Free Health Career Information Sessions

Free Health Career Information Sessions at SRJC - Scheduled for your convenience on the first Thursday of each month at 4:00 PM. Call (707) 527-4809 to reserve your place today.

Training Resources

Linking You To Top Training & Education - Short-term training, college coursework, volunteer and summer jobs, job shadowing at local health-care providers, and more.
American Red Cross
SRJC Health Science Department
SSU Nursing Program
Empire College
Dominican College
Sonoma County Job Link
University of San Francisco

Student Success Stories

Health Careers Pipeline Program

Lori Louise Lawrence
Finishing up her fifth semester back at Santa Rosa Junior College, since completing her general education requirements back in the 1970’s. She is transferring to Dominican University this fall to get her Bachelors degree in Health Science and eventually her Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Lori Louise chose Occupational Health because she wanted something that would combine good employment prospects and creativity; and since each person’s needs are different, Occupational Health seems like a good blend of those things. Her long-term goal is to work with autistic elementary-school aged children, helping them learn to play, study and socialize.

While working 20 hours a week and taking 13-15 units, Lori Louise appreciated having study space available at the HOPE Center so close to the science classrooms. She also attended a Stress Relief and Wellness workshop during finals last year that was exactly what she needed before taking her anatomy final.

Lori Louise is most proud of the fact that received a perfect score in her anatomy dissections and a 98% on a paper she prepared for her Physiology class. She is also proud to have gotten through it.

The advice that Lori Louise would share with other students considering a career in health would be to take Chemistry first; even if a counselor suggests otherwise. “Go for it!” She also encourages students to have good self-care skills, sleep, nutrition, and mental breaks. Studying for a career in health is hard WORK! She also found that a good study group of compatible people was necessary, because you will spend a lot of time together.

Lori Louise feels fortunate to live here in Sonoma County and attend Santa Rosa Junior College. She had no idea what a great science program SRJC had. She originally chose SRJC because she lived near by, and in the process feels like she received a superb education. After a 30-year “break” from college, she is still completely thrilled to be back in school. She is looking forward to attending Dominican University in San Rafael and because of her experience at SRJC, feels completely prepared!

Felipe
Born in Jalisco, Mexico in la Ciudad de Guzman, Felipe came to the U.S. in 1992, living in San Juan Capistrano and working in the food service industry. Transitioning his career, he has worked Cal Trans for eight years. He provides road and tree maintenance. He is married with three children: Lauren, 13, Vania, 14, and Ceyrus, 7. Felipe especially enjoys the opportunity to continue pursuing his educational and career goals of becoming a nurse. He is such a positive and energetic individual who is living his life to the fullest. One piece of advice that Felipe gives to anyone wishing to pursue their dreams, “Never give up. Be consistent and disciplined.”

Tips for Success for First-year SRJC Students

Think long-term - Don’t wait to start thinking about where you will transfer after attending SRJC. Research four-year university and college programs that you might be interested in. Once you have identified a program or school that you want to attend, you can contact a mentorship program at the institution to start communications with students currently attending that school.

Create a plan with your goals in mind - Begin taking classes and completing the general requirements that correspond to the school where you want to attend. By taking classes that transfer to a four-year university, you will save time and money.

Visit the Transfer Center - SRJC has an outstanding Transfer Center that will help you identify schools that have special agreements with SRJC that gives priority to transfer students. The Transfer Center helps you to navigate individual schools’ admission requirements, as well.

Don’t wait to find financial aid - SRJC offers one of the largest financial aid packages in the state and nation. Scholarships, grants, and loans are available to help make college affordable. Visit SRJC’s Financial Aid Office and Scholarship Office as soon as possible to see what funds are available.

Develop a relationship with an academic counselor - Call SRJC’s Counseling Office for information about finding a counselor you feel comfortable with, who takes the time to thoroughly answer all your questions, and who can direct you to outside resources, such as tutoring. Counselors provide invaluable support and advice every step of the way!

Put your records in order - Call the Counseling Office (look up the Web site at http://www.santarosa.edu/app/counseling/) before meeting with a counselor to ask which documents you need to bring to your appointment, such as tax records, W-2 form, identification, and transcripts. By having all documents in order, you can move forward on enrolling and scheduling classes quickly.

Make grades a priority - When you take classes that are of interest to you, you are setting yourself up for success and good grades. Although you may enter college not knowing what area of study you want to focus on, your counselors can offer advice so that every class counts.
The most affordable college education - One of the key benefits of starting your college experience at SRJC is that the college offers high quality education at a fraction of the cost of attending other four-year institutions. You will save thousands of dollars a semester while taking quality classes that transfer to most four-year universities and colleges of your choice.

Take classes that satisfy requirements - The most efficient way to choose your first-year class schedule is to start taking classes that satisfy general education requirements. Keep in mind that requirements vary depending on the college or university that you plan to transfer to.
Engage your instructors - Make yourself recognizable to your instructors by showing an interest in class. Your instructors can help you identify areas of academic interest and possible career paths. You can also schedule time to meet with your instructors during posted office hours.

Talk to fellow students - Other students will likely become your best resource while enrolled at SRJC, and getting to know other students in and outside of classes will allow you to create a network to share ideas and experiences. If you are not too social, your counselor can set you up with a mentor on campus.