Episode 10: Deepening the Conversation with Students Around Academic Planning

Presenters: Dr. Amanda Sterk, Dr. Timothy Poynton, and Dr. Richard Lapan

When beginning to think about how we support students through the academic planning process, it’s important that students understand the necessity of learning and exploring key self and college knowledge to build a set of skills and abilities for informed decision making.

Using Figure 1.1, p.10 of the College UnMazed student workbook, we discuss how incorporating the 8 Strengths of College and Career Readiness with the 4 critical factors helps students make the most of their high school experience and prepare them for college. The 4 critical factors are the You Factor, Academic Factor, Career Factor, and Financial Factor.

Dr. Lapan shared at the core of the 8 Strengths of College and Career Readiness are how students learn and incorporate each of the skills to succeed in their academic pursuits. The 8 Strengths are Agency, Positive Beliefs, Effective Goals, Knowing Yourself, Becoming a Successful Student, Character for Workplace Success, College Knowledge, and College Support Network. For Episode 11, we will go more in-depth on the 8 Strengths and how to help build them.

Next, Dr. Poynton shared the importance of understanding how academic planning connects with students’ postsecondary goals, primarily, their admissions into college. Using the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) State of College Admission Report, linked here, provides some great context for students to understand how grades in all courses and in college prep courses are the top considerations admission directors report using when evaluating applicants. As well, factors like strength of curriculum, admission test scores, and the essay make up the top 5 things college admission directors report using.

Dr. Sterk continued to share her passion for specialized academic programs that can help the students explore their passions and interests and help them build knowledge and skills through rigorous content. Programs such as credit-by-examination (Advanced Placement, Cambridge AICE, and International Baccalaureate), dual enrollment, and industry certifications are instrumental to engaging students in the academic process. Also important is for counselors to discuss these programs early and frequently and how it affects student’s postsecondary options.

Lastly, we provided a downloadable worksheet that counselors can use to help students consider all their 4 factors and how the academic plan they are currently creating is building the skills they need for their success.