Beacon Trailblazers (BTB): Overview of Program and Goals Description: This program offers tremendous support and guidance throughout the college process beginning junior year to students who fit any of the criteria below: are the first in thelr family to attend college low income do not receive academic support from their parents are new to this country and confused by the process have parents/guardians who are Spanish speakers ee eee ‘This program is designed to turn students’ college aspirations into action-oriented goals and simplify the steps of the college process. Through presentations, activities and discussions students will take the right steps to successfully complete the college admissions process, ‘Student Selection Process: Students are recommended by their advisor. ies '* SAT/ACT prep classes after school—VOCAB WORDS!!! © Essay writing © College Search ¢ Scholarships ‘© Preparation of Letters of Recommendation ¢ Homework tables/help—Using I'm the First scholars. ¢ Financial Aid Process overall Goals: 1, 100% of students will have a list of 6 colleges they will apply to in the fall. 2. 100% of students will have at least 10 scholarship opportunities they will apply to, and will have all of the necessary paperwork to do so over the summer. 3, 100% of students will have a college essay topic, revised and approved by their BTB advisor. 4, 100% of students will be well versed in the financial aid process and understand what they can expect to contribute for their six college choices. Warm-U @ The warm-up activity will usually be ACT or SAT prep January 15th ¢ Introduction to BTB.© Outline of program and time commitment (© Overview of the “Welcome to BTB” letter (© Discuss expectations and “BTB Contract” January 23rd, ¢ leebreaker: baby picture/career goals PowerPoint © PBA Prep © Junior grades are critical for college entrance (© Food and study tables, working together, community building ary Sth ‘© Icebreaker: baby picture/career goals PowerPoint ‘© Pass out folders and college checklists ‘© Small Groups: “getting familiar with common websites” PowerPoint ‘© Students fill out “important terms” worksheet ‘¢ Homework: complete a college search on Naviance using certain parameters February 26th ‘¢ Do Now: Questionnaire about which test you are taking (ACT or SAT) and when ¢ Pass out handout about the differences between the two tests ¢ Three Activities (each group rotates through}: ‘© First: PP on doing a Naviance college search ‘© Second: PP on doing a College Board search © Third: PP on other things to know about Naviance March Sth ¢ Do Now: English SAT Questions ¢ Students in two groups Present the “aspects of the college application” PowerPoint (© This isto prepare them for the admissions game the following week March 12th ‘© Admissions Activity (© Students get into small groups and decide who to adi the college applications of three very different students, March 19th ‘© SAT/ACT Review (© Students can choose an ACT or SAT test review packet to complete © Check answers one-on-one with a BTB leader 26t © Finish Admissions Activity © Discussion about how decisions were made and how this influenced their view of the college process © Have students fill out “BTB admissions process” worksheet April2nd ¢ SAT/ACT Review © Students can choose an ACT or SAT test review packet to complete © Check answers one-on-one with a BTB leaderApril th © Group Essay Activity ‘© Students walk around the room and ask each other questions © Homework over break: email us a draft of your essay April 23rd © Essay Work © Students with a draft meet with BTB leaders to edit their essay © Allother students have a quiet time to work on their essay April 23rd © Essay Work © Students with a draft meet with BTB leaders to edit their essay © Allother students have @ quiet time to work on their essay May 7th © Seniors Visit BTBI © Sixorseven students will visit and cover different topics on the college process © Endwith aQ&A May 14th Essay Work (© Students with a draft meet with BTB leaders to edit their essay © Allother students have a quiet time to work on their essay May 21st © Essay Work (Computer Lab) © Peer editing activity for students with a completed first draft May 28th © Essay Work (Computer Lab) © Peer editing activity for students with a completed first draft June 4th © Essay work in the computer lab © Peer editing activity for students with a completed first draft June Lith © BTB celebration party! © “Summer reminders” worksheet 2014 © Welcome back! Recap and Common Application © Class scheduies/1* semester grades © Letters of recommendations, what students are responsible for, create folder in email for all college stuff, representatives, time management © Emallon CA must be the same as the one on Naviance © Create CA account © SAT deadline is 9/12 and ACT deadline is 9/13 © College Preference Survey (on Naviance) © Rep visits9/15/2014 © CUNYApplications ‘© Apply for CUNY © Other students can work on CA © Sending SAT/ACT scores © Recommenders (asked or not?) 9/22/2014 © College Lists © CAcheck-in.uis it connected to Naviance? Class size? © Finalizing college list (© Schools that are not on the CA © Exit slip schools that are not on Naviance, how many extra essays/topics do you have to write? 9/29/2014 @ General Check-In (© Supps released? Work on them (maybe in pairs if applying to the same school) © Financial Aid deadlines (who needs the CSS) and application deadlines (make a form/spreadsheet) © Mock interviews 10/6/2014 ‘© Goover what has been discussed in the previous weeks ‘© Provide me with outline of what you have worked on (provide o: 10/13/2014 © One on one check-in 40/20/2014 © Letters of recommendation should’ve been uploaded ~ check! 10/27/2014 ‘© Prizes for the first 10 students to submit apps © Meeting at the end of January ~ celebration for completing the process! 2 weeks of independent work Check in - what have you completed? Financial Aid packages ~ what where they? (use options activity) CSS day and Financial Aid day Consider having the Senior and Junior 878 students available during the CSS and FA day ooooo 11/3/2014 - 11/10/204© Workin lab—1 11/19/2014 © Work in lab ©. Interviews ~ Rutgers 1126/2014 Thanksgiving celebration/survey/game. 12/3/2014 ‘© FAFSA workshop/8TB Mentors 12/10/2014 © BTB 2015 & 2016 Meet! ‘© Introduction Activities ‘© FAFSA continuation - BTB 2015 12/17/2014 © Holiday celebration 07/2015 © —BTB 2015: FAFSA/CSS — Bring 2013 Taxes and PIN numbers © BT 2016: Email the junior questionnaire guide © —BTB 2016: Welcome PowerPoint/SAT quiz/PBA Overview waa/2015 ‘© Scholarships © Websites/deadiines 4/21/2015 © BTB Graduation! 