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High school can be stressful. That’s why we help you reach your full potential in a kind and supportive environment.
And we’ll work with you to suit your style and schedule as we work towards your undergraduate admission.

From High School to College: Skills Program For Graduating Seniors

Moving from high school to college marks an exciting time in the life of a young adult. It is also a significant change that requires students to be more independent as they navigate a new environment with different policies and expectations than those of high school. By working on skills in the spring and summer before students leave for college, they are more likely to know what to expect once they arrive on campus and be prepared for the rigors of college. Our support can continue through the first semester or first year of college.

This program is ideal for any student who wants to position themselves for academic success during their freshman year.  We offer a separate track with an additional session for neurodiverse students and those with ADHD and/or learning differences (see session 7). The program is tailored to the student’s needs and to the college to which they are matriculating. 

 

*Sessions are 60 minutes long.

Session 1: Are you ready for college: The College Readiness Interview.

Goal: assess student’s strengths, weaknesses, and executive functioning skills to establish goals for the summer to ease college entrance.

  • Participate in the college readiness interview.
  • Discuss goals and how to accomplish them

 

Session 2: Executive Functioning Skills: The Must Haves.

Goal: Explore and personalize the necessary skills needed in the post-secondary environment.

  • Time management: 
    • Academic calendars (paper vs. electronic)
    • Organizations of monthly/weekly/daily agenda
    • Organization of email(s)
    • Staying on top of due dates (assignments, projects, exams) 
  • Note taking skills:
    • Review strategies of note taking
    • Explore note taking technology 
    • If applicable: Is note taking accommodation possible and/or necessary? 
  • Study Skills:
    • Study smarter not harder – explore effective study strategies
    • Create useful study guides 

 

Session 3: The unwritten rules: what you need to know as an incoming freshman.     

Goal: Be prepared for what is expected of you in your first semester.

  • Demystify a current syllabus:
  • Overview of course expectations: 
    • Attendance policies, grading rubric,  participation requirements, major assignments & due dates, required materials, group projects, midterms / final exam expectations, etc
  • Discuss importance of office hours (professor and / or TA)

 

Session 4: The unwritten rules: what you need to know as an incoming freshman.     

Goal: Be prepared for what is expected of you in your first semester.

  • Navigate the college learning management system (Canvas/Blackboard)
  • Review etiquette of emails to professors

 

Session 5: Course Selection: Do I Have a Choice?

Goal: Start out freshman year with a balanced and manageable schedule.

  • Explore course selections:
    • Understand course load and expectations 
    • What a balanced schedule looks like.
    • Explore introductory courses
    • Electives versus core requirements
  • If applicable: 
    • Explore introductory courses that focus on transitioning to the college environment
    • Importance of spacing out courses
    • Is underloading (reduced course load) an option? 

 

Session 6:  Explore available resources on campus

Goal: Understand the type of resources readily available for students on campus.

  • Tutoring / Academic Coaching Options 
  • Counseling resources
  • Health and Wellness 
  • Academic Advising 
  • Career Center
  • Recreational/Fitness Center 
  • Clubs and organizations 

 

Session 6:  Documentation guidelines and process–understanding reasonable accommodations (for neurodiverse students and those with ADHD and learning differences):

Part 1: Parents are welcome to join

Goal: Understand what accommodations the student will likely receive in college and how to access them.

  • Review documentation guidelines and process of soon-to-be-attended university.
  • Discuss reasonable college accommodations based on current evaluation and history of services.

Part 2: Student only

Goal: Understand the language of evaluation to effectively self-advocate. 

  • Review language of evaluation – questions, confusions, concerns.
  • Review the interactive process of your college’s disability/accessibility services office.
  • Practice interview skills to express learning needs during the accommodation process.

 

Session 7:  Explore available resources on campus (for neurodiverse students and those with ADHD and learning differences)

Goal: Understand the type of resources readily available for students on campus.

  • Tutoring / Academic Coaching Options 
  • Counseling resources
  • Health and Wellness 
  • Academic Advising 
  • Career Center
  • Recreational/Fitness Center 
  • Clubs and organizations 

 

Fee: $2,400 includes 6 sessions, materials, and consulting time to individualize the program to the student’s profile and to the college to which they are matriculating.

Fee: $2,700 includes 7 sessions, materials, review of educational testing and IEP/504, as well as consulting time to individualize the program to the student’s profile and to the college to which they are matriculating (for neurodiverse students, and those with ADHD and LD).

 

Follow-up meetings during freshman year to help the student navigate questions about their college transition, academic support, and how to tap into campus resources.

Fee: $250 per week includes a one-hour meeting and response to emails from the student. 

 

For more information schedule a complimentary 15-minute meeting with Ildi Szekeley to learn more.

(617) 734-3700
1678 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02445
info@educationaladvocates.com

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