Counseling the B/C Student at Large Public High Schools

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 Let them explain inconsistencies or problem areas

Timing

Start Early – freshman and sophomore year Follow up with yearly updates. Emphasize:

Good study habits Time management Reading for content Choosing classes for academic success

• Respect passions• Review college requirements and “C” grades

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

Use What You Have

TranscriptTrendsWeak areas

Teacher Comments Test Sores Counselor Reports Counselor Conferences Career Interest Inventories

When it Comes to Colleges…

Plenty of options Keep open mind Focus on strengths: leader, volunteer,

organizer, special skills, employment, first gen, minority

Strategies to explain deficiencies Consider coop programs

College Resources

Class size and student/teacher ratio Support services

TutorsLearning CommunitiesAdvising

Special programs Pre-college Summer

Application Strategies

Apply broadly Geographical diversity Spring admits www.fairtest.org Interview if strong social skills Colleges that recruit in CA Post-grad year Community college

List of Colleges - California

Cal States Channel Islands Chico Dominguez Hills East Bay Bakersfield

Dominican Menlo College Whittier College Woodbury University

Sample List of Colleges – Out of State Albright College (PA) Champlain College (VT) Coastal Carolina University (SC) Doane College (NE) Drew University (NJ) Elmira College (NY) Evergreen State College (WA) Flagler College (FL) Fort Lewis College (CO) Grand Canyon University (AZ) Guilford College (NC) Hiram College (OH) Hope College (MI) Indiana State (IN) Lynn University (FL) Manhattanville College (NY) University of Mass Dartmouth Mitchell College (CT)

Out of State (con’t)

Old Dominion (VA) Prescott College (AZ) 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) University of Cincinnati (OH) University of LA at Lafayette (LA) University of Northern Colorado University of Maine (Orono) University of Rhode Island Virginia Wesleyan College (VA)

Advertise!

Put together a “Hope List” - colleges with high acceptance rates

Reinforce the “majority rule” – majority of colleges accept majority of students who apply

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/.