College Advising Basics for School Counselors

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College Advising Basics for School Counselors
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Current Research on Counseling for College

• Students need at least 15 years of education and
  training to be personally and financially
  successful
• Federal Task Force, 2001
• California will need significantly more workers
  with postsecondary degrees in the next decade.
• Public Policy Institute of California, 2002

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Counselor Impact on College Access

• Counselors, when consistently and frequently
  available and allowed to provide direct services
  to students and parents, can be a highly
  effective group of professionals who positively
  impact students college-going rates.
  McDonough, UCLA
• Helping students through the Pipeline steps
  effectively closes the gap between high-income
  and low-income students.
• Alexander, Pallas and Holupka

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Pipeline Steps

• Creating aspiration about College
• Taking the appropriate curriculum
• Preparing for and taking college entrance exams
• Applying to College

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The College BoardConnecting Students to College
Success

• The College Board is a not-for-profit membership
  association whose mission is to connect students
  to college success and opportunity.
• The College Board is committed to the principles
  of excellence and equity, and that commitment is
  embodied in all of its programs, services,
  activities, and concerns.
• www.collegeboard.com

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What Is the College Board?

• Mission to connect students to college success
  and opportunity.
• A not-for-profit membership organization
  committed to excellence and equity in education.

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What Is the College Board?

• Programs and services
• College admissions and enrollment
• Guidance
• Assessment
• Financial aid
• Teaching and learning

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Counselor Training Grant

• Three Workshops in Counseling for College
• Basics
• Intermediate
• Creating a College-Going Culture
• District Directors Workshop
• Summer Residential Institute
• Graduate-school Course in College Counseling
• The James Irvine Foundation

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About The James Irvine Foundation

• The James Irvine Foundation is a private,
  nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to
  expanding opportunity for the people of
  California to participate in a vibrant,
  successful and inclusive society.
• The Foundations grantmaking is organized around
  three program areas Arts, Youth and California
  Perspectives, which focuses on increasing public
  understanding of critical issues facing the
  state. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided
  over 1 billion in grants to more than 3,000
  nonprofit organizations throughout California.

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National Office for School Counselor Advocacy

• Pat Martin,assistant vice president, Counselor
  Advocacy
• School counselors are crucial to improving
  students academic performance.
• The College Board knows how valuable counselors
  are. They are in a unique position to form
  partnerships with other educators to lead young
  people to work more effectively, choose
  challenging classes, and plan more carefully to
  realize their academic and professional
  ambitions.

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Workshop Goals

• To gain a basic understanding of
• The role of the school counselor as college
  adviser
• Tools and techniques to help students and their
  families manage the transition from high school
  to college
• College admissions procedures and process and
• College financial planning, and financial aid
  programs and procedures.

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• Session I
• The Role of theSchool Counselor

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I. The Role of the School Counselor

• How do you define your role?
• Constantly evolving
• Includes career, personal, social, and
  educational needs
• Serves students, parents, community, and
  administration

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I. The Role of the School Counselor

• How do others define your role?
• Parents, Students, Administration, Community,
  Self

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I. The Role of the School Counselor

• How to stay current, involved, and effective?
• Professional organizations
• The College Board
• National Association for College Admission
  Counseling (WACAC in the West)
• American School Counselor Association
• The Education Trust

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Staying Current and Connected with Professional
Organizations

• Western Region of the College Board
• Western Regional Forum in February
• http//professionals.collegeboard.com/prof-dev/reg
  ions
• Western Association for College Admission
  Counseling (WACAC)
• Annual Conference in May or June
• www.wacac.org
• California Association for School Counselors
• Conference in No. and So. Cal
• www.schoolcounselor-ca.org
• California Student Aid Commission Financial Aid
• Financial aid workshops in the Fall
• www.csac.ca.gov

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• Session II
• Planning and Searchingfor College

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II. Planning and Searchingfor College

• What is college?
• Planning and searching in grades 912
• Calendar
• on CB site

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II. Planning and Searchingfor College

• Special Populations
• Counselors must assure Access Equity
• Underrepresented groups must be identified,
  encouraged, and supported
• English as a second or other language
• Interpreters
• Written Material Translated
• Identify Cultural Influences

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Special Populations cont.

