The Texas OnCourse Educator Blog

Hi everyone, and welcome to this week’s Facebook broadcast of the most recent information and resources regarding college and career planning in the time of COVID-19. Today we're talking specifically about college prep during COVID-19.

Five Actions Educators Can Take Right Now to Support High School Seniors’ Transition

The following five actions have been adapted from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Immediate Next Steps guide for supporting high school seniors’ transition to a postsecondary educational program. Take the following actions to prevent summer melt and ensure that the high school class of 2020 enrolls at their postsecondary program in the fall. 

As we approach the end of an unpredictable school year, we applaud you and all the other educators who stepped up to meet the needs of their students, staff, and families during the COVID-19 crisis. Your efforts and dedication have been truly amazing. 

The college admissions process of 2020 will go down in history books. Campus visits have been canceled. Individual and family financial circumstances are up in the air. Many colleges have moved their admissions decision deadline to June 1. So how on earth can educators guide their students on how to choose a college during COVID-19? Read on for four tips below:

[UPDATED May 2021] College-bound high school seniors have a big transition ahead of them. In addition to choosing their college, they’ll need to keep track of financial aid deadlines, make housing plans, and schedule orientation. We compiled the top five ways high school seniors can stay on track through the end of high school and into the summer to have a stellar freshman year.

Too often, we view scholarships as something that students start thinking about in the later years of high school – when college applications are imminent. But here are ways to begin earning scholarships for college as early as ninth grade. Through micro-scholarships!

Nearly everyone agrees that preschool is an integral part of early childhood development with positive developmental outcomes. You can think of earning college credits early in a similar way – it has far-reaching, encouraging outcomes for high school students. 

Unless they apply for financial aid, even high-achieving students will miss out on it. Showcasing hard work, strengths, and talents are all part of securing scholarships. If students approach this process systematically and start early, scholarships can take a big bite out of college-related expenses. Consider sharing some attributes of a strong application to help students streamline the scholarship application process regardless of the type and number of applications they fill out. 

“Why should my child or my family apply for FAFSA if we are not low income?” As a parent and educator, I am asked this question often. My response comes from personal experience working with college-bound students and their families for the past 25 years.

It’s financial aid season, which means that students, parents, and educators around the country have “paying for college” on their minds. FAFSA is a definite buzzword, but what about those students who aren’t eligible for federal financial aid?