1 / 28

Rethinking the High School Visit: Implementing Programs to Connect Students and Admission Counselors

Rethinking the High School Visit: Implementing Programs to Connect Students and Admission Counselors. Gregg Murray Michael Nation Karen Rowe Viewpoint School Oaks Christian School The Meadows School. Overview .

patty
Download Presentation

Rethinking the High School Visit: Implementing Programs to Connect Students and Admission Counselors

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rethinking the High School Visit: Implementing Programs to Connect Students and Admission Counselors Gregg Murray Michael Nation Karen Rowe Viewpoint School Oaks Christian School The Meadows School

  2. Overview • Why Connect Students and Admission Counselors? • Programmatic Overview • The Meadows School • Viewpoint School • Oaks Christian School • Admission Counselor Survey Results • Student Survey Results • Supporting Students’ Noncognitive Growth

  3. Why Connect Students and Admission Counselors? • Add authenticity and depth to the high school visit • Allow admission counselors to interact with students • Educate admission counselors about student life • Enable students to serve as ambassadors of the school • Support student engagement in college process • Encourage active participation in college search • Allay student fears of the “scary” admission counselor • Enhance students’ noncognitive learning opportunities • Provide alternative methods to develop “soft-skills”

  4. The Meadows School • Las Vegas, NV • Independent • PK – 12 • 270 upper school students • 2 College Counselors for graduating class of ~70 • 100% college acceptance , very high achieving • “College Ambassadors Club”

  5. College Ambassador Responsibilities • Greet college admission counselors • Members used for panel discussions • Senior members speak with 9th and 10th grade advisory classes • Sponsor Instagram account • Write for the college blog • Make treats for recommendation appreciation

  6. Future Initiatives • Sponsor May 1st celebration • Sponsor “college of the week” during announcements • Sponsor a college assembly • Write thank you notes to admission counselors • Make a podcast highlighting the school

  7. Programmatic Advice • Change can be tough • Teacher buy-in • Getting more underclassmen involved

  8. Viewpoint SchoolCalabasas, CA Independent, co-ed., college prep, PK-12, day school 500 students in grades 9-12 4 college counselors for a graduating class of ~120 students 100% college acceptance, very high achieving

  9. Founders’ Club Responsibilities • Greet college admission counselors • Provide campus tour option for college admission counselors • Assist with check-in and serve as college representative hosts for Junior Case Studies Night

  10. Founders’ Club Goals • Encourage active participation in college process • Build productive relationships • Create an inviting experience for college admission counselors • Promote and spread college knowledge within the school through sponsored activities • Promote non-cognitive learning opportunities for students

  11. Future Initiatives • Write college visit blog from student perspective to post on social media • Assist with Summer Enrichment Fair • Establish leadership roles within Founders’ Club for individuals interested in assisting with student-to-student scheduling and communications • Encourage students to create tour route and informal script for other Founders’ Club members

  12. Programmatic Advice • Logistical issues • Matching students with college admission counselor • Maintain Counselor-to-Counselor relationship • Student leadership & Communication

  13. Oaks Christian School Westlake Village, CA Independent, co-ed., college prep, 6-12, day school 950 students in grades 9-12 5 college counselors for a graduating class of 240 students 98% college acceptance, high achieving

  14. College Counseling Ambassadors • Provide opportunities for students to become comfortable and familiar with admission counselors and the college exploration process • Create an inviting atmosphere for college admission counselors with at least 1 student and 1 college counselor in attendance • Promote an environment for students to see that “great colleges” are not defined by rankings

  15. College Ambassador Activities • Students volunteer at the beginning of the year • Greet admission counselors • Host the admission counselor at a roundtable discussion (using a questionnaire as a guide- when needed) • Offer a tour of the campus • Walk the admission counselor out • Write handwritten thank you notes (newer addition to program) • Help admission counselor get a glimpse into Oaks Christian

  16. College Counseling Prefect • One student selected by a committee • Announces which colleges will be on campus to peers during an all-school assembly • Recruits volunteers for college counseling events • Announces events that the College Counseling Office is offering • Coordinates all college counseling ambassadors hosting dates/times • Meets with a college counselor each week

  17. Important Factors • Teacher/Administrator buy-in • Well advertised (Weekly Counselor e-mails, Posted on TV’s, announced at assembly each week, updated on School calendar and Naviance) • 10th grade students are required to attend two visits • Prefect does a lot of daily tasks • Any given period we have 100-200 students with open periods • If missing class, students get a teacher permission slip signed • Closed Campus- one place to check in for admission counselors

  18. Is It Worth The Effort? • Admission Counselor Responses • Student Responses • Learning Outcomes

  19. Admission Counselor Survey 91% 130 College Admission Counselors surveyed College Admission Counselors responding that fewer than 1 out of every 10 high schools they visited offer a tour 85% College Admission Counselors responding that fewer than 1/5 of high schools they visit had a greeter 69% College Admission Counselors greeted by students 47% College Admission Counselors offered tours by students

  20. Rating of Personal Experience

  21. Please indicate whether the greeter/guide had an impact on your perception of the following:

  22. said tours improved their understanding of the School Context. 64% • “Receive genuine opinions about the school” • “Enhanced my perspective of the school and/or a particular student” • “Feel welcomed and that the HS values my visit” • “Love seeing the HS from the students perspective” • “There is a great level of authenticity with the personal greeting and conversation” • “Better understanding of school culture, arts opportunities, resources, electives, facilities, etc.”

  23. 25% of respondents said the tours did not improve their understanding of the School Context. • Least favorite Aspects of Greeter/guide programs • Not enough time to take a tour (cannot do it/feel bad saying no) • When the student greeter replaces the opportunity to meet with a counselor • Would like to know a tour is available ahead of time • If it is a lesser known college, students often lack enthusiasm or are dismissive. Students should do some research before greeting them • When shy, non-talkative or socially awkward student hosts greet or tour

  24. Student Survey 51 88% Students surveyed Rated their experience greeting and/or touring the admission counselor as excellent 100% Thought the program to greet/give a tour was beneficial to their high school Thought the program to greet/give a tour was beneficial to themselves 94% Improvements were also reported in Professionalism and Communication

  25. Why did students become involved? • “To build a relationship with the college I want to go to” • “Get a kick-start on the admissions process and get acquainted with who’d be reading the applications for our school” • “I wanted to show the rep the real me and not just the paper version they will see in my application” • “It helped my ability to greet and connect with complete strangers”

  26. Five Categories of NonCognitive Factors • Academic Behaviors • Academic Perseverance • Academic Mindset • Learning Strategies • Social Skills

  27. Students’ Self-Reported Non-Cognitive Learning Outcomes • Professionalism • Conversation Skills • Communication • Confidence • Self-Advocacy • Networking • Public Speaking • Leadership • Initiative • Accountability • Time Management • Organization 58% 55% 40% 36% 36% 32% 28% 25% 24% 16% 14% 14%

  28. QUESTIONS? Karen Rowe - The Meadows Schoolkrowe@themeadowsschool.org Gregg Murray - Viewpoint Schoolgregg.murray@viewpoint.org Michael Nation - Oaks Christian Schoolmnation@oakschristian.org

More Related