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Tools You Can Use- Career Development and Mentoring Programs

career-education-choice

Tools You Can Use

Career Development, Mentoring, and More

 

Many organizations offer tools and experiences to help students explore and prepare for careers in the licensed professions. Here you will find a selection of career-development programs that offer mentoring, scholarships, experiential learning, materials for teachers, and more!

Each program listed here includes keywords that describe the types of experiences offered. For example, if a program offers guidance on preparing for and selecting a college, it would have the keywords "College Guidance" in its listing.
 

Tips:

  • Professions are listed alphabetically. There is also a category for multi-profession and miscellaneous programs.
  • If you are interested in learning more about what programs are available in your school district, please contact your guidance counselor.
 

Program Type & Keywords:

Career Exploration Offers resources for exploring careers, including programs to increase access to the professions
College Guidance Features guidance on preparing for/choosing a college
Curriculum Makes curricula available to educators, or program presents its own curriculum
Experiential Components Program includes hands-on activities or “applied” experiences (e.g., guided projects, internships)
Mentoring Offers mentoring components or opportunities
Professional Services Licensed professionals provide services to students in need
Scholarships Provides or links to college scholarship opportunities
STEM Focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math subjects/experiences

Click on the field you are interested in below to learn more about the opportunities available.

 

Name P-20 Audience Summary of Activities Program Type/Keywords
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • P-12 Students
  • Educators/Mentors

Activities, guides, curricula and teaching resources, after school programs, Vet Camp.

Programs supported by NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) – "This is How We “Role” for kids in grade K-4

  • Curriculum
  • STEM
  • Experiential Components
American Veterinary Medicine Association
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Career PowerPoint presentations for grades K-college and other activities and lesson plans for K-12 educators. Professional development section contains information about veterinary colleges and accreditation.
  • Curriculum
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Scholarships
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Suffolk County
  • Middle/High School Students
Veterinary Medicine Career Exploration Program- Shadowing experience and 5-week lecture series. $100 fee to attend. Program graduates eligible for Vet School Scholarship.
  • Experiential
  • Career Exploration
  • Scholarship
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Rockland County
  • Middle/High School Students
Veterinary Science Career Exploration – 4-H youth development program. 8 sessions including a “day in the life of veterinary practice.”
  • Experiential
  • Career Exploration
Name P-20 Audience Summary of Activities Program Type/Keywords
BOCES New Visions
  • Middle/High School Students

Offers highly-motivated seniors a non-traditional, and academically challenging, senior year. Integrates required high school credits with targeted studies in a wide range of fields. Available through multiple BOCES programs. Link is to QuestarIII BOCES

  • Curriculum
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Mentoring
  • STEM
  • Experiential Components
College Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)—NYSED
  • College Students
Assists underserved College Students in STEM-related majors: academic enrichment, test prep, mentoring, tutoring, advisement and grad school counseling, research guidance, conferences.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Mentoring
  • STEM
Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
  • Parents/Families
HESC is New York State's higher education financial aid agency. Users can explore the grants and scholarships available to residents attending in-state colleges and universities. Includes link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Career Exploration
  • Scholarships
Liberty Partnerships—NYSED
  • Middle/High School Students
Program for students at-risk of dropping out of school: college and career skills, support and enrichment activities. Community, family, and college partners.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Mentoring

New York State Early College High School Programs—NYSED

Smart Scholars Smart Transfer
  • Middle/High School Students
  • Educators/Mentors
High school and college partners collaborate to help students graduate high school with 24-60 transferable credits and/or an associate degree. “Transfer” extends “Scholars” by supporting completion of a bachelor’s degree.
  • College Guidance

