College & Career Access
Empowering Students to Explore, Prepare, and Pursue Their Future
At YES Prep, College & Career Access equips students with the knowledge, experiences, and connections needed to make informed decisions about their future.
Through immersive experiences, strategic partnerships, career-connected learning, and personalized guidance, students explore college and career pathways, build confidence in their aspirations, and develop actionable plans for life after high school.
Whether students pursue a four-year college, two-year college, workforce training, military service, or a direct-to-career pathway, our goal is to ensure every student graduates with clarity, confidence, and a plan for success.
Exploration Through Experiences
Students gain hands-on exposure to colleges, careers, and postsecondary opportunities through meaningful experiences that connect learning to life beyond high school.
Junior Spring Trip
A transformative opportunity for students to visit college campuses, engage with current college students, and envision their future after graduation.
College & Career Pathways Fair
An interactive event where students connect with colleges, workforce programs, apprenticeship providers, and military representatives to learn about a variety of postsecondary options.
College and Career Visits
On-campus and off-campus experiences that expose students to real-world industries, workplaces, and career pathways through site visits, guest speakers, and immersive learning opportunities.
Student Opportunities
Our college counselors connect students with high-quality opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and long-term goals. These experiences allow students to deepen their academic interests, develop leadership skills, explore careers, and broaden their perspectives through local, national, and international programs.
Recent YES Prep students have participated in opportunities provided by organizations such as:
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
- ACE Mentor Program (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering)
- Amigos de las Américas
- Baylor College of Medicine Saturday Morning Science
- YMCA of Greater Houston
- Lycoming College Prep Program
- High Mountain Institute
- School for Ethical Global Leadership
- Cottonwood Gulch
Career Exploration & Readiness
Through a combination of career exploration, experiential learning, and industry engagement, students gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to navigate their future. Our programs help students connect their interests and strengths to meaningful postsecondary pathways while building readiness for college, careers, military service, and beyond.
Ignite Program
The Ignite Program serves as College Initiatives' foundation for career exploration, providing students with opportunities to discover industries, engage with professionals, and explore future possibilities through immersive experiences and career-connected learning activities.
Ignite Career Week
A districtwide experience that introduces students to a variety of industries and career pathways through interactive workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on learning opportunities designed to spark curiosity and broaden awareness of future careers.
Opportunity Odyssey
Students participate in immersive industry experiences, workplace visits, and career simulations that provide firsthand exposure to professions and career fields while helping them connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
Career Exploration and Planning
Through advising, assessments, career exploration tools, and structured learning experiences, students identify their interests, strengths, and goals while building a personalized postsecondary plan.
Industry and Community Engagement
Students connect with professionals, employers, and community partners who provide mentorship, career insights, and opportunities to explore emerging industries and workforce trends.
The 4E Framework
Our career exploration model guides students through a developmental progression of experiences:
Strategic Partnerships
Our partnerships create unique opportunities that expand student access to colleges, careers, scholarships, and professional networks.
IMPACT College Partnerships
Through collaborations with highly selective colleges and universities, students gain access to admissions support, mentorship opportunities, campus experiences, and scholarship pathways designed to increase college access and success.
These partnerships provide students with opportunities to engage directly with college representatives, strengthen their college-going knowledge, and access institutions that demonstrate a commitment to supporting YES Prep students.
Ignite Career Partnerships
Industry and community partnerships connect students with professionals and career exploration opportunities that foster leadership development, career readiness, and real-world learning experiences.
Through these partnerships, students engage with mentors, participate in career-connected learning experiences, and develop the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving workforce.
Our Commitment
College & Career Access serves as a bridge between students' aspirations and their future opportunities. By combining exploration, exposure, advising, career-connected learning, and strategic partnerships, we help students discover what is possible and create a plan to achieve it.
Together, we are preparing every YES Prep student for success in college, career, and beyond.