B2Spreading the Wealth: Public School Counselors Share Best Practices and Resources

Bob Bardwell, Monson High School, MAJulie Kampschroeder, Pattonville High School, MOLoyce Engle, Retired, TXAmy Thompson, York Community High School, IL

College Academy for First Gen Seniors

• Free to rising seniors who are First Generation College Bound• Meet in the College Center M-Th 9 am-2 pm; F 8 am-2pm• Topic Sessions: Barriers to a college degree

ResumeEssay ACT

Mock College FairHow to present yourself Financial Aid EssayCOA Net

Price CalculatorCollege Visits Mock

Admissions SessionSuccessful Like Skills Traits Fee WaiversAcademic Goals for the year College Debt/ROI

Local College visits Scholarships

• $100 community sponsors; Peer Helper; Meet 12+ college reps

Creative College Financing Presentation

• Evening presentation to parents/students grades 9-12 in October• Open with COA and very brief overview of grants/loans• Explain variances in merit scholarships at public universities• Try to explain private universities ‘discount rate’• College Credit/AP/CLEP• Less expensive out of state schools• Purchase used books via ISBN# chegg.com amazon.com• Manager for D I or II athletic team• Choose the less expensive dorm (no AC?)

Financial Essay session

• This information will be used for independent scholarships who ask the question “Why do you need financial help to attend college?”

• Create bullet points as to why you need financial help*First Gen *Medical bills *Large family*One parent household *incarcerated parent*homelessness *underemployed/unemployed*Student pays their own bills and/or family rent/utilities

• Begin your essay stating the college/university you plan to attend and the total COA. State how much you are offered in merit scholarships and subtract from the first #.

• Now be very specific detailing the bullet points in your essay.

How to read your financial aid packet

• *Missouri requires a “Personal Finance” course for graduation• *Guest speaker in EVERY class• *PowerPoint presentation on: COA EFC Grants Loans• Work Study National Debt Full Recourse

12 semester PELL max Stafford Loan Max• Tell horror stories of students/families• For Profit Colleges• Student Loan repayment chart (what they will pay per month)• Actual Financial Aid Packages

A Look at College Admissions Night

• We target upper level students, but invite anyone - format has been a discussion between me, a private college, and state college - anything goes.  Parents like this.

A Look at College Admissions night (continued)

Special Guests…

Nan Davis

Vice President for Enrollment

Austin College

Former President, Texas

Association for College Admission

Counseling

Jeff FullerDirector of Student RecruitmentThe University of HoustonFormer President, Texas Association for College Admission CounselingBoard of Directors, National

Association for College Admission Counseling

Senior Banner

• it is donated.  We have May 1 "signing day" and during the month seniors can sign.  Much fun for all

Web Blog

• FREE communication tools!• http://westwoodcounseling.blogspot.ca/

Remind101

• FREE communication tools!

NACAC web

• NACAC web – fabulous FREE resources. I could not function without them!

College Conference Night

• 3 or 4 time slots during the evening• Survey in advance to solicit session needs• Parents and students select sessions to attend• Area “experts” present, so low cost• Student organization assists• Conference “program” available online/email in advance, so the

students and parents can plan their evening schedule• Sessions vary each year• Leaves them wanting more!

August Bootcamp for College Applications

• Seniors register online to attend• One day/half day prior to school start• Area college reps organize and present the ENTIRE program• Students bring college essay for assistance• Sessions depend on student need• Win/win

Do What You Are Personality Inventory

Students take the “Do What You Are” personality inventory, based on the Myers-Briggs. We review the results & I share insights about how it can guide them in both college & career choices.

Transition planning for all IEP students

Series of Career & College Planning Activities via Guided Study

Grade 9: S1:Career Cruising - Account Creation + Career Matchmaker + F/U Questionnaire

S2: Career Cruising - Career Selector + Career Research Sheet

Grade 10: S1: Naviance – Personality Inventory + F/U Questionnaire

S2: Naviance – Cluster Finder + Career Research

Grade 11: S1: What’s Next Illinois - Values Inventory + Naviance/Career Cruising: School Search + F/U Questionnaire

S2: Naviance - Game Plan & Career Cruising - Resume Builder

Recommend Individual meeting w/CCRC Counselor

Grade 12: S1: Naviance - Final college/school list + Individual meeting w/ CCRC Counselor

S2: Review Resource Sheet & if needed, individual meeting w/ CCRC Counselor

We’ve created a “scope & sequence” of inventories and worksheets/ questionnaires for each semester of high school. Students with IEP’s take these inventories and reflect on each activity. Case Managers help formulate transition goals based on the results of the inventories.

STEM Career WeekWe invited individuals from a wide range of fields that have STEM connections. Small and large group presentations by panels and individuals were offered as varying times throughout the week. Our future goal is to have a day-long STEMposium, to feel like a full day professional conference where all students can select the sessions they wish to attend.

