Minnesota Association for
College Admission Counseling
www.mn-acac.org
MACAC supports education professionals (HS & College) as they guide students & families
in the postsecondary education planning process. We advocate for policies & programs
that benefit our members & those students & families whom we serve at local, regional
& national levels.
Dan Tomhave, Bethany Lutheran College, MACAC President:
dtomhave@d.umn.edu
Chris Franken, Eastview High School ,MACAC Past President:
Chris.Franken@district196.org
Craig Dodson, Breck School, MACAC President Elect :
craig.dodson@breckschool.org
Minnesota Association for
College Admission Counseling
www.mn-acac.org
Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee Tri- Chairs: Purpose of the IAS committee
is to advocate & recommend strategies that promote sensitivity to human differences &
expansion of equal access to postsecondary educational opportunities for all students.
Laura Favreau, Senior Admissions Counselor, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Committee Co-chair: lauraf@umn.edu
Samantha Savoie, Assistant Director of Admission, St. Catherine University
Committee Co-chair: shsavoie@stkate.edu
Patricia M. McDonough
Professor, Higher Education & Organizational Change Vice Chair,
Department of Education Co-Director, Educational Leadership Program
Graduate School of Education & Information Studies UCLA
An Important Policy Issue
• Six out of every ten jobs in our economy depend on
workers with at least a two-year college degree.
• A shortage of 14 million college-educated workers is
predicted by 2020.
• Despite extensive financial aid expenditures, the gap
between low-income and high-income students
attending college today is roughly the same as that
participation gap in the 1960s.
• Improving academic preparation for college and
ensuring affordability, especially for low-income
students and students of color, has widespread
support from researchers, policymakers, and
advocates.
Patricia M. McDonough
Professor, Higher Education & Organizational Change Vice Chair, Department of
Education Co-Director, Educational Leadership Program Graduate School of
Education & Information Studies UCLA
Underrepresentation
College Enrollment rates:
• First-generation students - 59%
• Students with parent with a 4-year degree - 93%
• African-American, Latino and Native American students
are still significantly underrepresented in college in
general and in four-year colleges in particular.
• Rural students, despite better high school graduation
rates, enroll in college at rates 6% lower than the
national average, and 8% lower than their metropolitan
counterparts.
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Underrepresentation
Patricia M. McDonough
Professor, Higher Education & Organizational Change Vice Chair,
Department of Education Co-Director, Educational Leadership Program
Graduate School of Education & Information Studies UCLA
Families As College Preparation Partners
• Family encouragement is key to stimulating students
forming college plans by 8th grade
• Family support and early educational plans predict
students
– 1) developing and maintaining college aspirations
– 2) sustaining motivation and academic achievements
– 3) actual college enrollment
• Consistent communication among students, parents,
and school personnel predicts increased enrollment
in college
• Parents need to have an accurate understanding of
college costs and the financial aid system
NACAC Resource – Guiding the
Way to Higher Education
• Step-by-Step: College Awareness and
Planning for Families, Counselors and
Communities
• 3 separate curriculums – middle school, early
high school, late high school
– Parent/Guardian Workshops
– Financial Aid Parent/ Guardian Workshops
– Spanish Powerpoints Available
Step-by-Step to College
• 45-60 minute student centered lesson
plans with optional parent sessions
• Sequential program
• Middle School - grades 7 and 8
• Early High School - grades 9, 10, and first
semester grade 11
• Late High School - second semester of
grade 11 and grade 12
Middle School Curriculum
• Challenge students to see
college admissions and
attendance as a goal
• Help students assess their
interests, strengths, and
academic habits
• Explain concepts about
college options and financial
aid
Middle School Curriculum
• Provide a template for
building a college
preparatory curriculum
• Encourage students to
build a profile and support
network to help them
reach their college goals
Middle School Curriculum
– College Bound Bingo (pg. 94) :
First Activity
Early High School Curriculum
• Instill the belief that college
is accessible and affordable
• Demonstrate ways for
students to build a strong
curricular and extracurricular
foundation
• Develop an understanding
of and a plan for
standardized testing
Early High School Curriculum
• Promote the need for selfmotivation and a network
of adult mentors
• Assess career interests
and aspirations as a way
to research college options
Early High School Curriculum
• Activites
– Beach Ball Toss
– Long Term Dreams / Goals
(pg. 96)
– Curriculum Planning
(pg.120-122)
– Understanding the Big
Picture (pg.139-143)
Late High School Curriculum
• Develop a strategic plan
for the college search and
application process and
the transition to college
• Review standardized test
questions and schedule
test dates
• Provide more in-depth
analysis of career interests
Late High School Curriculum
• Guide students through
the application and essay
process
• Walk students through the
financial aid process
Early / Late High School Curriculum
• Activity : The Great Sorting
Game (pgs. 289-300)
• Use discretion with group
age, ability and
environment with activities
Early / Late High School Curriculum
• Sample Worksheet
– Understanding Standardized
Testing (pg. 220)
– How to Use your School
Counselor (pg. 215-216)
Current Uses of Step-by-Step
• High School Counselors
–
For College Tours / College Fairs : give each student
a copy of the College Visit Checklist & Sample Interview
Questions (pgs. 239 - 244 and pgs. 265 - 266)
– Teacher Recommendation Forms and Activities : for
students to give to their teachers. (pgs. 259 – 264)
– “Career and College Planning” for Juniors : used
SBS curriculum for all juniors. Taught by teachers
during home room.
