1. NACAC’s Step by Step Curriculum: H.S.
Monica Lopez College Counselor Episcopal High School
Crystal E. Newby Assistant Director of Education and Training NACAC

2. Crystal E. Newby Monica Lopez
Who We Are
Crystal E. Newby Monica Lopez
Background in college admissions for 9 years (technically 12 years counting my time as a workstudy student). NACAC for three years. My parents started college, but didn’t finish due to marrying young. I can’t remember a time not knowing that I was going to college. It was always instilled in my from a very young age. I started the college search process later than I would have if I were to do it again today. I didn’t receive much guidance from my counselor at the time. I basically did it on my own with my mom. I only applied to three schools; one of them because my BFF went there and one because it was right in my hometown. The third school, where I ultimately ended up, I only visited after I was accepted. I applied because I liked what I saw in the view book and it was about an hour from home. Needless to say, it sounds like I did this whole thing backwards, but it worked out for me. I eventually got my master’s degree and am now looking into doctorate programs. You see, I have to speak it into existence and it keeps me accountable. I have two younger brothers who went on to college and received their master’s degrees as well. My mother even went back to school and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2009 and 2013 respectively. The reason why I say this is because everyone has a story and the students you are working with have their own story as well. It’s important to remember this when you’re talking with them about college and career. Everyone’s experiences are going to be different.

3. Step by Step Overview
The Step by Step to College curriculum was a collaborative effort developed between NACAC and the Center for Student Opportunity.
Step by Step offers detailed plans and activities to support middle and high school students in the college preparation and admission process.
Workshops have been presented in middle and high schools, community-based organizations, independent counselor settings and various NACAC conferences.

4. College Enrollment Rates:
Underrepresentation
African-American, Latino and Native American students are still significantly underrepresented in college in general and in four-year colleges in particular.
College Enrollment Rates:
First-generation students – 59 percent
Students with parent with a 4-year degree – 93 percent
Rural students, despite better high school graduation rates, enroll in college at rates 6 percent lower than the national average and 8 percent lower than their metropolitan counterparts.

5. Step by Step Overview
Step by Step: College Awareness and Planning for Families, Counselors and Communities
3 separate curriculums – middle school, early high school, and late high school
Parent/Guardian Workshops
Financial Aid Parent/ Guardian Workshops
Spanish PowerPoints / Handouts are Available

6. Sequential program Step by Step Overview
45-60 minute student centered lesson plans
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

7. Middle School Curriculum
Step by Step Overview
Middle School Curriculum
Challenge students to see college admission and attendance as a goal
Help students assess their interests, strengths, and academic habits
Explain concepts about college options and financial aid
Provide a template for building a college preparatory curriculum
Students start building a profile & support network to reach their college goals

8. Information is Key: What are you doing to spread the word?
Step by Step Overview
Early High School
Information is Key: What are you doing to spread the word?
Instill the belief that college is accessible and affordable
Build students’ self-motivation to pursue college and help them build a support network
Create a strong foundation for students in and outside the classroom

9. Spread the Word and Make Connections
Step by Step Overview
Spread the Word and Make Connections
Early High School Activities
Who am I and what are my goals
Develop a strategic plan for the college search, application and transition-to-college processes
Provide more in-depth analysis of career interest
Walk students through the financial aid process

10. Icebreakers are more than just silly games!
Getting to Know Them
Icebreakers are more than just silly games!
Question Toss- Beach Ball Game
Activities

11. Question Toss-Beach Ball Game
If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime?
When you were little, who was your favorite super hero and why?
Who is your hero? (a parent, a celebrity, an influential person in one’s life)
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why?
What’s your favorite cartoon character, and why?
If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why
Are you a morning or night person?
What are your favorite hobbies?
What are your pet peeves?
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

12. Early High School Activities Spread the Word and Make Connections
Step by Step Overview
Early High School Activities
Spread the Word and Make Connections
Session I : It IS All About Me! My Future Plans Start Today
College Bound Bingo (pg )
Long-term Dreams and Goals (pg )
Curriculum Planning (pg )
Understanding the Big Picture (pg )
Each section of the guide has activities for students to do to help them navigate the college search process and these are just a few examples that we want to show.