1/23/2015 © BTB Class of 2016 StartsBeacon Trailblazers -Overview of the program and SMART goals Activities: * SAT/ACT prep classes after school—VOCAB WORDS!!! © Essay writing © College Search © Scholarships «Preparation of Letters of Recommendation © Homework tables/help—Using I’m the First scholars. «Financial Aid Process overall SMART goals 1. 100% of students will have a list of 6 colleges they will apply to in the fall. 2. 100% of students will have at least 10 scholarship opportunities they will apply to, and will have all of the necessary paperwork to do so over the summer. 3. 100% of students will have a college essay topic, revised and approved by their BTB advisor. 4, 100% of students will be well versed in the financial aid process and understand what they can expect to contribute for their six college choices. January 6-10 Introduction to BTB -~-getting to know one another --Intended field of study?—what you wanted to be as a kid --Outline of program and time commitment --Free bands and availability of students January 20-24 PBA prep Junior grades are critical for college entrance Food and study tables, working together, community building Schedules distributed RE test prep and individual advisor ‘Questions on Junior Packets Icebreaker game--- baby pictures and what you want to be when you grow up— have kids send their photos to beacontrailblazers@gmail.comFebruary Math section of Standardized testing Do Now- 2 math SAT/ACT problems Differences between two tests Math section and review February 24-28 Reading section of standardized testing DO Now- SAT reading and vocabulary Review and section practice Test taking tips and strategies Have students indicate to BTB leaders the test they are hoping to take and the dates outlined. Also, Students can indicate if they are interested in additional test prep, in that case they will have separate meetings with advisors to practice sections and review testing strategies. March 10-14 College search! Do now- have students answer basic questions/questionnaire RE their college choices. Using the two subtests and GPA, we will create a profile for students and have them research schools that may be of interest to them. Exit- have students come up with at least 4 schools in that time period that they may apply to. March 24-28 Resume—College is more than scores! Do Now- have students answer questions about what they think would be more impressive if they saw it on a college application. Also, this will include letters of recommendation. Emphasis that students should be doing everything they can to build relationships with their favorite teachers to ensure they receive a tremendous rec letter to create the strongest application possible. ~-Have students create a profile of their activities and commitments ~-Begin a resume and have students meet with their BTB advisor to discuss any gaps. April 7-41 Essay- a critical part of the college process Do Now- what piece of writing have you done that you are really proud of? Activity- case studies with the essays and all application components Exit- have students communicate with their advisors before the next meeting RE their passions or a topic they believe could fit for their college essay (If topics don’t change) April 21-25% How to pay for it!Do Now: have students guess if scholarships that exist are actually real or made up. This will help students to see that they can obtain money from numerous sources! --Activity- using their resumes, students can search for organizations that may give money based on interests as well as research their schools to see if there are school specific scholarships of their interest. ~-At this point, BTB advisors will conduct their junior meeting with the BTB participant and their family member. BTB students are encouraged to share the information they have learned through this program with their families at this time and be a co-leader in the meeting, illustrating their understanding of the process. These meetings can take place anytime from this week until the end of the year. ++Do we want to offer a SAT practice test on a weekend at some point?-- May 5-9 BTB scholars learning from one another—Presentations on College Have students sign up to give a short (5-10 minute) presentation on: © Ascholarship they found that other students may be interested in * Acollege or university and the programs they offer, as well as their programs designed for freshman * We can have 1-2 presentations from this point until the end of the semester. At this point, we will also begin to discuss summer plans and how any activities may contribute to their resume/list of activities. + Have students begin to think about teachers to write recs—have them ask and confirm with BTB advisor before year end, May 19-23 Continue with college presentations and student work Additional thoughts? Last week- BTB celebration party!"—week before have students create list of goals and work they will complete over the course of the semester.Dear , Welcome to the Beacon Trailblazers! You are invited to participate in a unique opportunity offering you tremendous support and guidance throughout the college process beginning junior year! You will be a trailblazer throughout this process, working with Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Hamontree and Ms. Rita with the following topics: * SAT/ACT prep classes after school © Essay writing * College Search Scholarships Additional meeting and support * Anything else you need! Please join us for our first meeting on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 45 at 3pm in room to learn more about this amazing opportunity. You are sure to enter your senior year being a leader in the college process and a step ahead! If you have a conflict with the date of this meeting, please stop by Ms. Fernandez’s office ASAP to ensure your spot as a Trailblazer. We look forward to meeting with you ail, Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Hamontree and Ms. RitaName. Beacon Trailblazers Survey Instructions: Please answer the following questions indicating what topics are of greatest importance to you. Please rate the following topics that you hope to cover in the BTB program: 1. SAT/ACT prep Saeenneenrnennnennennnendfannnenne 1 Very Important Neutral Not Useless Important Important 2. Essay Writing 5 o 4. enceccnenncmnen Goan 2, 1 Very Important Neutral Not Useless Important Important 3. College Search Bo rr ———I Very Important Neutral Not Useless Important Important 4; Scholarships Se co ~2 1 Very Important Neutral Not Useless Important Important 5. CUNY/SUNY 5 2. 1 Very Important Neutral Not Useless Important Important 6. Are there any additional topics that you believe are an asset to this program? 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