WEBVTT

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[Music] Welcome to the overview

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on Assisting Students

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With College Entry.

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Low-income students who are the first

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in their families

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to consider postsecondary education

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often need help with selecting

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and applying for college.

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High schools need

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to provide this support to both students

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and parents as early as possible.

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Students aiming for both two-

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and four-year colleges need

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to know what tests

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to take before applying for college,

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how to prepare for them,

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and registration and exam dates.

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High schools can offer exam preparation

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classes and workshops.

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These workshops should take place

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at the school so that students

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and families can easily attend.

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Some students may also benefit

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from assistance in how to register

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for the exams, and some may need help

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with obtaining waivers for testing fees.

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Finding the right college can be a

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daunting task for any student.

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Schools should provide students

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with the opportunity to meet one-on-one

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with staff to discuss their career

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interests and goals,

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and which colleges best fit their needs.

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Staff can introduce students

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to Internet-based tools

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for comparing different colleges

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and encourage students to apply

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to multiple schools,

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in case they don't get their

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first choice.

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Schools can organize trips to colleges,

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giving students the opportunity

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to explore the campus,

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investigate the school's resources,

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and interact with college students.

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Meetings with campus personnel,

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such as admissions officers

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or college professors, can go a long way

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in helping students make informed

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choices about college selection.

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If possible, meetings

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with college students, faculty,

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or staff that share the high school

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students' backgrounds

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or culture can prove

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especially powerful.

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Colleges and alumni can assist

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in underwriting the costs of such trips.

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College access programs can be offered

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during the school year

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or over the summer.

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It may be necessary to work

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with individual families and colleges

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to plan alternate times to visit.

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As students begin the college

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application process,

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high schools can help by giving guidance

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on how to write application essays,

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securing recommendation letters,

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and providing email accounts

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for students to use when communicating

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with colleges.

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Because students

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and their families often don't know what

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financial aid is available,

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they may overestimate how much college

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will cost them.

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Schools can help educate families

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by offering a series of workshops.

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Ninth grade: Explore the costs of two-

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and four-year colleges

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and the various sources of aid,

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such as grants and work-study programs.

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Tenth grade: Focus more closely

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on school-specific scholarships as well

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as federal and state aid.

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Eleventh grade: Explain how to complete

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and submit the Free Application

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for Federal Student Aid [or FAFSA]

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and other financial aid forms.

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Twelfth grade:

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Provide step-by-step support

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for students and their families

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to ensure that students meet the

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deadlines and submit their applications

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and all financial aid forms.

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It is critical

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that these workshops include parents.

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If there are large numbers of parents

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who do not speak English,

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having separate workshops

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in their native languages is essential.

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Some families will need more extensive

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assistance in completing financial

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aid forms.

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High schools can coordinate

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with local colleges

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to have financial aid officers work

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with families in both completing

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applications and addressing more

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personal financial matters,

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as appropriate.

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Bilingual officers are ideal,

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but having translators available

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as needed is also an option.

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Many forms are now available only

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online, so schools may need

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to provide computer support as well.

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Regardless of the type

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of assistance provided,

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schools need to ensure

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that families begin the process early

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so that applications are turned

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in well before the final due date.

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If school counselors lack the time

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or knowledge to work with students

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on the college entry process,

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the school may need

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to contact local college access programs

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or invite volunteers to come and work

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with the students.

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Recent college graduates

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with fresh experience navigating the

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financial aid process

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and retired professionals are ideal

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volunteers and can also be used

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to provide professional development

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to school staff or be available

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as on-call resources.

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There are many ways

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that high schools can help students

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with all aspects

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of the college entry process.

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The practices detailed

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in this overview are most likely

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to be successful

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when they are all implemented together

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and when incorporated

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with a school culture focused

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on college preparation

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and academic readiness.

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To learn more about Assisting Students

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With College Entry,

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please see the additional resources

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on the Doing What Works website.

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[Music]