Getting Started with Philadelphia’s
ASPIRA City College

Some visitors have a career picked out and are ready to complete their online admission application. Yet, for many, choosing a career and applying to the right college can seem daunting. That’s why getting started at ASPIRA City College makes finding your fit a confidence-building process, starting with planning for a well-fitting career.

ASPIRA City College can help you develop a feasible career plan by providing, at no charge, the O*Net Career Interest Inventory. The Inventory is an ideal starting point for career exploration. It matches your interests to job titles recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor through O*Net, the Occupational Information Network.

O*Net is a free online database developed to help students, job seekers, guidance counselors, admissions representatives, and other advisors better understand career profiles. It was developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration.

The Inventory takes about 30 minutes to complete online or on-campus. Your responses to 180 work activity statements reveal your top interest areas. Your interests then are matched to a list of occupations that may suit you well.

  • 86% felt more informed about the occupations that may be a good fit for their interests
  • 83% said the assessment was easy to complete

Ready to schedule your career interest inventory?
Contact ASPIRA City College Admissions
215-455-2300

Request Info

First Choose a Career Pathway – Then Choose Your Career

1The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Workforce System has established High Priority Occupations (HPOs) as one component of Pennsylvania’s industry-driven approach to workforce development. The purpose of the HPO lists is to align workforce training and education investments with occupations in demand by employers with higher skill needs and most likely to provide family-sustaining wages.

  • Unmet employer demand for talent
  • Career Pathways
  • Local workforce initiatives/sector partnerships

2 O*NET is a program within the U.S. Department of Labor that serves as the nation’s number one source for occupational information. It defines “Bright Outlook” occupations as those expected to grow rapidly in the U.S. in the next several years or have large numbers of job openings characterized by at least one of the following criteria:

  • Projected to grow faster than average (employment increase of 7% or more) over the period 2018-2028
  • Projected to have 100,000 or more job openings over the period 2018-2028

First, choose the career field that interests you. A field is a group of related occupations in the same industry. People working in the field share similar interests, but because their duties differ, the knowledge, skill, and education requirements differ, too. Take physician assistants and doctors; they are in the same career field, but doctors need more education than physician assistants to perform successfully.

If you are enthusiastic about a field, select a career in it with educational requirements you are ready, willing, and able to pursue. Ask yourself: can I handle four years or more in college, or is a shorter commitment more suitable for me?

If you are keen on the IT or healthcare field, ASPIRA City College has you covered with accelerated career-entry programs. We offer a post-secondary diploma program for Medical Secretary, which students can complete in as little as eight months, and Computer Support Specialist they can finish in under two years. City College programs lead to a High Priority Occupation1 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and are recognized nationally as Bright Outlook Careers.

ASPIRA City College – For ONLINE and ON-CAMPUS Career Training

At ASPIRA City College, we have learning optionsfor both on-campus and online programs, each with distinct advantages. Our on-campus students benefit from our hands-on approach and three schedule options, including two day and one evening.

For students needing maximum flexibility, we provide an easy-to-manage distance education option for online learning. Our program design combines the benefits of live, instructor-led classes with assigned self-directed learning activities to give students flexibility and quality education.

ASPIRA ADVANTAGES AT A GLANCE

  • Affordable Tuition
  • Financial Aid, If Qualified
  • Small Classes for Maximum One-To-One Attention
  • Industry-Driven Relevant Curriculum
  • No Liberal Arts Content Accelerates Completion
  • High Priority | Bright Outlook Careers
  • Apply Online for Admissions & Financial Aid
  • Placement Assistance
  • Attend Online or On-Campus
  • Live Instructor-Led Online Class
  • Block Class Schedules for Easy Planning
  • 24/7 Access to Extensive Online Library
  • Work Experience Gained on Supervised Externship
  • Credit for Prior Learning
  • Virtual & Campus-Based Student Services
  • Eligibility for Respected 3rd Party Industry Credentials
  • New Laptop Computer & MS Software
Request Info

Visit Us – It’s Worth It

Websites, the Internet, and literature can only do so much when considering a new career and choosing a college.  The next step is a college visit. At ASPIRA City College, whether that visit is virtual or on campus, it is a first-hand experience and the right way to make informed choices.

You can meet with us virtually and login from your computer or a mobile device. You’re welcome to have a family member or friend join the session with you. There is nothing for you to download, and no installation is required. You can participate by video or use audio alone – it’s entirely up to you.

Schedule Your Virtual Visit

Take the next step. Your future self will thank you for it.

Call 215-431-6941 to speak with us today or schedule a virtual visit for an info session to get all the facts you need and the positive experience you deserve.,

If you are ready to get your future underway, APPLY NOW.