These general programs seek to close high school and college achievement gaps; they do not have a professions-specific focus.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH)—NYSED
  • Middle/High School Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Early-college program prepares students for STEM careers in targeted “high-tech” jobs; requires partnership of eligible school districts, colleges, and employers. Students graduate with an associate degree.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Experiential Components
  • Mentoring
  • STEM
Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)—NYSED
  • Middle/High School Students
For underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students pursuing professional licensure or math, science, tech, or health careers. Research training, internships, education/career counseling, test prep.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Experiential Components
  • Mentoring
  • STEM
Big Brothers Big Sister NYC
  • P-12 Students
  • General/All Ages
Includes mentoring in traditional programs as well as programs for juvenile justice, immigrants, youth with incarcerated parents or in foster care, and work place mentoring.
  • Mentoring
  • Career Exploration
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
  • P-12 Students
Career, high school completion, college readiness, STEM, and summer enrichment programs.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • STEM
Business Mentor NY
  • College Students
Free site connecting entrepreneurs and experienced business professionals to build small businesses together
  • Mentoring
Capital District YMCA Black and Latino Achievers Program
  • Middle/High School Students
College and vocational readiness; career exploration.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Experiential Components
Children of Promise, NYC
  • P-12 Students
  • General/All Ages
Brooklyn-based program offering mentoring and family and mental health services to children of incarcerated parents. Includes career planning and exploration.
  • Career Exploration
  • Mentoring
  • Professional Services
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  • P-12 Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Educator resources and lesson plans. Focused programs for families, teens, and K-12 school groups.
  • Curriculum
  • Experiential Components
EntreSkills
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Provides an introduction to entrepreneurship and the skills needed to start and operate a business. Educators can create customized assignments, track students’ grades, and view students’ progress.
  • Curriculum
Ford Next Generation Learning
  • Middle/High School Students
  • Educators/Mentors
  • Community Groups/Employers
Supports collaborations of educators, employers, and community leaders to transform secondary schools via career and interest-themed academies. Infuses college preparation with Career Technical Education (CTE).
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Experiential Components
  • Mentoring
  • STEM
ExploreHealthCareers.org
  • Middle/High School Students
Health career profiles and preparation information; focus on workforce underrepresentation and shortages of professionals in underserved communities.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Scholarships
Geriatric Career Development program (at The New Jewish Home)
  • Middle/High School Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Immerses 10th-12th grade students from underperforming and under-resourced schools in work experiences in a long-term-care setting. Graduates qualify for various allied healthcare certifications. GCD also offers 3-month programs for young adults (18-24 years old)
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Curriculum
  • Experiential Components
  • Mentoring
Horatio Alger Association
  • High School Juniors
The Horatio Alger Association provides need-based college scholarships for career and technical education, bachelor's degree programs, and major- and college-specific programs. Additional services and opportunities are available to Horatio Alger Scholars
  • College Guidance
  • Mentoring
  • Scholarships
KnowHow2Go
  • Middle/High School Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Guidance on college and college preparation, including materials for mentors.
  • College Guidance
  • Mentoring
Junior Achievement
  • P-12 Students
  • Educators/Mentors
Sequentially themed, hands-on activities designed to foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Job shadowing and after school programs.
  • Curriculum
  • Experiential Components
  • Scholarships (for JA students)
MENTOR
  • General/All Ages
  • Educators/Mentors
The national mentoring partnership. MENTOR maintains a national database of youth mentoring programs.
  • Mentoring
Mentor New York (a MENTOR affiliate)
  • General/All Ages
  • Educators/Mentors
Affiliate of MENTOR: The national mentoring network. They also help with designing and managing mentoring programs.
  • Mentoring
MyPlan.com
  • Middle/High School Students
Commercial site—broad career and college guidance.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
NAF (formerly known as National Academy Foundation) Middle/High School Students Educators/Mentors Community Groups/Employers

Partners with high schools in high-need communities on STEM-focused academies*—small learning communities within the given school.

*Finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, health sciences
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Curriculum
  • Mentoring
  • Experiential Components
  • STEM

Includes 61 NYS academies.

National Education Equity Lab
  • Educators
This non-profit coordinates with selective colleges and universities to offer college credit-bearing courses to high-achieving and underprivileged high schoolers primarily from Title1/Title 1 eligible schools. Interested high school administrators apply through the interest form
  • Career Exploration
  • Curriculum
  • Mentoring
New York State 4-H
  • Middle/High School Students
3-day Career Explorations Conference on the Cornell Campus. Two age-based career exploration programs are offered.
  • Career Exploration
  • Experiential Components
The New York State Mentoring Program
  • P-12 Students
  • Educators/Mentors
State-wide, one-to-one, school-based mentoring program with a mission to prevent students from dropping out of school.
  • Mentoring
The Opportunity Network
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
Works with students from underrepresented communities from NYC’s five boroughs. Career development, “education-to-career connections,” work place learning, internships, enrichment programs.
  • Mentoring
  • Career Exploration
  • Experiential Components
PBS Career Connections
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
  • Parents/Families
  • Educators
Collection of career videos introducing students to in-demand jobs. Some videos also provide supporting material including national and state standards, discussion questions and video viewing guides
  • Career Exploration
  • Curriculum
Pencil
  • Educators/Mentors
  • Community Groups/Employers
Partnerships between business volunteers and NYC public schools; summer workshops; one-day events. Seeks common ground among school and business needs, capacity, and interests.
  • Career Exploration
  • College Guidance
  • Curriculum
  • Experiential Components
  • Mentoring
Say Yes to Education - Buffalo and Syracuse
  • Middle/High School Students
  • College Students
Partners school districts, parents, the larger community, and businesses to increase high school and post-secondary graduation rates. Businesses are encouraged to offer internships.
  • Mentoring
  • Experiential Components
  • Scholarships

Comments and suggestions on Careers in the Licensed Professions: paths2profs@nysed.gov