Posts published on July 1, 2013

New Counseling Model Has Big Impact

State and federal policymakers are striving to improve four-year college attendance for disadvantaged students. Despite a dramatic increase in the opportunity to attend college, disadvantaged students often enroll at higher rates in two-year colleges, which are associated with lower educational attainment and earnings. Successfully navigating the complex and unpredictable procedures of four-year college applications and financial aid requires students to make plans and take actions that in turn depend on college knowledge and assistance, which many students cannot get from their parents. Besides being limited by time constraints, counselors’ effectiveness is also limited by the standard counseling model that serves students one-on-one and requires students’ initiative. We find that a new counseling model may improve the types of colleges students attend. Importantly, the most disadvantaged students appear to benefit.

In 2004-2005, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) introduced the college coach program to a diverse group of high schools. One coach was assigned per school and charged with providing help in the enrollment process. The district directed both coaches and counselors to increase the completion of key actions that are particularly important for four-year college enrollment: applying to multiple colleges, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and applying for scholarships. However, coaches’ job tasks and advising strategies differed from those of traditional counselors.  Unlike most counselors, coaches spent all of their time helping students with postsecondary plans. Coaches also had innovative advising strategies: (a) Coaches proactively reached out and engaged students. (b) Coaches built trusting relationships with students. (c) Coaches enlisted students to help each other. (d) Coaches often used groups instead of meeting individually with students. Coaches’ strategies allowed them to provide social support, detailed and ongoing help, and monitoring of the completion of actions.

Click here for full article and study.
We welcome your comments.