Counseling the B/C Student at Large Public High Schools

1. Counseling the B/C Student at Large Public High Schools

2. Making the Connection • Referrals from: • Guidance Counselors • Academic Support Counselors • Learning Center • Meet with • College Prep English Teachers • Administrators • Connect with Parents • Meet with Students Individually • Develop trust and establish credibility • Let them explain inconsistencies or problem areas

3. Timing • Start Early – freshman and sophomore year • Follow up with yearly updates. Emphasize: • Good study habits • Time management plan • Reading for content • Choosing classes for academic success • Respect passions • Review college requirements and “C” grades

4. Parent/Student Responsibilities • Learning disability – diagnosed vs. undiagnosed • Realistic college options • Learning styles • Research colleges • Match academic profile with admission criteria • Meet deadlines • Prioritize individual needs • Maintain regular communication

5. Use What You Have • Transcript • Trends • Weak areas • Teacher Comments • Test Sores • Counselor Reports • Counselor Conferences • Career Interest Inventories

6. When it Comes to Colleges… • Plenty of options • Keep open mind • Focus on strengths (to compensate for low GPA): leader, volunteer, organizer, special skills, employment, first gen, minority • Strategies to explain deficiencies • Consider special programs • Coop – www.co-op.edu • Block Plan – Colorado College

7. College Resources • Class size and student/teacher ratio • Support services • Tutors • Learning Communities • Advising • Special programs • Pre-college Summer

8. Application Strategies • Apply broadly • Geographical/ethnic diversity • Wait for first semester grades • Address inconsistencies/gaps/problems – acknowledge mistakes and focus on learning • www.fairtest.org – test optional colleges • Interview if strong social skills • Spring admits • Colleges that recruit in CA • Post-grad year • Career College • Community college

9. Special Needs Students • Disability – type and severity • Disability Services Center • Comprehensive to basic services • Fees • Assistive technology • Tutors, writing center, note taking, etc. • Academic requirements – Foreign Language • Community College – 1 semester • ASL – accepted by some colleges • Student Disclosure of Disability • Good Choices: Curry College, Landmark University, Lynn University

10. List of Colleges - California • Cal States • Bakersfield • Channel Islands • Chico • Dominguez Hills • East Bay • Maritime Academy • Monterey Bay • Dominican • Menlo College • Vanguard University • Whittier College • Woodbury University

11. Sample List of Colleges – Out of State • Albright College (PA) • Alfred University (NY) • Champlain College (VT) • Coastal Carolina University (SC) • Doane College (NE) • Drew University (NJ) • Evergreen State College (WA) • Flagler College (FL) • Fort Lewis College (CO) • Grand Canyon University (AZ) • Guilford College (NC) • Lynn University (FL) • Manhattanville College (NY) • University of Mass Dartmouth • Mitchell College (CT) • Old Dominion (VA) • Prescott College (AZ)

12. Out of State (con’t) • Radford University (VA) • Rider University (NJ) • Roger Williams University (RI) • Salve Regina University (RI) • Seton Hall University (NJ) • Southern New Hampshire University • Southern Oregon University (OR) • Suffolk University (MA) • Temple University (PA) • University of LA at Lafayette (LA) • University of New England (MA) • University of New Haven (CT) • University of Northern Colorado • University of Maine (Orono) • University of Rhode Island • University of West Virginia • Virginia Wesleyan College (VA)

13. Advertise! • Put together a “Hope List” - colleges with high acceptance rates • Reinforce the “majority rule” – majority of colleges accept majority of students who apply

14. Resources • U.S News - http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/a-plus • America’s Best Colleges for the B Student, Tamra B. Orr • “College Options (And Strategies) for the ‘B’ and Even ‘C’ Student http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/nacac-b-c/.

15. COUNSELING THE B/C STUDENT THE PRIVATE, COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL

16. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS • STUDENT EXPECTATIONS • PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS

17. STUDENT EXPECTATIONS • UNDERSTANDING REALITY • ADMISSION STATISTICS • NAVIANCE SCATTERGRAMS • THE BALANCED LIST • REACH, TARGET, ANCHOR • GEOGRAPHIC • FINANCIAL

18. REALISTIC OPTIONS • IN STATE • CSU SYSTEM • PRIVATE COLLEGES W/ OPEN ADMISSIONS POLICIES • SPECIALTY OR PERFORMANCE BASED COLLEGES • CHRISTIAN COLLEGES • PRIVATE 2 YEAR COLLEGES

19. REALISTIC OPTIIONS • OUT OF STATE • PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE WUE PROGRAM • PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES IN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS LOOKING FOR CA STUDENTS

20. PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS • EDUCATION • “LET’S TALK COLLEGE” • SPOTLIGHT ON COLLEGE FOR PARENTS

21. PARENTS AND STUDENTS • CAMPUS TOURS • COLLEGE REP. VISITS • COLLEGE FAIRS

22. FERVENTLY ADVOCATING • SPECIAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES • UPWARD TRENDS IN ACADEMIC PROFILE • COMPELLING REASONS

23. SELF ADVOCACY • CLEARLY ARTICULATE WHAT THEY WISH TO PRESENT ABOUT THEMSELVES • ADDRESSING HEAD-ON ANY “HICCUPS” IN THEIR ACADEMIC RECORD

24. PLAN B • GAP OR POST GRAD YEAR • SPRING ADMISSION • BRIDGE PROGRAMS • COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER

25. Counseling The B/C Student Anne Cochran, Director of College Advising, Charter High School of the Arts (CHAMPS)

26. The hard-to-describe, intangible part of things… You have to come to terms who you are at your very best – take stock….and then offer the real “you” with all of your passion!

27. You really do have to go the extra mile… Be willing to be a just a tad controversial, just a little bit irreverent. Think outside the box. Are “best practices” always the best practice?

28. Going the extra mile… Make a point of talking with your B/C kids about seriously considering out-of-state colleges.

29. You have to strategically lay the groundwork… Come up with viable colleges that collectively have a history within your own school of being less selective than others.

30. The hard-to-describe, intangible part of things… Colleges with less cache, less street cred have to be cleverly and enthusiastically marketed to your kids.

31. Again, you really do have to go the extra mile Treat those admissions reps from less selective schools as though they’re from Harvard, Princeton, Yale when they come visit you during the fall months.

32. Some of the basics… Use the personal disclosure sections or extra essay opportunities to your student’s advantage.

33. Some of the basics… Turn in all “likely” and rolling apps as early as possible!

34. You really do have to go the extra mile… Your counselor letter can change the course of that B/C student’s life!

35. Some of the basics… Encourage them to apply “undeclared” or “general studies” whenever possible.

36. Some of the basics… Look for colleges that don’t specifically state an Algebra II requirement for admission. “Recommended” is different!

37. Finally…when in doubt: During the hard times when they’re truly disappointing you, look back to when you were their age. Were you better? I wasn’t! In fact, I can’t believe I’m actually giving them advice! 