Engaging Students Series:

8 th-9 th Grades

Using online tools to increase

college and career readiness

Your Hostess

Cyndy McDonald- Middle school and high school counselor

- Experience working in college access program

AVID

- Founder of HECA, MyCCA.net and co-founder

of GuidedPath

- Launching AVEST- American Veterans

program

- Passion for education

- First generation

- Resides in one of US top 10 LEAST educated

cities in the US (4 of the 10 are in Central Valley)

Webinar Agenda

Why start early?

What are your

goals/objectives?

Live demonstration of

tools and resources

with GuidedPath

• Including how to build a custom survey

Questions/Answers

When do you start?

What is the

earliest grade

level you see

students for

college

counseling?

Student/Family Pros Student/Family Cons

Not ready for high school = not ready for college

Provide support for successful transition from middle school to high school

Starting early is important for financial fit & planning

Help students and parents prioritize appropriately

Generate & internalize own long term goals

Adds to “higher education anxiety”

Accelerates emphasis on high stakes admissions

Students not developmentally ready

Encourages unhealthy behaviors

?

Why Start early?

The problem

ACT “The Forgotten Middle” study

(2008) shows

“fewer than 2 in 10 eighth graders are on target to

be ready for college level work by the time they

graduate from high school.”

Why Start early?

College Advisor

• Build program early

• Builds capacity

• Generates more continuity

year-year

• Increases opportunities for

guidance/direction

Support tools for 8th-9th graders

Surveys: gather

information, student

reflection

Testing: when,

what & how

Colleges: search

A part of the overall GUIDEDPATH process

Surveys/Forms

Activity Record: update each

year

Athletic Worksheet: as needed

College Affordability Shaper:

introduce in 8th grade

Course Plan: start 8th- update

each year

Find My Spark: take 8th grade-

revisit 10th or 11th grade

Getting 2 Know U: take 9th grade

Custom Surveys:

as needed6 out of 8 surveys/forms

can be introduced as

early as 8th-9th grade

Key Integrated Surveys

College Affordability Shaper

• The earlier with this tool, the better

• Helps families start planning now

• Should be re-visited each year.

Find My Spark

• Myer-Briggs type indicators

• Links and tools for exploring majors

• Understanding college styles

Survey Results

Integrated Analysis

College Affordability Shaper

College Match

Find My Spark

Results Displayed

Activity Record

Athletic Worksheet

Course Plan

Design a College

Getting 2 Know U

Customize for needs

Build your own Surveys

• Intake forms

• Student goal setting forms

• Tracking forms

Turn any document into an

integrated, online form

Testing

Understanding what

test to take

Understanding when to

take tests

Establishing baselines

Communication of need

for preparation

College Search

• Use YoUniversity

Videos

• FISKE Guide

• Maps

And more- Diversity, majors, careers...

My Chances

Understanding admissions chances

• Supports college counseling goals

Check it out

Let’s log into

www.guidedpath.net

Sample student: Andy

Awesome

I am using Andrew Bond

Support?

Knowledge

Base

• View articles

• Watch videos

• Do a search

• Submit a request

• support@guidedpath.

net

• Call us!

• 720.465.8555

Counseling? cyndy@guidedpath.net

Check List

Start early

Set up student and parent accounts

Offer online surveys

Engage students early and ongoing

Revisit surveys/forms throughout middle school and high school years

Use Implementation Guide from GuidedPath

Use to support transition- from 8th 9th grade

and 12th college