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College Bound
Helping Girls Get Ready!
It begins in Middle School
By Alison M. Hill
The college-planning process is an exhilarating yet challenging time for teens and the adults in their lives. From the dreaded standardized tests to the much-awaited acceptance letter, this foray into the world of higher education will most likely dominate the conversations of the older girls. Girl Scout leaders and advisers have the opportunity to support what the girls have learned in school and from their parents, and to supplement this knowledge with their own perspectives and experiences. To facilitate these discussions, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has partnered with organizations across the nation to create programs and resources that provide helpful information about this exciting time in the academic and social lives of girls.
The MetLife Foundation, as a longstanding advocate for the opportunities Girl Scouts creates for girls ages 11–17, funds the College Pathways Program, which provides Girl Scout councils with grants to help prepare girls of all socioeconomic backgrounds (with a focus on underserved, low-income girls) for college. Girl participants and their families complete applications and financial aid forms, take college tours and become academically, financially, and emotionally ready for campus life. The MetLife Foundation has committed to the expansion of the College Pathways Program with a $250,000 grant to GSUSA for 2006-2007.
During the 2005–2006 grant cycle, 11 Girl Scout councils were selected through a competitive process to create College Pathways Program, and were awarded grants of up to $14,000. Through this program hundreds of girls gained valuable insight and knowledge about college preparation and the world of higher education. Many of them will be the first members of their families to go to college. And they depended on the wisdom and experience of their leaders to guide them through this process.
In order to support girls, parents, leaders, and other adults who work with girls, GSUSA created two resources with funding from the MetLife Foundation: STUDIO 2B® Focus College 101: A Guide for High School Girls, and Route to Success: An Adult Guide to the CollegePlanning Process (published in English and Spanish), which is primarily directed to parents and guardians, who may know little about helping a girl prepare for college. These guides provide information on a wide range of related topics, and the material is organized chronologically, highlighting important preparatory steps for girls to take during each year beginning in middle or junior high school.
By making applying to college a troop or group activity, girls can help each other, keep each other motivated, and share this important step in their lives. Girl Scout leaders and advisers will be key to inspiring the girls to stay focused, as well as helping them gain their parents’ or guardians’ support.
How Leaders and Advisers Can Help Girls Apply for College
The following tips were adapted from Route to Success: An Adult Guide to the College-Planning Process. The entire Guide may be downloaded, above right.
Middle/Junior High School
It’s never too early to start thinking about college. In most middle and junior high schools, there are specific classes a girl will need to take in order to begin her journey on the “college track.” You may want to speak with or send a note to parents reminding them to speak with their daughter’s teachers, school counselors and/or administrators about the importance of her being enrolled in these essential courses during her pre-high school years. This is also the time to speak with girls about starting and/or completing their Bronze Award projects.
Freshman Year – 9th Grade
While applications are still years away, colleges look at everything students do for all four years of high school. Suggest that the girls speak with their guidance counselors to decide which classes they should take, and to discuss any testing accommodations they may need if they have special learning requirements. Encourage them to start a college preparation folder, which will contain application materials like report cards, awards, and lists of extra-curricular activities, paid jobs, and/or volunteer positions.
Urge them to continue their involvement in extra-curricular activities, and discuss their participation in community service projects that reflect their interests. All of these activities can be listed later on college applications, and are taken into consideration by college registrars. This is a perfect time to discuss their working toward the Silver Award.
Sophomore Year – 10th Grade
This second year of high school is often more comfortable for teens as they have gotten used to their new environment. Encourage them to set goals and suggest that they start investigating colleges by exploring school Web sites and looking at admission requirements. Remind them to update their college preparation folders.
Junior Year – 11th Grade
This is the year girls will begin the college application process. You may want to set aside time at the beginning of each meeting to discuss girls’ issues, concerns or questions. This is also an important time to discuss their Gold Award projects and how schools look favorably at commitment and leadership in extra-curricular activities. This is a good time to introduce them to creating a résumé. Also propose that they attend college fairs and begin investigating scholarship opportunities, and bring copies of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form to meetings for girls to review. As they begin to receive publications from colleges in the mail, offer a system for organizing brochures and letters, and perhaps create a crafts project to house this important documentation. Remind them to keep updating their college preparation folders.
Senior Year – 12th Grade
During this exciting last year of high school, remind the girls that their grades are still important; every year colleges rescind offers of acceptance because of poor senior-year grades. Discuss whom they will ask to write their recommendation letters, and expect that girls in your troop/group may ask you to write one. If you are chosen, ask the girl for a copy of her résumé (which should include her involvement, awards, and achievements within Girl Scouts, as well as other accomplishments, work experience, etc.) and speak with her about how her future goals fit with the college(s) to which she is applying.
Celebrate
Finally, celebrate graduation and the prospect of each girl attending the school of her choice! This is a wonderful time to enjoy the girls’ accomplishments and to congratulate them on their years of dedication and perseverance.
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