Counseling for college admission is crucial for academic success. Predictably, highly selective universities have equally high expectations when it comes to their applicants. Therefore, high school counselors must properly prepare young scholars for the college application process. ScholarPrep Nation is an Afrocentric college access program that aims to demystify the college admission process and empower African-American students.
A 2020 study titled ‘Daily multidimensional racial discrimination among Black U.S. American adolescents’ showcased that Black students are forced to put up with racist actions as much as 5 times a day. Unfortunately, racism takes its toll when it comes to college admissions. It’s time for high school counselors to help African-American students with their college applications and guide them to their dream schools without too much fuss or stress.
In today’s article, we’ll explore the 4 best practices that will improve the efforts of counseling for college admission. Our Afrocentric approach is certain to bring new ideas to your college counseling strategy, so make sure to bookmark this for later!
#1: Make Use of a Proactive High School Counseling Approach
Remember the statistic about racist actions we talked about earlier? Well, the knowledge gaps that African-American students face are not addressed proactively. In their efforts to help students gain admission, most high school counselors end up making use of harsh discipline and punishment methods.
A reactive approach does not solve the knowledge issue. Instead, it affects students seeking admission on both an academic and emotional level. For a change, we encourage college counselors to discover and nurture each student’s unique abilities, innate talents, and passions. When you work with students and not against them, the admissions process becomes a breeze.
Black success stories are not rare, they are simply not an integral part of modern college admission counseling. It’s been shown time and time again that punitive measures cause Black students much harm. Inclusivity takes shape when the young scholar’s college admissions counselor can lead by personal example. Let’s explore whether Black counselors have a say when it comes to college admissions or not.
#2: Promote the Efforts of Black College Admission Counselors
According to ASCA, Black counselors make up a staggering 11% of college counselors in the U.S. In comparison with the 76% of white counselors, we can easily observe a racial discrepancy. Similar to what students of color go through, Black counselors’ efforts are belittled and not taken into consideration.
College applications are usually demystified by Black high school counselors. Through an Afrocentric and culturally responsive college admission approach, we could help our first-gen youth prepare starting with ninth grade.
Thankfully, there are some great examples of inclusive initiatives we could get inspired by. For instance, the Black Student Achievement Plan funded by the Los Angeles Unified School District helped boost admission levels back in 2021. This particular achievement plan convinced school districts to hire around 60 counselors of color.
Representation is vital. Without it, both students and counselors of color will continue to have their voices taken away from them. Afrocentric knowledge is the foundation of Black success. The ongoing celebration of Black history, tradition, and culture empowers children and offers them purpose and motivation. Counseling is not an exception.
#3: Prepare Students for College and Scholarship Applications in a Culturally Inclusive Way
School counselors have implicit bias. This is a known fact that is not often talked about. Black students have different needs in comparison to their white peers. Their families’ incomes can rarely sustain college expenses. In fact, Black students face college debt for the entirety of their lives.
In order for them to stop facing this financial struggle, they will need plenty of help and assistance while preparing their applications. Without any trace of doubt, the children and their families must walk on the path of higher education as early as ninth grade. It’s not enough to make families aware of The Common App. Chances are that they’ve already heard of it. The main priority is helping them understand and kick-start the entire process.
The steps for college and scholarship admission cannot be taken exclusively during the senior year. Admissions officers will immediately notice the lack of extracurricular activities and leadership experience. Properly completed applications require plenty of time and determination. As for financial aid, it’s the kind of topic that requires ongoing research.
Luckily, ScholarPrep Nation is on a mission to prepare African-American students for collegiate success. Here’s how!
#4: Expertly Apply for Colleges and Scholarships With ScholarPrep Nation
Accessing higher education should not be a privilege strictly reserved for the wealthy. Instead, our children should be properly equipped with the knowledge, courage, and resources that will enable them to succeed.
Without expert assistance, the kids and their families will continue to wander through the dark, unaware of the crucial aspects that make up convincing and successful college and scholarship applications.
ScholarPrep Nation is an expert and culturally affirming college access program that leverages tools and resources for post-high school triumph. We take regular college admission counseling efforts to the next level by providing the following:
- Unlimited access to an online, nationwide network
- On-demand Academic Mentorship
- Expert advice from certified educational consultants
- Personalized scholarship search
- Efficient college essay writing prep
- Being paired with an expert coach also referred to as a ScholarPrep Navigator
- Personality assessments
- ACT / SAT prep & tutoring
- Monthly webinars and accountability meetings
- …and so much more!
Get in Touch with ScholarPrep Nation!
We take pride in our Afrocentric approach. After all, it’s what differentiates us from all other college access programs that are currently out right now. Young Black scholars have the power to exceed all expectations and boundaries.
Contact us now and tell us more about your needs. Are you a parent looking to sign up their child into one of our programs? Perhaps you are a school leader looking to engage your Black students? In any case, we are here to answer everyone’s inquiries. Drop us a line!
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