• Underrepresented groups
• Women, 1st generation college, African American,
  Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and/or
  Hispanic
• TRIO Programs
• Students with disabilities
• Certify for special testing early

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Special Populations

• Student Athlete
• Must apply for eligibility through NCAA
  Clearinghouse (Division I or II)
  
• Process starts Spring of Junior Year
• Eligibility rules
• Web Site https//web1.ncaa.org/eligibility
  center/common

• Visual and performing arts students
• Must meet general requirements submit portfolio
• DVDs of art work, performance videos, sound
  recordings
• Usually not returned

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II. Planning and Searching for College

• Student match/college fit
• Majors
• Activities
• Location
• Cost
• Help
• Websites
• Books
• College Fairs

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• Session III
• Testing

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III. Testing

• Practice tests
• College entrance exams
• College placement exams
• High school exit exams
• Preparation and scores

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III. Testing- Practice Tests

• PSAT/NMSQT
• Provides practice for the SAT
• Insights into students readiness for college and
  how they compare with others across the country
• Opportunity to assess skills for grades 9 and 10
• Identifies students for AP
• AP Potential (Web based program)

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III. Testing- Practice Tests

• Qualifying exam for Juniors
• National Merit Scholarship
• National Hispanic Scholarship
• National Achievement Scholarship for black
  students
• Summary of Answers and Skills gives schools
  snapshot of how students did on each question
• PSAT scores should not be put on transcript

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SOAS

• The PSAT/NMSQT Summary of Answers and Skills
  (SOAS) is provided free-of-charge to every school
  that tested at least 25 students in a single
  grade. The report allows users to analyze
  aggregate test question information and to
  examine students' academic skill level at the
  time they took the test. The analyses include
  comparisons with the nation's performance, your
  state's performance, and a comparable group's
  performance. SOAS keeps the focus on student
  skills as answers are analyzed across each
  grade-level, providing insight into how well
  students understand and apply the skills taught
  in your curriculum.

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PSAT Bonus

• For 50 you will get
• An excel spreadsheet of every single student and
  how they answered every single question
• Page 24 of the PSAT manual

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III. Testing- Practice Tests

• Math content more rigorous
• Two 25 min. sections
• No Quantitative comparisons
• Writing
• 30 min. grammar multiple-choice questions
• Essay not required on PSAT
• ScoreWrite provided to all PSAT/NMSQT schools
• All the materials teachers need to administer
  holistically score practice essays

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III. Testing - Practice Tests

• Math, Critical Reading, and writing sections are
  scored separately
• Score Range 20 (lowest) to 80 (highest)
• Cost is 13.00
• Needy 11th graders can get a fee waiver
• Given on a Wed. or Sat.

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III. Testing - Practice Tests

• Score Report Plus arrives in December
• Students can go to web for My College QuickStart
• My Online Score Report An enhanced score report
  that allows you to review each test question,
  your answer, and the correct answer with answer
  explanations.
• My SAT Study Plan A customized SAT study plan
  based on your PSAT/NMSQT test performance,
  highlighting skills for review and practice.
• My College Matches A starter list of colleges
  based on the your home state and indicated choice
  of major.
• My Major Career Matches Personalized lists of
  majors and careers plus access to a personality
  assessment that suggests other compatible
  possibilities.
• Handout pg. 103

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III. Testing-Students w/ Disabilities

• Must be approved before the test
• Scores are not flagged
• Who is eligible?
• Documentation of Students Disability must be
  provided
• Student must be receiving the same accommodations
  in school
• Help number [phone]

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• SAT
• SAT Subject Tests
• ACT
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

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Testing- College Entrance ExamsSAT

