by KIM HILSENBECK
Barriers among high school students to pursuing higher education, particularly those from low-income families, include a lack of information about college admissions and how to fill out financial aid forms.
Another problem may be as simple as knowing how to choose the school that is right for a student, thereby ensuring a chance at success.
The National College Advising Corps, a nonprofit based in North Carolina, attributes the fact that many otherwise qualified students find the process discouraging to not having anyone to guide them through it.
“Many of these kids are first generation college-goers,” according to Mia Xavier, NCAC spokesperson.
Whether lacking a role model or dealing with socioeconomic issues, the end result is a dearth of understanding about college applications, financial aid or even the importance of attending college.
The Advising Corps model pairs recent college graduates with high school students to supplement, not replace, the school counselors who are typically overwhelmed with testing and administrative tasks. These graduates receive a six-week intensive residential training course on how to be a college readiness counselor.
The newly minted counselors then work at one of 18 partner universities in 14 states around the country, generally near the nation’s persistently lowest-performing high schools.
The group now employs more than 300 advisors serving about 115,000 students.
A recent addition to the growing partnership is Texas State University, which joins Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Trinity University and The University of Texas at Austin as part of AdviseTX, the National College Advising Corps partnership in Texas funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The university will place eight of its recent graduates to serve as advisors in underserved communities. They will work one-to-one with students, guiding them through the college admissions and financial aid processes, helping to identify schools that will meet their academic and social needs.
In addition to working with students, the advisors convene group information sessions, provide one-on-one advisory sessions, hold parent meetings and conduct other activities to raise the college-going culture within a school.
“We are delighted to welcome Texas State University into the Advising Corps family,” said Nicole Hurd, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Advising Corps, “and are grateful for the opportunity to reach more students in Texas.”
