Ever wondered how to implement GuidedPath across different student grade levels?! Here’s your answer! Learn how to engage 8th graders using surveys and other tools to help them set goals, manage their school curriculum and get excited about their future.

1. Engaging Students Series:
8th-9thGrades
Using online tools to increase college and career readiness

2. Your Hostess
Cyndy McDonald
-Middle school and high school counselor
-Experience working in college access program AVID
-Founder of HECA, MyCCA.net and co-founder of GuidedPath
-Launching AVEST-American Veterans program
-Passion for education
-First generation
-Resides in one of US top 10 LEAST educated cities in the US (4 of the 10 are in Central Valley)

3. Webinar Agenda
Why start early?
What are your goals/objectives?
Live demonstration of tools and resources with GuidedPath
•Including how to build a custom survey
Questions/Answers

4. When do you start?
What is the earliest grade level you see students for college counseling?

5. Student/Family Pros
Student/Family Cons
Not ready for high school = not ready for college
Provide support for successful transition from middle school to high school
Starting early is important for financial fit & planning
Help students and parents prioritize appropriately
Generate & internalize own long term goals
Adds to “higher education anxiety”
Accelerates emphasis on high stakes admissions
Students not developmentally ready
Encourages unhealthy behaviors
?
Why Start early?

6. The problem
ACT “The Forgotten Middle” study
(2008) shows
“fewer than 2 in 10 eighth graders are on target to be ready for college level work by the time they graduate from high school.”

7. Why Start early?
College Advisor
•Build program early
•Builds capacity
•Generates more continuity year-year
•Increases opportunities for guidance/direction

8. Support tools for 8th-9thgraders
Surveys: gather information, student reflection
Testing: when, what & how
Colleges: search
A part of the overall GUIDEDPATH process

9. Surveys/Forms
Activity Record: update each year
Athletic Worksheet: as needed
College Affordability Shaper: introduce in 8th grade
Course Plan: start 8th-update each year
Find My Spark: take 8thgrade- revisit 10thor 11thgrade
Getting 2 Know U:take 9thgrade
Custom Surveys:
as needed
6 out of 8 surveys/forms can be introduced as early as 8th-9thgrade

10. Key Integrated Surveys
College Affordability Shaper
•The earlier with this tool, the better
•Helps families start planning now
•Should be re-visited each year.
Find My Spark
•Myer-Briggs type indicators
•Links and tools for exploring majors
•Understanding college styles

11. Survey Results
Integrated Analysis
College Affordability Shaper
College Match
Find My Spark
Results Displayed
Activity Record
Athletic Worksheet
Course Plan
Design a College
Getting 2 Know U

12. Customize for needs
Build your own Surveys
•Intake forms
•Student goal setting forms
•Tracking forms
Turn any document into an integrated, online form

13. Testing
Understanding what test to take
Understanding when to take tests
Establishing baselines
Communication of need for preparation

14. College Search
•Use YoUniversityVideos
•FISKE Guide
•Maps
And more-Diversity, majors, careers...

15. My Chances
Understanding admissions chances
•Supports college counseling goals

16. Check it out
Let’s log into www.guidedpath.net
Sample student: Andy Awesome
I am using Andrew Bond

17. Support?
Knowledge Base
•View articles
•Watch videos
•Do a search
•Submit a request
•support@guidedpath. net
•Call us!
•720.465.8555
Counseling? cyndy@guidedpath.net

18. Check List
Start early
Set up student and parent accounts
Offer online surveys
Engage students early and ongoing
Revisit surveys/forms throughout middle school and high school years
Use Implementation Guide from GuidedPath
Use to support transition-from 8th9thgrade
and 12thcollege