For Counselors
Help your students take the next step in their education!
As a counselor, your encouragement plays a critical role in helping students prepare for college. Your students rely on you to ensure that they are prepared for the college admissions process. Your goal is to convince your students that college is within their grasp.
Some of the things you can do to give students the best chance of going on to the college of their choice include:
- Helping to plan a challenging course schedule
- Keeping records of classes and grades
- Keeping track of graduation requirements
- Advising which college admission tests to take and when to take them
- Connecting students to information on various colleges, majors, and careers.
- Recommending colleges to match academic profiles and career goals
- Advising on "safety," "good fit," and "reach" schools
- Sending transcripts to colleges
- Writing letters of recommendation
- Helping families understand how financial aid works, and connecting students to scholarships
- Joining a professional organization (SoCal CAN, NACAC, etc)
Professional Development & Training
College Access System Map
Taken from The OMG Center for Collaborative Learning's report "Using Data to Drive Change: A Guide for College Access and Success Stakeholders", this map charts a complete college access system that includes the players that directly impact students at home, school and community, and stakeholders within the policy arena. It's a useful tool for understanding the role that your organization plays in the broader field of College Access.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Founded in 1937, NACAC is an organization of more than 11,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. NACAC's award-winning publications and other media resources, professional development programs and practical research efforts have all been designed to give counseling and admission professionals the tools they need to improve the counseling services they provide to students.
Futuros Educational Services
In addition to regular college advising support, Futuros offers various workshops related to preparing for college, applying to college, and securing funds for college. Workshops will include information about college requirements, college application deadlines and procedures, as well as fundraising for college. Contact them to schedule the next workshop at your school!
Databases
Pathways to College Network's Online Library
The PCN Online Library is a searchable database of publications, research reports, websites, and other resources related to improving college access and success for underserved populations. Use the Library to find data, policy recommendations, best practices, models, or evaluation reports pertaining to almost any topic.
National College Access Program Directory
This national directory of college access programs is a free online resource for students, parents, counselors, and researchers and those operating college access programs.
CollegeMeasures.org
This site provides key outcome measures for 1,576 four-year public and private colleges in the US. The website makes it simple to strategically evaluate the performance of colleges and state systems on key measures including: graduation rates, first-year retention rates, education-related cost per student, cost per degree, student loan default rates, and the ratio of student loan payments to earnings for recent graduates.
Interactive Map: Adults With College Degrees in the United States, by County
This map from The Chronicle of Higher Education illustrates college degree census data dating back to the 1940's. Results can be filtered by class, race, and county.
Online Tools
ConnectEDU
Connect! is the nation’s only integrated web-based solution that welcomes everyone assisting students during education and career transitions. Using student datat as early as grade 7, students are networked into a community of users focused on information and guidance in curriculum, college and career planning.
"Evaluation Toolkit" for College Access Programs
This evaluation toolkit is a free, user-friendly Web-based guide that provides step-by-step instructions on how to approach program evaluation. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of college access practitioners to collect, analyze, and apply data to improve program outcomes. It helps users: 1) develop a comprehensive plan; 2) identify data collection methods needed; 3) determine the effects of their program practices; and 4) use findings to improve and/or advocate for their program. It was developed by The Pell Institute and the Pathways to College Network.
The College Board's "Net-Price" Calculator
This calculator gives a prospective student a personalized estimate of the cost to attend your college, based on his or her situation and your financial aid funds. With customizable options and broad accessibility, the Net Price Calculator is a reliable and convenient tool for you and for students.
INeedAPencil.com - FREE SAT Prep
INeedAPencil.com is an innovative site that raises students SAT scores through a strategic preparation program that uses SAT questions, lessons and student tools. The site has 60 lessons, 800+ practice questions, and countless useful features.
Undocumented & AB 540
AB-540 Student CSU Transfer Guide
Educators for Fair Consideration (e4fc) have put together a step-by-step guide for AB-540 students who intend on completing a CSU Transfer Application for the 2011-2012 year. The online application is available through November 30th at www.csumentor.edu.
Undocumented "Coming Out" Guide
The leaders of DreamActivist.org, a student group working nationally on justice for undocumented students, has compiled a "Coming Out" guide for those students who are unafriad to tell their story of being undocumented.