• Writing
• Multiple-choice questions (grammar and usage)
• Student-written essay (25 minutes)
• Critical Reading (formerly called Verbal)
• Analogies eliminated
• Short reading passages added to existing long
  reading passages
• Math
• Math content expanded to include topics from
  third-year college-preparatory math
• Quantitative comparisons eliminated

SAT
SAT
SAT
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Testing- College Entrance Exams

• 3 hours, 45 minutes
• Short break at the end of each hour
• Essay will be first part
• Each section will be scored on the familiar scale
  of 200-800
• Cost is 45.00
• You can receive up to four fee waiver cards (two
  for the SAT, two for Subject Tests))

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• Most schools use SAT/ACT for admission
• Some (about half) use for placement
• Colleges have the option of receiving the essays
• Multiple scores

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• Who should take the test?
• Typically students encouraged to take in the
  spring of their junior year
• Fall of senior year if not satisfied with scores
• Taking the test more than once
• 55 juniors improve scores as seniors
• 35 have score decreases
• 10 no change

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III. Testing - College Entrance Exams

• Preparation
• Collegeboard.com
• SAT prep center
• SAT Question of the Day
• Official SAT Online course
• Free SAT Preparation Booklet
• 10 Real SATs
• The Official SAT Study Guide

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SAT Preparation

• Students sign up for Q and A release service
  releases questions and answers
• Available for some administrations October,
  January, May
• Students can review a copy of the test version
• Record of their answers, the correct answers, and
  scoring instructions
• Free for fee-waiver students.
• Sign up for five months AFTER test
• Student Answer Service (SAS)
• Available for some administrations- November,
  December, March, and June
• Provides list of verbal and math question types
• Tells students if they answered correctly
• Level of difficulty

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• Register online
• A few paper copies sent to schools
• If student is unable to take on Saturday for
  religious reasons they can take on the following
  Sunday
• Fee Waivers Available
• Counselors determine eligibility (usually free
  lunch)
• Information is sent each year on specific
  guidelines
• Students with Disabilities
• Must be approved before the test administration
• Eligibility forms must be submitted well in
  advance
• Recommendation to submit SSD forms at end of 9th
  grade year

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• More information
• PowerPoint Presentations available for
  downloading on web
• Go to Counselors Corner
• Attend Fall Counselor Workshops

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III. Testing -SAT Subject Tests

• Subject Tests
• Formerly called SAT II
• Designed to measure content knowledge in specific
  areas
• All multiple choice
• Core Subjects in five Areas
• English, history, mathematics, the sciences, and
  languages
• Dont take Math IC
• Good predictor of achievement in a subject and
  future success in college
• One-hour curriculum based

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III. Testing -SAT Subject Tests

• Can take three subject tests on the same day
• Cant take SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests on the
  Same Day
• Not all tests are given on each testing
  administration
• Writing Test no longer given
• Colleges use for admission and placement
• Important to know because it affects when
  students need to take
• Students should take the test as soon as the
  class is over

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SAT Subject Tests

• University of California System
• Need to take two tests, not in the same
  discipline not two sciences, two histories.
• Complete test after theyve studied the
  subjectend of 10th grade year, or 9th grade

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III. Testing- College Entrance Exams

• ACT has an optional writing component
• A 30-minute essay
• Includes four curriculum based tests
• English, Mathematics, Reading, Science

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Testing TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Language)

• New test September 2005
• Will test four basic language skills
• Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
• Go to Web Site for most up-to-date info
  (www.ets.org)
• Measures the ability of nonnative speakers to
  understand North American English as it will be
  used in college
• Required of most students for whom English is not
  their first language
• Offered by computer

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III. Testing- College placement exams

• Advanced Placement Program (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Community college placement tests
• Accuplacer or Compass

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• AP Access and Equity Initiatives
• The College Board and the Advanced Placement
  Program encourage teachers, AP Coordinators, and
  school administrators to make equitable access a
  guiding principle for their AP programs. The
  College Board is committed to the principle that
  all students deserve an opportunity to
  participate in rigorous and academically
  challenging courses and programs. All students
  who are willing to accept the challenge of a
  rigorous academic curriculum should be considered
  for admission to AP courses. The Board encourages
  the elimination of barriers that restrict access
  to AP courses for students from ethnic, racial,
  and socioeconomic groups that have been
  traditionally underrepresented in the AP Program.
  Schools should make every effort to ensure that
  their AP classes reflect the diversity of their
  student population.