13. College Bound Bingo
Although the decision to go to college is a very personal one and each student needs to decide what is best for him or her, talking with other students who have similar goals and interests can be very helpful. College Bound Bingo is a great icebreaker to encourage engagement amongst the students. You play it the same way to play bingo. You have the students circulate to find other students who match the interests on the card. They then write the name down of that person in the square. The first person to get bingo, wins. You can certainly incorporate a prize if you’d wish.

14. Dreams and Goals
Ask students to think about their values, skills, and interests as they look ahead to their life after high school. Then, ask them to list many of those options (military, work, trades, college). To focus the attention on the importance of college, ask students to think about lifestyle choices- career, car, house, etc.—and share information about how a two- or four-year college degree can help them reach their goals.

15. Curriculum Planning
Because you are planning to go to college, it’s important that you take the right classes in high school. Beginning in ninth grade, the majority of your classes should be ones that prepare you for admission to and, perhaps even more importantly, success in college. Most admission officers tell you that the first thing they look at is your choice of classes, even before they look at grades. When it comes time to apply to college you want to make sure that you meet the admission criteria of ALL colleges in which you are interested. Always remember that it is much better to be “overprepared” than “underprepared.”

16. The Big Picture
It is important for students to understand that each year in high school will count towards preparing for college. They should be aware of important events to be sure that they are taking advantage of every opportunity to be ready for applying to college by the fall of their senior year. This is an example of a college planning checklist for a freshman. There are additional examples for sophomores and juniors in the guide as well.

17. Helping them access where they are in the college process is key:
Step by Step Overview
Late High School
Helping them access where they are in the college process is key:
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
Guide students through the application and essay process
Walk students through the financial aid process
Now we want to transition into the late high school portion of the curriculum.

18. Late High School Curriculum
Step by Step Overview
Late High School Curriculum
Wrapping it all up
Activity : The Great Sorting Game (pgs )
New!
Middle School Putting it All Together (pgs )
Use discretion with group, age, ability and environment with activities
The Great Sorting Game or the GPA game as we like to call it, is a crows favorite when we do this presentation so we’re going to do it for you today. This can also be used in the early high school portion and there’s even a version for middle school students. Crystal will lead this activity.

19. Late High School Curriculum
Step by Step Overview
Late High School Curriculum
Sample Worksheets
How to Use your School Counselor
(pgs )
The College Search
(pgs )
These are some additional resources to use in the late high school section. The “How to Use Your School Counselor” piece outlines the important tips students can use when working with their school counselors during the college search process. For example, schedule regular meetings, submit required forms to counselors on time or well before due dates, keeping your counselor in the loop during the process, etc. There are many more examples outlined in the guide. There are also various worksheets in the guide regarding the college search process.

20. The College Search
These are just to example worksheets. They are focused around the campus visit. The one on the left is in the guide and the one on the right is on Cappex’s website. There is also a college comparison worksheet that allows students to compare colleges after their campus visits.

21. College Costs and Financial Aid
Step by Step Overview
College Costs and Financial Aid
Understanding Financial Aid
Handout : Paying for college is a family affair (pgs )
Includes a Quick Guide to Financial Aid Terms and Understanding your Financial Aid Award Letter
Using the FAFSA4Caster
Provides early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid (pg.283)
Parent Guardian Workshop
Calendar of College and Financial Aid Events (pg. 319)
How Much Will College Cost? (pg. 320)
Given the changes with PPY or Early FAFSA, this section will be updated for when we release the new edition of Steps next year. A lot of the information is relevant and you can certainly edit any worksheets to reflect changes.

22. Current Uses of the Step-by-Step High School Counselors
For College Tours / College Fairs : College Visit Checklist & Sample Interview Questions (pgs and pgs )
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.
After – School Workshops : Uses SBS - Late High School for after-school workshops with juniors 1 asking week for 6 weeks with juniors.

23. Current Uses of the 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 & late high school students.
As A Presenter
It is a good way to orient oneself on how to target themes & messages to this age group. Also, group activities add an interactive element.
Activities Used
Beach ball, Great Sorting Game, Bingo

24. Current Uses of the 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
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

25. Early Awareness Resource List
NACAC - Step-by-Step
NACAC – Knowledge Center
College Video Tours
Center for Student Opportunity
Big Future by The College Board
KnowHow2GO

26. Early Awareness Resource List
College For Every Student
College: Making It Happen
Counselor Zone
ECMC Foundation – The College Place
Get Ready for College (MN)
Illinois Resource for undocumented students

27. Questions?