FCE Senior Advisory by Foundation for a College Education

Sparking excitement for college and the kinds of programs available

2024-12-13 02:40:29 UTC

2024-12-13 02:40:43 UTC

Call me crazy but I wanted more interaction—like doing the resume, activities list and brainstorm for the essays.

Maybe start earlier?

Spreadsheet that organizes all the college apps and due dates I think we made up our own

Motivating a student

2024-12-13 02:40:57 UTC

Focus/getting going

2024-12-13 02:42:01 UTC

They’re busy and have lots of obligations. The dedicated time was great but the approaching deadline helped focus their minds.

2024-12-13 02:42:23 UTC

This may not be the intention of this question, but probably my student opening up to me about non-academic/life things. I am glad she feels that comfortable talking to me, and I think it has made the advising sessions easier/more productive since she trusts my opinions.

Provide additional info on our assigned students, tips on how to best work with our assigned students

2024-12-13 02:43:14 UTC

I think students are really well-supported

2024-12-13 02:44:26 UTC

2024-12-13 02:46:02 UTC

Maybe it’s just me, but I would have appreciated some guidance re: FCE’s preferred advising/philosophy/whatever—what exactly do you want us to work on with them (or not), and how? I can use my own judgement of course, but I want to make sure I’m doing the best for my students/living up to FCE’s standards!

Maybe you already do this, but frequent check-ins with deliverables can be useful

2024-12-13 02:46:14 UTC

2024-12-13 02:47:30 UTC

This may have been an isolated incident, and it wasn’t from this year. But, making sure students are prioritizing things that will matter for college whenever possible (ex./ taking a couple hours off work to take an AP test instead of just not taking it).

Explanation of program components so we have a more complete understanding and be more effective in probing for essay ideas.

2024-12-13 02:47:55 UTC

Clearer understanding of our role is it just essay support? Do we help with college lists? The whole application? etc.

2024-12-13 02:50:54 UTC

Summer academy before 9th grade to work on foundational skills (writing/math/organization)

2024-12-13 02:51:40 UTC

Combine 11th and 12th grade programs to make more seamless.

2024-12-13 02:52:15 UTC

Deadlines to get things done earlier like activities list, finalize college list, etc.

2024-12-13 02:53:05 UTC

Workshop to enter data for CSUs and UCs (we did this last year and it worked well, this year we went through it more quickly and students did not complete their data entry in the workshop).

2024-12-13 02:57:26 UTC

Having students skip sessions "because they have too much homework"

2024-12-13 02:59:41 UTC

The excitement when their "story" and application comes together.

2024-12-13 03:01:24 UTC

Being a small part of a first gen student's experience and watching her growth

2025-01-24 02:35:51 UTC

Student sometimes distracted and not being super respectful of volunteer's time

2025-01-24 02:36:47 UTC

2025-01-24 02:36:49 UTC

The feeling of accomplishment when things were completed. Also seeing her essays develop into full deeper essays

Building a relationship with the student in the early part of the Fall when so much also needs to be done

2025-01-24 02:37:25 UTC

2025-01-24 02:37:37 UTC

Procrastination and not connecting. Talked to Deepti to check in and also connected with the he student on zoom.

2025-01-24 02:37:52 UTC

Seeing my student’s face light up when he read his essay out loud and felt it captured the words in his head!

Getting all the info on my student(s) and where they are ahead of needing to dive in - e.g. lists, progress on essays, etc.

2025-01-24 02:38:17 UTC

2025-01-24 02:39:06 UTC

I think sending us their profiles with gpa/activities/list automatically. Also starting essays in the summer is good too!

I think it would be great for Senior advisors to start with students in the Spring of their junior year - fold them in as they wrap up research and are doing list building. Be able to support the student get as much done as possible over the summer provided their schedule permits.

2025-01-24 02:39:26 UTC

2025-01-24 02:39:46 UTC

I think they are well supported.

When I was traveling my students and I agreed on work to be done - no progress was done on any of the deliverables. I was disappointed but used humor to get my feeling across, and I believe it worked!

2025-01-24 02:40:06 UTC

I think volunteers could help with workshops, content and visits as well as research and list building. Take advantage of our unique talents and the content we have developed on our own where appliable

2025-01-24 02:40:35 UTC

I think a central repository of FCE templates would be helpful

2025-01-24 02:40:54 UTC

A google shared drive as a hub for each student

2025-01-24 02:41:08 UTC

A timeline for volunteers or a check-list so we make sure we are meeting or exceeding expectations for FCE and our students

2025-01-24 02:41:32 UTC

A user manual written by the student - could be a simple form - but help us get to know them ahead of time - I've seen this done very successfully and it's fun - in corporate settings

2025-01-24 02:42:09 UTC

It would be helpful to have some “tools & templates” for how best to work with students as well as a recommended timeline for application deliverables (have personal statement done by X date, etc)

2025-01-24 02:42:28 UTC

More clarity on what they are doing in other FCE meetings so that we all work in concert in support of the students. I often found out about other meetings, progress and plans after the fact or had to pivot my plan as a result of of these other interactions

2025-01-24 02:43:09 UTC

Consider starting the senior advisory begin in June so that personal statement is done and supplementals are started before the school year begins.

2025-01-24 02:43:56 UTC