Educational Planning & Counseling

With the help of an Educational Access Specialist, start the process of finishing your educational goals. Your EOC Educational Access Specialist will assist you in deciding

• whether to obtain a college degree or vocational-technical certificate;
• choosing between public or private educational institutions;
• selecting a college major;
• discussing timelines and deadlines;
• explaining the steps to successful enrollment; and/or
• obtaining your GED or high school diploma.

Career Exploration Counseling

Educational Access Specialists assist you in identifying or redefining career goals. Advising is based on one or more of the following: a career inventory, vocational interests, academic skills, personal values, and individual preferences related to a career choice. Job and earnings outlook information may also be discussed.  

Student Financial Aid Advising & Scholarship Search

Our Educational Access Specialists will explain the financial aid process and assist you in completing the appropriate financial aid, scholarship, and loan applications. This includes information on the four student financial aid programs: grants, work study, loans, and scholarships.

Apply Early!! The FAFSA application is available every January for the following school year. Make an appointment to start the process and use this list to know "What to Bring" to your EOC Appointment (2-page PDF).

EOC Workshops

The EOC hosts workshops at our various sites across the state, as well as at the Auraria Campus in Denver. At Auraria, we partner with the Community College of Denver’s Resource Center, which also offers student workshops on an on-going basis. Review the Resource Center workshop schedule. In the past, workshop topics offered were computer program basics, career advising, financial literacy, scholarship searches, how to pick a major, and more.

Eligibility

EOC services are free and available to individuals who meet the following criteria.

• U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Interested in pursuing a GED, vocational training, certificate program, or four-year college
• Do not yet possess a bachelor’s degree

Find an EOC Office near You & Schedule an Appointment

The EOC programs are located in the community and in institutions of higher education offering a variety of services, resources, and one-on-one support. Find an EOC office near you to schedule an appointment. Once scheduled, be sure to print and complete the EOC Intake Form (2-page PDF) and bring it in with you to your appointment. We also visit program participants through internal referrals at a variety of nonprofit partner agencies in our service area.