Alice L. Robertson, School Counselor Chantilly High School

Creating Early AwarenessAlice L. Robertson, School Counselor

Chantilly High School

Fairfax County Public Schools

It is difficult to know for certain when young students first begin to make plans to attend college. Research indicates that some students can NEVER recall a time when they did not know they were destined to attend college.

(Hossler, Schmit, and Vesper 1999)

• Maximize the window of opportunity developmentally

• Fostering a growth mindset• Engaging parent trust and buy-in• Establishing a team of advocates – Invested Adults• Connecting career aspirations with school’s course

work• Demonstrating leadership and initiative in extra-

curricular activities, community service, volunteerism, etc.

• Creating customized student-specific plan that promotes the optimal postsecondary opportunities

Elementary & Middle SchoolThe Optimal Time for…………………………

The point of the

conversation at this stage is:

College is a goal that can be attained,

College is possible,

There are steps to be taken to get there.

• Four-Year Schools

• Two-Year Schools

• Career Education Schools

• Technical Schools

• Military Education

• Apprenticeship

• Graduate/Professional School

Defining “College”

“Data-Driven” Read

How do Colleges Read Files?

This is a focus on the more quantitative pieces of the application – number of

Honors/AP Courses, overall GPA, core GPA, SAT/ACT

scores.

“Whole” Read

This includes a focus on qualitative pieces of

information within the application -

recommendations, essays, activities and awards, as well

as the numbers.

How do Colleges Read Files?

Creating a College Going Culture

Goal Setting

Respect for Differences

Teamwork

Initiative

Balance/Life Roles

Time Management

Persistence

Coping Skills

Self-Awareness

Decision Making

Problem Solving

Career Development: It’s Personal!

Step By Step: College Awareness and Planning for Families, Counselors and Communities

www.nacacnet.org/steps

Free Download updated in 2017

Elementary School (Grades K-5)

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Early High School (Grades 9-Semester 1 Grade 11)

Late High School (Grades 11-12)

Financial Aid Resources

NACAC STEPS Program

http://www.nacacnet.org/steps

NACAC STEPS Curriculum

ALL Students …

Are prepared for a full range of post-secondary options through structural, motivational, and experiential college preparatory opportunities.

College-Going Culture: The GOAL

It’s a team effort: Counselors, teachers, and parents are

partners in preparing students for college.

• Research tells us that having college plans by tenth grade increases the likelihood of attending by 21%

• Academic preparation for college is more important than socioeconomic status in college enrollment.

Creating a College-Going Culture

1. College Talk

2. Clear Expectations

3. Information and Resources

4. Comprehensive Counseling Model

5. Faculty Involvement

6. College Partnerships

7. Family Involvement

Source: Patricia McDonough, UCLA

Critical Principles for a College-Going Culture

College TalkClear, ongoing communication among students, teachers, administrators, and families about what it takes to get to college


College Talk Indicators

• Newsletter, newspapers, posters

• College Day – Pyramid Wide

• College Club for small learning groups – 1st Generation, CPP

• Personal writing contest – prep for essay writing


• Pyramid Wide College Day

– Administrative Support

– Every Teacher Participates

• College Flyers

• Targeted Lesson

• 10-15 Q & A

– High School Students visit their former schools

• Share their journey

• Encourage students to take school seriously

• Discuss extracurricular involvement

College Day

Information & Resources:

• Comprehensive, up-to-date college information and resources, easily accessible by all students, families, and school personnel


Information & Resources Indicators:

College-related periodicals

PSAT/SAT/ACT materials

Financial aid materials

College choice guides

Internet access

College & Career Planning

Computer/web-based programs

Test prep materials


Comprehensive Counseling Model:

View of counseling that makes all student interactions with counseling staff an opportunity for college counseling


Comprehensive Counseling Model Indicators:

• MS Counselors know and understand the HS Curriculum

• Counselors engage in professional development

• Counselors at all grade levels participate in ongoing collaboration

• Counselors distribute college/career information to all students, faculty, and staff


• K-16

–Backward Design

• Take English, Math Science, Social Studies, and World Language EVERY YEAR IN HS

–Middle School Math?

–Middle School World Language?

Four Year Academic Plan

• Liberal Arts College • Universities• Technical Institutes & Professional Schools• Hispanic-serving Institutions• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)• Women’s Colleges• Community or Junior Colleges• Early Action• Early Decision• Rolling Admission• FAFSA• Grants• Loans• Work Study• Private versus Public Schools

College Vocabulary

Sports: Individual, Team, Private Coaches

Fine Arts: Graphics, Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Photo

Performing Arts: Band, Orchestra, Choir, Dance, Theatre

Scouts: Gold Awards, Eagle Scout

Religious Groups:Youth Group, Mission Trips & Work Camps

Writing: Newspaper, Yearbook, Literary Arts Magazine

Volunteering: Canned versus Creative

Other: ??????

Answer: Spend time doing what you enjoy!

Getting Involved: What looks better?

Faculty Involvement:

Informed, active participation from school faculty in the creation and maintenance of a college-going culture


Faculty Involvement Indicators:• Classrooms feature information on the teacher’s

alma mater• Teachers initiate College Talk during class time and

the importance of completing various levels of school

• Classrooms adopt a college and decorate the classroom door

• Teachers foster a growth mindset and consistently praise effort

• Classroom wall of fame – photos of alums & where they attended school


Family Involvement:

Meaningful engagement on the part of family members in the process of building a college-going culture


Family Involvement Indicators:

• College fairs for students and parents

• Evening Programs - Let’s Talk College, College Admissions 101, Curriculum Night –Developing a 4 Year Plan

• Support for parents’ belief that their children are “college material”


College Partnerships:

Active links in a variety of forms between the school and local colleges and universities


College Partnerships Indicators:

• Visits to local colleges for students at all grade levels

• College representatives visit your school

• Panel of alumni speaking about college life

• Presentations by professors from local colleges


Articulation:

• Ongoing coordination between counselors and teachers among feeder schools

• Student Learning Plans through Family Connection

• College Talk in feeder schools


Articulation Indicators:

• Students hear a consistent message at all grade levels

• Elementary and middle schools engaging in college talk

• Students see themselves as college material as early as kindergarten


• NACAC - http://www.nacacnet.org• ASCA- www.schoolcounselor.org• NOSCA- http://advocacy.collegeboard.org/college-

preparation-access/national-office-school-counselor-advocacy-nosca

• The Fiske Guide to Colleges • Ruggs Recommendations on the Colleges• The Best 371 Colleges – Princeton Review• Naviance/Counselor’s Office (Internet-based

program)• www.collegenavigator.gov• www.collegeresults.org

Resources

http://www.nacacnet.org/

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/

http://advocacy.collegeboard.org/college-preparation-access/national-office-school-counselor-advocacy-nosca

http://www.collegenavigator.gov/

http://www.collegeresults.org/

Documents

Alice L. Robertson, School Counselor Chantilly High School