Current Uses of Step-by-Step
• High School Counselors
– After – School Workshops : Uses SBS - Late High
School for after-school workshops with juniors 1 day a
week for 6 weeks with juniors
– Testing : Use with sophomores & juniors in the fall
– Parent & Student Workshops - Discuss college &
financial options
Current Uses of Step-by-Step
• College Admissions Representatives
• From an admissions office perspective - it is a great resource for
working with groups of middle school and early high school students
• As a presenter - it is a good way to orient oneself and how to target
themes & messages to this age group. Also, group activities add an
interactive element.
Example for a large group visit (Trio/ College Possible/ Avid)
• Katie Sankey example – Great Sorting Game and notecards
• 7-8th graders - Used the Bingo game in which the students talk to
their peers. Gave Frisbees and pens to the winners.
• 9-10th graders - A popular activity focuses on students naming
colleges based on a category (public state school, HBCU, Ivy
League, art and design, etc.). Gave prizes to the first few finishers
Current Uses of Step-by-Step
• Affiliate State Organizations, Community Based Organizations
& Independent Consultants
– College Admission Workshops –for underserved students
– Use at AVID Workshops Nationwide
– Family Night Programs –at libraries, schools & churches
– College Application Week- now College Knowledge Month
– Emergency Housing Family Centers – do evening programs
for students and parents.
– Work with Community Group –use parent materials to help
parents become more comfortable advocating for their children.
Suggested Student Learning Activities
Preparing to Apply/College Search
Session 1 – Goal Setting: Taking Stock p.196-217
Session 3 – The College Search p.234-244
Session 3 - Making the Most of a Campus Visit p. 239-244
The College Application Process
Session 4 – The Application Process (Part 1) p.245-266
Session 5 – The Application Process (Part 2) p. 267-278
Financing College/Financial Aid
Session 6 – Financial Aid p. 280-288
Parent Learning Activities
College Preparation & Applications:
Session 7 – Resources for Late HS p. 302-316
Financing College/Financial Aid:
Session 7 – Resources for Financial Aid p.
317-323
Paying for College Videos
• Address general audience and first
generation families
• Spanish, Hmong and Somali videos and
resources
• Co-produced by the Minnesota Office of
Higher Education and Minnesota Private
Council
• http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/paying
Early Awareness Resource List
• NACAC - Step-by-Step
www.nacacnet.org/steps
• NACAC – Knowledge Center
www.nacacnet.org/research/KnowledgeCenter
• Center for Student Opportunity
www.csopportunity.org
• Big Future by The College Board
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
• KnowHow2GO
www.knowhow2go.org
• Pathways to College
www.pathwaystocollege.net
Early Awareness Resource List
• College For Every Student
www.collegefes.org
• College: Making It Happen
www.certicc.org/collegemakingit.aspx
• Counselor Zone
www.collegezone.com/counselorzone/265.htm
• ECMC Foundation – The College Place
www.ecmcfoundation.org
• Get Ready for College (MN)
www.getreadyforcollege.org
• Illinois Resource for undocumented students
http://www.iacac.org/undocumented/
Laura Favreau
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
MACAC Inclusion, Access and Success Committee Co-Chair
lauraf@umn.edu
612-626-4486
Samantha Savoie
St. Catherine University
MACAC Inclusion, Access and Success Co-chair
shsavoie@stkate.edu
651-690-8655