Step-by-StepHigh School

Tania Rachkoskie

NACAC

Essentials of Professional Development

Tania RachkoskieDirector of Education & Training

The Step by Step to College curriculum was a collaborative effort developed between NACAC

and the Center for Student Opportunity.

The Step by Step manual offers detailed plans and activities to support middle and high school

students in the college preparation and admission process.

Workshops have been presented in middle and high schools, community-based organizations,

independent counselor settings and at the last six NACAC conferences.

WELCOMEStep by Step Overview

Underrepresentation

African-American, Latino and Native American students are still significantly underrepresented in college in

general and in four-year colleges in particular.

• First-generation students – 59 percent

• Students with parent with a 4-year degree – 93 percent

• Rural students, despite better high school graduation rates, enroll in college at rates 6 percent lower than the national average and 8 percent lower than their metropolitan counterparts.

College Enrollment

Rates:

Step by Step Overview

Step by Step: College Awareness and Planning for Families,

Counselors and Communities

3 separate curriculums – middle school, early high school, and late high school

Parent/Guardian Workshops

Financial Aid Parent/ Guardian

Workshops

Spanish PowerPoints / Handouts are

Available

Step by Step Overview

45-60 minute student centered lesson plans

Sequential program

Middle School -grades 7 and 8

Early High School - grades 9, 10, and

first semester grade 11

Late High School -second semester of grade 11 and

grade 12

• 45-60 minute student centered lesson plans with optional parent sessions

(3 - 4 activities per session)

• Sequential, developmentally appropriate programming middle school students in grades 7 and 8

early high school students in grades 9, 10, and first semester grade11

late high school students in the second semester of grade 11 and grade 12

Using Steps …

• 6 – 8 week after/before school program

/ guidance class

• Homeroom / Advisory time

• Individual / family counseling

• PTA / Parent meetings

Parent Programming

Objective

Provide information to parents and

guardians that will help them

become informed, confident

advisors to their children about

postsecondary academic options.

Early High School PP

Charting a Challenging High School Experience

Postsecondary education

Educational routes

Interest, values and abilities as pertains to

decision-making

Enlisting teacher and counselor support

Types of Financial Aid

Late High School PP

Follow the Road to College

College selection and application process

Parts of the application

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

Parent and family role in the college

admission process

Financial Aid PP

Paying for College

Financial Aid Calendar (changes coming…)

Terminology

Assessing need

Types of financial aid

Student Curriculum

Question Toss-Beach Ball Game

• If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

• If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

• What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?

• When you were little, who was your favorite super hero and why?

• Who is your hero? (a parent, a celebrity, an influential person in one’s life)

• What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

• If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor

would you want to play you?

• If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why?

• What’s your favorite cartoon character, and why?

• If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and

why

• Are you a morning or night person?

• What are your favorite hobbies?

• What are your pet peeves?

• What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Middle School Curriculum

• Challenge students to see college

admissions and attendance as a goal

• Help students assess their interests,

strengths, and academic habits

• Explain concepts about college options and

financial aid

Early High School Curriculum

• Instill the belief that college is accessible and affordable

• Demonstrate ways for students to build a strong curricular and extracurricular foundation

• Develop an understanding of and a plan for standardized testing

• Promote the need for self-motivation and a network of adult mentors

• Assess career interests and aspirations as a way to research college options

EARLY HS – SESSION 1

ACTIVITIES

1. College Bound Bingo

2. What’s Your Dream

3. Why College

4. College Costs / Financial Aid

Great Sorting Game(EHS - Session 4; Activity 4)

Late High School Curriculum

• Develop a strategic plan for the college search and application process and the transition to college

• Review standardized test questions and schedule test dates

• Provide more in-depth analysis of career interests

• Guide students through the application and essay process

• Walk students through the financial aid process

Defining College(LHS – Lesson 1; Activity 2)

1. What is the difference between a college and

university?

2. What is a Hispanic serving institution?

3. What is the difference between Early Action,

Early Decision and Select Early Action?

4. What is the difference between a research

institution and a “teaching college”?

5. What is the difference between a grant and a

scholarship?

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW

YOUR COLLEGE VOCABULARY

Resource List

• College For Every Student www.collegefes.org

• College: Making It Happen

www.certicc.org/collegemakingit.aspx

• Counselor Zone

www.collegezone.com/counselorzone/265.htm

• ECMC Foundation – The College Place

www.ecmcfoundation.org

• Get Ready for College (MN)

www.getreadyforcollege.org

• Illinois Resource for undocumented students http://www.iacac.org/undocumented/

Early Awareness Resource List

• NACAC - Step-by-Stepwww.nacacnet.org/steps

• NACAC – Knowledge Centerwww.nacacnet.org/research/KnowledgeCenter

• College Video Tours

http://www.youniversitytv.com/

• Center for Student Opportunity

www.csopportunity.org

• Big Future by The College Boardwww.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

• KnowHow2GOwww.knowhow2go.org