College Planning Cohort Registration

$499.95

Our 9-month cohort program provides an extraordinary opportunity for any student to achieve great college and scholarship outcomes. Our 10-part college planning system will help any student to become the most competitive college and scholarship applicant possible. While not every student aspires to be offered admission to the most competitive colleges or awarded the most competitive scholarships, every student can benefit by avoiding student loan debt and finding the best college match for their educational and career aspirations.
 
Components: Online curriculum containing 9 monthly modules (one for each month of the school year); lessons designed to provide insight into specific actions to be taken during each month of the school year; monthly large group presentations and small group discussions to guide students in creating a step-by-step college-bound plan; guest speakers (admissions officers, parent panels, and student panels) providing insight into the “hidden rules” of college admissions and financial aid. Meetings are scheduled on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am – Noon from September through May.
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Description

Full Scholarship Pathways

In the above video, Kristen Starks, a participant in our 2018 Guilford County Schools Cohort (who has since graduated from the University of Richmond with a BS in Biology and is now attending graduate school at Duke University), is being celebrated at her church, with her father and mother, Sr. Pastor, Bishop Adrian Starks, and Pastor, Shandi Starks, of World Victory International Church, Greensboro, NC.

Kristen participated in our program as a high school junior and senior. She was offered over $2.4 million in scholarships, including full scholarships to Tuskegee University, the University of Richmond, and Wake Forest University. She was also offered generous scholarships to Duke University; Swarthmore College; and Williams College and was a finalist for the Tom Joyner Full Ride Scholarship prior to withdrawing her application. Kristen accepted the full scholarship, as a Richmond Scholar, to the University of Richmond. Both of Kristen’s younger siblings participated in our program as well. Sydney was awarded a full scholarship to Bowdoin College and Karmen was awarded a partial scholarship to the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

You can learn more about our cohort program and what makes our program different from other programs on our FAQs webpage.

Our 2023-24 Cohorts

Our 2023-24 Cohorts are all-virtual from September 1 through May 30.

30 Days to Complete Each Module: With the exception of September, students have a month to complete each monthly module at their own pace. Students have 24/7 access to our online curriculum, where they are provided with all of the required resources to complete the monthly units (i.e., digital copies of any required reading; links to websites; examples of student work; links to required documents; videos; and step-by-step instructions).

Monthly Meetings: On the second Saturday of each month, from 10:00 am – Noon, all registered students and parents may attend our all-virtual monthly meetings. Following is the format of the monthly meetings:

  • 10:00 am – 10:45 am: Overview and presentation by Mr. Wynn, guest speakers, student panels, or parent panels.
  • 10:45 am – Noon: Small group discussions, of students by grade level, facilitated by a discussion group leader (typically a college intern); and a parent discussion, facilitated by Mr. Wynn for parents participating in our parent cohort program. Discussion groups are pre-assigned. To qualify to participate in a discussion group, students must complete the monthly module at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions to this policy as we must assign our discussion group leaders well in advance.

The My Plan Document: The way that we are able to provide high quality college planning guidance at a low cost is that students must accept responsibility for completing the college planning modules.

Each of our monthly modules concludes with the question, “What has become clearer to you?” Parents are encouraged to discuss what their student is learning as their college knowledge will significantly expand as they complete each monthly module. All work for the entire school year is reflected in the student’s ‘My Plan’ document, which contains narrative writing, college and scholarship research, and each of the actions that students are guided in taking through our on-line curriculum.

Mid-year Assessment

Students who complete the September through December Modules may request a complimentary mid-year assessment. During the assessment, we will provide our input into the student’s ‘My Plan’ document; planned course schedule; leadership; and community service and overall progression in the college planning process.

Parents who would like more hands-on guidance for their student should register their student for our one-on-one program.

11th Grade Curriculum: Our 11th grade curriculum is designed to operationalize information presented in our 9th and 10th grade curriculum in a manner consistent with the 9-month timeline for high school juniors in finalizing their college application and scholarship plans:

  1. September: Setting school-year goals across each of the areas to be reflected in the Common Application (i.e., coursework, grades, test scores, leadership, service, gifts and talents, and honors and awards)
  2. October: Finalizing the action plan for the gifts and talents to be presented in your college and scholarship applications
  3. November: Identifying the community impact that you will have as a reflection of your gifts, talents, personality, and interest profile
  4. December: Identifying your ‘Brand’ and researching summer and pre-college programs
  5. January: Mid-year Assessment
  6. February: Identifying colleges and programs aligned with your gifts, talents, personality, and interests
  7. March: Identifying institutional and private scholarships to which you are well matched
  8. April: Finalizing your college application and scholarship plan
  9. May: Year-end Assessment and Teacher Recommendations

Each of the monthly modules are designed within the context of our college planning system. As high school juniors complete the units contained within each module, their college and scholarship plan takes shape. Following is an example of the merit scholarship slide developed by a high school junior. The scholarships were identified through extensive research and are reflective of the body or work developed by the student through the thoughtful and deliberate process of researching colleges, scholarships, and setting goals.

9th – 10th Grade Curriculum: Our 9th – 10th grade curriculum is designed to expand students’ self-awareness and to guide students through a yearlong process of self-reflection, self-assessment, self-development, and goal setting:

  1. September: Developing grit and a growth mindset by setting school-year goals across the areas of academics, leadership, service, gifts and talents, and honors and awards
  2. October: Developing an action plan for maximizing your gifts and talents
  3. November: Identifying the colleges and careers aligned with your gifts, talents, personality, and interests
  4. December: Identifying summer, pre-college, and enrichment programs aligned with your gifts, talents, personality, and interests
  5. January: Mid-year Assessment
  6. February: Researching Colleges and Programs: Part I
  7. March: Researching Colleges and Programs: Part I
  8. April: Researching Private and Institutional Scholarships
  9. May: Year-end Assessment

In a manner similar to the curriculum for high school juniors, each of the monthly modules are designed within the context of our college planning system. As high school freshmen and sophomores complete the units contained within each module, they expand their understanding of the competitiveness in college admissions and the competition for being awarded major scholarships. Through this process, students are guided in setting goals consistent with their desired college and scholarship outcomes.

As a result of the year-by-year actions through which students are guided, students are intentional in developing the body or work needed to become the most competitive college and scholarship applicant possible. The vast array of college information to which students are exposed can result in a deeper understanding of the multitude of college options beyond what is taught in the AVID curriculum or presented to students through their high school counselors.

The following slides, developed by an 8th grader, provide insight into the depth of our curriculum and level of student engagement as students are guided in aligning college and career aspirations with their gifts, talents, personality, and interests. 

A National Model

College Planning Cohorts (TM) is our national model. Developed by author, parent, and educational consultant, Mychal Wynn, for assisting students and families in ‘Owning’ the college planning process. Mr. Wynn draws from the latest student achievement and college access research, experiences of our students who are attending an array of colleges and universities, and conversations with college admissions and financial aid officers, to develop a comprehensive college-planning curriculum. 

Considering that SAT/ACT Prep programs and private college advisers can cost well over $2,000 for a few days or hours of support, our program is affordable for most families at $499.95. However, “Owning” the process requires that students engage in the yearlong set of college planning activities provided in our on-line curriculum. Monthly activities are sequenced throughout the school year. Students develop their profile, create an academic résumé, review their course schedule, set goals, identify their gifts and talents, and engage in self-reflection, as they are guided through a comprehensive process making themselves competitive candidates for being offered admission to top colleges and qualifying for top scholarships.

Note: Please review our Terms and Conditions prior to purchasing your registration.

 

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