyway? Learn all about it at the California Department of Education.
Even if you're not interested in attending SJSU, this site is still full of useful information regarding WorkAbility, who's eligible, what services are offered, and how it affects other important areas of your life like SSI benefits. Chances are that many other schools offering WorkAbility will have similar requirements and services. (Hint: this site is pretty fancy, so if it's taking your computer a long time to bring up the pages, just click on the "backward" and "forward" arrows to speed up the process.)
A basic overview of Canada's courses and services, with contact information if you're interested in applying.
An incredible site rich with information regarding special needs, programs and resources available, and links to national and local information. Although this web site is based in Florida, it has information that will be useful for you and your family wherever you live.
Offers great advice and information regarding your foster care situation. Tells you your rights, your opportunities, and how to work with the system.
San Francisco's local chapter giving kids in foster care help and information. Useful information about all aspects of the foster care system.
Program offers extremely low health care insurance to families. Check it out and see if your family qualifies to participate!
Support and resources for fathers!
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program
All youth in California eligible to receive MediCal are also encouraged to participate in this program. (Don't be intimidated by the big words they use! It's worth figuring out.)
Adolescent Health Transition Project
Site contains a wealth of information on how you can take charge of your own health care needs. Educate yourself on the medical system and how you can get the most out of it.
Big site with lots of recources to help you overcome substance addictions, especially alcohol. Find support groups and all the meeting places for your city under the ? at the top.
Info for the families of alcoholics. Alateen is especially for the teenage children of alcoholics. Get educated and get support here.
All California Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ACYPAA) has a listing for the AA meeting locations in San Mateo County.
California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs
All the links you'll need as you deal with substance abuse. Learn the laws, find the support/rehabilitation groups in your area, and find out the real-life statistics.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities offers an amazing site full of helpful information that will empower and encourage you if you battle with learning disabilities, physical handicaps, or special emotional needs.
Links for Youth with Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Online offers extensive pages to help you understand and make the most of your learning disabilities.
Understand Your Learning Style
Check out what the different learning styles are and diagnose yourself on how you learn the best. Linked to the Learning Disabilities Pride website, with extra resources for you to check out.
Are you interested in being homeschooled? This is the perfect site to help you educate yourself on how to go about it in a mature and intelligent way. Be sure to check out the section designed specifically for California residents!
Another huge database of resources concerning homeschooling; this one is more geared towards YOU, as the student, instead of your parents.