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III. Testing -Advanced Placement (AP)

• 37 College Level Courses in 22 subject areas
• Courses designed by teams of college professors
  working with secondary teachers
• Courses taught by high school teachers
• AP exams administered in May
• Graded on a scale from 1 to 5
• Many counselors are AP Coordinators

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Testing - Advanced Placement (AP)

• Cost is 84 per exam
• Benefits to students
• Prepare students for the rigor of college
• Admission officials recognize the rigor of AP
  classes
• Students may earn credit and/or advanced
  placement in college
• Students enjoy the challenging coursework and
  learn good study skills.
• Students may sit for the exam even if they
  havent taken a course designated as AP
• Most colleges grant credit
• Search tool on the web

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Testing International Baccalaureate (IB)

• Rigorous pre-university plan leading to
  assessment in six subject areas
• Home language, a foreign language, individuals
  and societies, experimental sciences, math, arts
  and electives
• Promotes global understanding
• Exams graded from 1 to 7 Students must earn at
  least 24 points

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Testing College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

• College Credit by Examination program
• Exams Computer Based
• Cost 65
• 33 exams (pg. 116)
• Business, composition and literature, foreign
  language, history and social sciences, and
  science and mathematics

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III. Testing

• High school exit exams
• State assessments
• CAHSEE is required for diploma
• Closely tied to curriculum standards
• Meet federal and state accountability requirements

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III. Testing

• Preparation and scores
• Test preparation
• When to test?
• Score reports and interpretation
• Guidelines for Use of Test Scores

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• Session IV
• Applying to College

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IV. Applying to College

• The application package
• Application
• School profile
• Official transcripts
• Official test scores
• Essays
• Letters of
• recommendation

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Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• FERPA regulations restrict access to student
  educational records
• Parents and students over 18 control information
• Parents have access to educational records
• Directory information, Special education records,
  test protocols, assessments, discipline records,
  medical and health records, reports and
  evaluations from external agencies
• This includes letters of recommendation
• Consent needed to disclose personally
  identifiable information to third parties

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IV. Applying to College

• All colleges will evaluate
• Transcript quality
• Academic performance
• Most colleges will evaluate
• Standardized testing
• Recommendations
• Teacher and counselor
• Many will also consider
• Essay
• Extracurricular activities
• Other factors
• Legacy ties
• Special talents
• Demonstrated interest
• Underrepresented groups

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University of California System

• Course requirements are A-G
• www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply/
• Testing requirements SAT or ACT with writing
• 2 SAT Subject Tests
• Personal Statement
• Application period November 1-30
• 9 campuses

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Cal State University System

• A-G Courses
• Test requirement SAT or ACT
• No Subject Tests
• No essay or recommendations
• Application Period October 1-Nov 30.
• 23 CSU campuses
• www.csumentor.edu

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Community College Courses

• Benefits to Students
• Realize they can do college work
• Take courses not offered in their high school
• Experience college and become comfortable
• Start their college curriculum while completing
  high school

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California Community Colleges

• What counselors need to know
• Preparation placement and curriculum
• Application Procedures and Timelines
• IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer
  Curriculum)
• The list of prescribed courses required for
  transfer to UC, CSU, and many private Calif.
  colleges universities
• What it takes to transfer

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IV. Applying to College

• Fall dedicated to admissions applications
• Early Decision
• Binding agreement with college of first choice
• Student will attend if accepted
• Early Action
• Nonbinding agreement
• Priority application deadline to receive early
  notificatio

