When I think back to high school, it’s not often that I reflect on the guidance I received from our counseling office. It’s not that we had bad counselors, it’s just that we had a school of 1,200 students and 3 counselors for the lot of us. I remember spending a total of around 30 minutes with my assigned counselor and that was only to discuss college options and to make sure I had my applications turned in. But, that worked for me.
As a student, I was fortunate enough to not need extra support or guidance from the counselor because if I had, I’m not sure our school would have been able to provide it. Again, not because the counselors were bad at their jobs, just because of the sheer number of students at our school would have been overwhelming to even the most experienced counselor...
As a student, I was fortunate enough to not need extra support or guidance from the counselor because if I had, I’m not sure our school would have been able to provide it. Again, not because the counselors were bad at their jobs, just because of the sheer number of students at our school would have been overwhelming to even the most experienced counselor...
In the 11 years since I graduated from high school, that ratio of students to counselors has only worsened for many schools in the U.S. On average, American schools have 1 guidance counselor for just under 500 students and the majority of students receive only 38-minutes of counseling and advice. Total. In their entire school career. This is a problem.
Enter The Student Success Academy. An organization with the goal of turning that ratio from 1:500 to 1:1. They believe this can be accomplished through web-based software that connects high school students with well-trained and relatable university students who can help guide them through the college process and career exploration. According to their organization,
Enter The Student Success Academy. An organization with the goal of turning that ratio from 1:500 to 1:1. They believe this can be accomplished through web-based software that connects high school students with well-trained and relatable university students who can help guide them through the college process and career exploration. According to their organization,
Our platform uses one on one video chat to personalize each student's high school journey. With our platform and gaming strategies, we turn the counselor experience into a social interaction across the entire school. We provide 4G internet, headsets, and cameras for our students so they can connect with their own personal success consultants in the most efficient manner possible.
We also provide virtual office hours, back to school keynotes, webinars, and resources for college admissions, scholarships, and career readiness. This gives each student the opportunity to receive over 20 hours of personal time every week.
Currently, the Student Success Academy is serving 9 schools in Texas. They have helped nearly 200 students in their first year as an organization and they have met with excellent results so far. The academy, founded by EJ Carrion, a former Teach for America intern and Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, hosts a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum. Their online session cover everything from college applications, to resumes, to scholarships, and anything else a student could conceivably need to have a successful admission experience. This video from their site does a great job of explaining further:
Sounds exciting, right? To me, it seems like an excellent solution to a problem that is only getting worse. Personally, I think a program like this could really do a lot to help struggling students find their place in academia and ease the burden of one of the hardest decisions/processes that teens have to go through.
Now, I’m not saying that this program should replace guidance counselors, far from it. Counselors provide so much more support than just for college admissions, and they are an integral part of a successful school. But, in schools where counselors are overworked and under-supported, this program could be a great resource on the college and career planning side of the counselor’s workload.
So, if you’re interested, you can check out their site for more information AND the academy just announced a “VIP Success Award” in which they’re giving away $10,000 of their services to one lucky school. For more information, you can visit the Student Success Academy online.
*Statistics from PRWeb & The American School's Counselor Association
Now, I’m not saying that this program should replace guidance counselors, far from it. Counselors provide so much more support than just for college admissions, and they are an integral part of a successful school. But, in schools where counselors are overworked and under-supported, this program could be a great resource on the college and career planning side of the counselor’s workload.
So, if you’re interested, you can check out their site for more information AND the academy just announced a “VIP Success Award” in which they’re giving away $10,000 of their services to one lucky school. For more information, you can visit the Student Success Academy online.
*Statistics from PRWeb & The American School's Counselor Association
