MOTIVATION FOR A COLLEGE GOING CULTURE

BY NANCY T. BEANE

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS

March 14, 2016

Slide by Rachel Pfeiffer of The SEED Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

CORE COMPETENCIES

Lifelong Learning

Social Intelligence

Personal Responsibility

Service-Orientation

Career preparation & financial literacy integrated throughout all competencies

KEY QUALITIESIntellectual

curiosity and rigor

Exposure to other cultures and spheres,

self-awareness

Integrity, perseverance

(“grit”), reliability,

reflectiveness, compassion,

self-advocacy

Commitment to community

service, advocacy for others, giving

back, philanthropy

DATA ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

• In the fall of 2015, 14.9 million students will be in grades 9-12 in public schools, and several million more will be in private schools.

• About 3.3 million students will graduate from public high schools, and another .3 million will graduate from private schools.

• By 2013, the number of high school dropouts among 16-24 year olds declined to 6.8% compared to 10.9& in 2000.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

COLLEGE DATA

• By this fall, about 20.2 million students will attend American colleges and universities, and increase of about 4.9 million since the fall of 2000.

• By this fall, about 12.5 million females will attend college, compared with 8.7 million males.

• About 7 million students will attend 2-year institutions, and 13.2 million will attend 4-year institutions by this fall.

• Between 2000 and 2013, the 18-24 year old population grew from about 27 million to about 31.5 million. Those numbers resulted in 39.9% of 18-24 year olds in college compared to 35.5% in 2000.

Source: Fast Facts from National Center for Education Statistics

THE BRAIN OF A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE TODAY!

Today’s students lead multi-faceted, complex lives. Often we wonder when they sleep, how they keep up with all that is “on their plates,” and how we can best help them gain access to college, persist while there, and become successful so that they lead meaningful and productive lives.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES?

Through our vision and mission for our students, we hope they will be well-prepared for post-secondary opportunities, whether those be in community colleges, 4-year colleges, or in skilled trades for which most will need some type of certification

HOW TO CREATE THE COLLEGE GOING CULTURE

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED

GOALS TO ESTABLISH

INCENTIVES TO INSTILL

EXAMPLES OF WAYS THAT LEAD TO “NOT IF STUDENTS WILL GO TO COLLEGE BUT WHERE”

STANDARDS FOR ACCESS AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE

Clearly, students have to be ready and able for success in college if they are to finish. These standards are important for that outcome.

Source for this slide and next: Prezi by Getting2College (out of Jackson, MS)

FACTORS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

COST OF COLLEGE

One of the biggest factors in the ability of students to attend college today is the cost . The average amount of debt taken on by today’s students is over $ 30,000. So how do families plan for assuming that cost and knowing how to take advantage of scholarships and need-based aid?

SOURCES FOR FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Fastweb.com

Finaid.org

Scholarships.com

SNAPP through Common App

College Board.Com (Big Future)

Net Price Calculator on each college website (information)

CREATING THE DESIRE TO GO TO COLLEGE

While it often looks exciting to go to college, too many students either don’t go or don’t persist in finishing college for a variety of factors. How do we as school counselors inspire them to consider college as their post secondary options?

STEP BY STEP

WWW.8 NACACNET.ORG/STEPS STEPBY STEP: COLLEGE AWARENESS AND PLANNING: MIDDLE SCHOOL

Step by Step is a free guide put out by NACAC. It is a book about college awareness and planning for families, counselors, and communities.

BULLETIN BOARDS AND OTHER WAYS THAT INSPIRE STUDENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE

• Teachers wearing college t-shirts

• Students wearing college t-shirts

• Ice Breaker BingoSource for next four slides: Step by Step by NACAC and Getting2College

OTHER WAYS TO INSPIRE A COLLEGE GOING CULTURE

• Doing My Interest Form

• Peer Interviews and Career Exploration Activities

• Why Think About College Now

• College Knowledge and Earning Power With and Without College

• Using a Buried College Treasure Map

• Researching Colleges on the Internet

Source: Step by Step

• Using the Internet to Research Colleges

• Understanding Testing (tests in 8th grade to determine readiness for such)

• Having Each Student Assess Learning Styles

• Understanding Classes Needed in High School for College Readiness Preparation

• Helping Students Figure Out What Activities They Want to Pursue in High School

Source: Step by Step

DECORATED DOORS AND WALLS THAT MIGHT SPUR INTEREST IN COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS

Source: Getting2College

HOSTING OR ATTENDING A COLLEGE FAIR

NACAC will host its annual college fair with over 200 colleges at the Georgia International Convention Center on Sunday, March 13, 2016, from 12:30 to 4:00. The only cost to students and parents is parking ($ 5), charged by the convention center. Sessions, including those appropriate for middle school students and parents will be held in conjunction with the fair.

APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AT EACH LEVEL: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SOURCE: PREZI BY GETTING2COLLEGE

APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AT EACH LEVEL: MIDDLE SCHOOL

SOURCE: PREZI BY GETTING2COLLEGE

APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AT EACH LEVEL: HIGH SCHOOL

SOURCE: PREZI BY GETTING2COLLEGE

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GwMnac5woc

WWW.8 NACACNET.ORG/STEPS STEP BY STEP: COLLEGE AWARENESS AND PLANNING: MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Fundamentals of College Counseling by Todd Laudino

College Counseling for School Counselors by Patrick

O’Connor (Available on Amazon)