B2
Spreading the Wealth: Public School
Counselors Share Best Practices and
Resources
Bob Bardwell, Monson High School, MA
Julie Kampschroeder, Pattonville High School, MO
Loyce Engle, Retired, TX
Amy 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
Resume
Essay
ACT
Mock College Fair
How to present yourself
Financial Aid Essay
COA
Net Price Calculator
College Visits
Mock Admissions Session
Successful Like Skills Traits
Fee Waivers
Academic Goals for the year
College Debt/ROI
Local College visits
Scholarships
• $100 community sponsors; Peer Helper; Meet 12+ college reps
Creative College Financing Presentation
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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
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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)
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
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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
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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 MyersBriggs. We review the results & I share
insights about how it can guide them in
both college & career choices.
Transition planning for all IEP students
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.
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
STEM Career Week
We 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 Conference
Hosted 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 Sessions
Taught 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 Night
Two 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
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Opportunities to change direction after high school
Benefits of Higher Education
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Why extra-curricular activities matter
Why essays
Why Letters of Recommendation
Special Considerations
Levels of Competitiveness
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Lower Unemployment, Higher Wages
Difference between College/University
Admission Process
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Certificates, Associates, Bachelors, Master, Doctoral, Professional
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
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Trivia contests & lunch events
• Grade 9 Career Day program
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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
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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
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10-12 presenters in cafeteria;
Juniors rotate from station to station
• College Door Decoration Contest (see next slide)
College Door Decoration Contest
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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
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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/nonselective)
• 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;