Step 1: Elicit help across the school from all Departments via Department Chairs.Step 2: Create a Google Doc Survey so that any staff member could reach out and invite someone they knew that worked in a STEM field and whom they thought would bring passion and enthusiasm to their presentation.Step 3: Collect the information in the Google spread sheet and start organizing the speakers into groups by type of work, and for individual presentations.Step 4: Confirm with speakers their availability and willingness to participate on the date selected. Step 5: Share final schedule with teachers to sign up classes & post full schedule for students to sign up to attend during a free period.

Black Student Leadership ConferenceHosted by our Community College, a group of counselors from our region collaborated based on similar programs at other community colleges.

Session topics included: • Panel of college admission reps from a variety of schools (small, medium,

large, range of selectivity) • 2 High School Counselors sharing their story of beating the odds• Career presentation• Financial Aid Session. • Mini-college fair.

We had about 300 participants from all over our county and even some students from outside the county.

We will repeat the program with some changes to add more interactive/hands-on opportunities.

Senior Summer SessionsTaught parents and students how to use Naviance for: • College research • Organizing• Requesting and tracking

transcripts• Requesting and tracking letters

of recommendation

Also addressed Common App FERPA & Waivers, transcript release forms, and explanation of SSR’s.

First Gen Family NightTwo sessions run back-to-back:

SESSION 1 (offered in English then Spanish)Explaining the US post-high school educational system and options• Apprenticeship, Trade/Specialty, Military, Community College, Junior

Colleges, Four-Year• Types of Degrees

• Certificates, Associates, Bachelors, Master, Doctoral, Professional

• Opportunities to change direction after high school• Benefits of Higher Education

• Lower Unemployment, Higher Wages

• Difference between College/University• Admission Process

• Why extra-curricular activities matter• Why essays• Why Letters of Recommendation• Special Considerations

• Levels of Competitiveness• Most Selective, Very Selective, Moderately Selective, Minimally Selective

• Timeline to Research & Apply

SESSION 2 (offered in Spanish then English)

Financial Aid Session• Overview of FAFSA• Explanation of terms• Timeline of process

Career & College Awareness Week

• Held the first week of March in conjunction with course selection process• Activities for all students

• Trivia contests & lunch events

• Grade 9 Career Day program• Groups travel by homeroom to 4 different presentations – 2/3 presenters per room• Speakers present 4 times; students rotate rooms• Sort by most popular career clusters

• Grade 10 College Day Program• Similar to grade 9 program but featuring college admission reps and current students• Two colleges per room; try to have similar programs in the same room

• Grade 11 Hot Jobs 4 You• 10-12 presenters in cafeteria;• Juniors rotate from station to station

• College Door Decoration Contest (see next slide)

College Door Decoration Contest

• Held during Career & College Awareness Week - first week of March• Each small group advisory picks a college/university/technical school• Decorated during a 42 minute extended advisory time period• Rubric was created for judging

• Information = 50%• Creativity – 30%• Team Spirit = 20%

• Judging by Superintendent and other celebrity judges• Each grade level winner gets a breakfast for their advisory• Decorated doors stay up during the annual March Madness

basketball tournament

May Senior Transition Night

• Held around May 10 after seniors decide where to go • Alumni from the most recent graduating class who are home for

summer break are invited to share their first year experience• Parent of a recent alumni also invited to speak from the parent

perspective• Include a speaker from local university New Student Orientation or

Residential life to discuss the transition process and activities that happen prior to the semester starting

College Counseling Program Curriculum Map

• Similar to our academic department colleagues, the counseling program has an articulated map of activities

• Includes large and small group, classroom and individual activities• Includes not only college counseling activities, but all comprehensive

guidance activities• Classroom lessons include lesson plan, pre/post test and other

supporting documentation• Connected to ASCA standards• Provides consistency and sustainability – not tied to a person but

rather the program

The Senior Scoop Newsletter

• Old fashioned paper newsletter just for seniors• Provides students and families with important info about senior

specific activities • Includes local, regional and national scholarships that we have

received• Usually handed out the first Friday of the month in advisory• Encourage senior advisors to discuss contents in small groups• Electronic copy sent to student and family email addresses

Alumni Day Program

• Held in early January, when recent alumni are back on home semester break

• Most recent alumni speak to freshmen advisories and junior classes about their first semester college experience

• 2-3 alumni in each room representing different types of schools and locations (2/4 year, public/private, local far away; selective/non-selective)

• 27 minutes for freshmen; 45 minutes for juniors• Provide talking points but encourage Q & A• Faculty moderator

Your Turn to Share

• What resources, ideas or suggestions would you like to share?

Questions & Answers

• What is not clear or do you need clarification?

For More Information

Bob Bardwell – bardwellr@monsonschools.com;

Julie Kampschroeder – jkampschroeder@psdr3.org;

Loyce Engle– loyce.engle@gmail.com

Amy Thompson – athompson@elmhurst205.org;