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IV. Applying to College

• Admissions decisions
• Acceptance
• Unconditional
• Conditional/probationary
• Denial
• Wait list

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Applications

• Obtained on college web sites
• May have different applications for different
  students (ie. Early Decision) or different
  colleges within the university
• Many schools have online applications
• Some require electronic application
• Some waive application fee is done online
• Common Application
• Used by 400 postsecondary institutions
• Only needs to be completed once
• Download from web site

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Transcripts

• Most important document in the college
  application process
• Are course names clear to a college
• Most colleges recalculate GPA because there is no
  uniformity
• Transcript release form
• Some schools also have parents sign release to
  waive right to see recommendations
• Athletes must release transcript to NCAA
  Clearinghouse

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School Profile

• This document describes your school
• Components of a school profile Pg. 194
• NACAC publishes Guidelines for Designing a School
  Profile (5.00 for members)
• Contains numerous examples
• CB Western Regional info
• Format
• Same size as transcript 81/2 x 11 inches
• Many scanned so high contrast preferable
• Should show six-digit College Board/ACT code

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Test Scores

• Colleges require official score results which are
  sent from the testing organizations.
• If test scores are contained on the transcript
  make sure the release specifies test scores

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Application Essay

• Known as essay or personal statement
• Tells admissions officer something about
  applicant not on other documents
• Helps assess critical thinking and writing skills
• May describe special interests, experiences,
  values, attitudes, expectations

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Essays cont.

• Types of Essays
• Helps admission officers determine if student
  should attend their school
• Open ended
• Invites students to write creatively
• Describe why you want to attend college
• Tell us who you are

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Recommendations

• Read in conjunction with transcript, test scores,
  and information student provides in application
• Different schools require different letters
• Counselor
• Counselor and teacher/s
• Someone outside the school

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Recommendations cont.

• Counselor Recommendation
• Provide an overview of the student
• Explain any special circumstances
• Teacher Recommendations
• Convey the teachers classroom experience with
  the student
• How is the student likely to perform academically

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Students right to see recommendations

• Statements made by a recommender from their
  personal observation or knowledge do not require
  a written release from the parent
• Statements with personally identifiable
  information obtained from a students education
  record (grades, GPA, etc.) need a signed release
• Many schools asks students to waive their rights
  because it allows teachers to write more openly

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• Session V.
• Paying for College

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V. Paying for College

• What do I need to know?
• Understanding the big picture
• Matching the students financial aid need to
  college/university

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V. Paying for College

• FAFSA
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Not fafsa.com
• The High School Counselors Handbook mailed to
  each school

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California Student Aid Commission

• Cal Grant Program
• Financial Aid
• Toolkit and Workshops
• Workshop schedule in the Fall
• Cash for College Workshops around the state
• www.csac.ca.gov

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Cal Grant Programs

• Types of Cal Grants
• Eligibility
• How to qualify
• Cal Grants for Community Colleges
• Counselors Role in sending info to State
• Must send ssn
• Cal grant GPA (unweighted, no PE)
• Prior to March 2nd

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CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

• Service of the College Board
• Used to award nonfederal student aid funds
• Check to see what a school requires

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Types of Financial Aid

• Grants and Scholarships
• Money that does not have to be repaid
• Given for need or academic achievement or talent
• Loans
• Money that is paid back with interest
• Most educational loans have lower interest rate
• Work Study
• Federal Work Study Program
• Students employed 10-15 hours per week
• Jobs in the community not called Work Study

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How is aid awarded

• Letters sent in the spring
• Awards must be compared carefully
• Financial Aid Evaluation tools

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Financial Aid Strategies

• Evening meetings
• Classroom presentations
• Cash for College
• Panic Room for FAFSA and Cal Grant Completion on
  March 1st.

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Resources for counselors
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VI. Resources

• Web sites
• NCAA requirements
• Sample college application essay topics
• Key College Board resources

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• Thanks for all that youwill do to help
  studentsconnect with college success!

Please complete the evaluation before you leave!
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Questions?