The goal of this first training module is to introduce you to ScholarMatch, the basics of our Destination College Program, your role as a College Coach, and the amazing volunteer community of fellow coaches you’ll be joining. At the end of the training module, you will be asked to complete a short mastery assignment. 

To understand how to complete these modules, please click here for a short video tutorial.

1. About us

   Founded in 2010 by author Dave Eggers, ScholarMatch began as a San Francisco-based crowdfunding platform for secondary school scholarships. In the process of administering student scholarships, it became apparent that our demographic of students needed a support system to help them get to graduation and into a career. To meet this need, in 2011 ScholarMatch rapidly transformed into a full-service college access organization and now serves students nationwide at every point of the college journey.

   For an overview of ScholarMatch’s mission, story, and programs, please begin by thoroughly reviewing these slides.

2. The Destination College Program

   Destination College is the overarching name for our high school programming, which provides free college application assistance and advising to students around the country through our dynamic virtual advising program.

3. Our Volunteer Community and Your Role

   By volunteering with ScholarMatch, you’re not only impacting students’ lives, but also joining an amazing network of individuals who are passionate about education equity.

   To read an introduction to your role as a College Coach and get a sense of the volunteer community you will be joining, please review these slides.

The goal of this training module is to help College Coaches better understand the student population that ScholarMatch serves and the barriers and strengths our students navigate as they work to gain access to college. In this module, you will be asked to view three resources and submit responses by following the “Complete This Module” button. 

1. Who are our Destination College students?

   We support underserved student populations by providing the resources and tools needed to gain access to college. Our ultimate goal is to help students find their best college match based on their academic profile and social fit. We encourage our students to consider all available college options. Here is a comprehensive demographic breakdown of our students.

   For more resources on how to better support and understand our students and their intersecting identities, see the “Additional Readings” section below.

2. College Access Barriers for Underserved Student Populations

   Now that you have spent some time getting to know our students, please review some of the current barriers they may face in accessing higher education. Explore the resources listed below to better understand why your role supporting our students is pivotal. As you review each article, be prepared to answer these guiding questions:

   a. What are some barriers underserved students face in applying to college?
   b. What assumptions or beliefs (whether real or perceived) might prevent you from encouraging some students to consider all types of colleges?

   – Dr. Andrew Moe on College Access for Rural Students, Podcast, 1 minute
   – Our Separate & Unequal Public Colleges, YouTube, 1 minute
   – The Struggle to Be First: First-Gen Students May Be Torn Between College and Home, Article, 3-4 min read
   – How the pandemic highlights racial disparities in higher education, YouTube, 7 minutes

   Please note: These resources do not aim to provide a comprehensive view of all barriers within the college access landscape, but are instead aimed to empower you to become a well-informed volunteer, aligned with ScholarMatch’s Destination College program goals and the needs of the students we serve.

3. What is our advising approach with underserved student populations?

   The goal of the Destination College program is to help students get into college based on their best college match and fit. In order to accomplish these goals, we believe it is important to define our framework in advising underserved student populations. If you prefer to read the content, please click here.

4. How can you use this information to shape your coaching?

   We encourage coaches to consider the ways in which your students’ identities, experiences, and needs could shape your communications and coaching style. How can you incorporate an equity-minded, student-centered framework into your work with students?

   ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL READINGS: 

   – Addressing White Privilege in Higher Education
   – College students should take mandatory course on black history, white privilege
   – College Experience Guide for LGBTQ+ Students
   – Neurodiversity in the College Setting

The goal of this training module is to help College Coaches strengthen their college type landscape comprehension and terminology. You’ll learn research strategies to best assist students in building a balanced college list. At the end of this training, you will be asked to complete your own college research using the tools and resources outlined below.

1. 1. College Terminology and Landscape

      Applying to college can be confusing, as there’s a plethora of information that students need to know, including the different types of colleges they can apply for, what certain college terms mean, and more. Your college knowledge will be crucial in helping students consider the many college options available to them. To review the terms in a different format click here.

   2. College Research Process and Activity

      Though there are many sites that can help students build a college list, we encourage coaches to use BigFuture, College Navigator, College Scorecard , and the ScholarMatcher to practice how to search for different colleges and data. These sites are just a sample of many that exist and can aid you in researching colleges with students. Please check out this 5-minute video tutorial on how to use ScholarMatcher and BigFuture.

      Now it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! The following activity is meant to replicate the college research process that our students experience. You will be using the College Research Worksheet to complete this assignment and will later be asked to share your answers in the Mastery Assignment below, “How to Complete this Module.”

Need help? For tips on how to download files click on this short video. If you are pretty tech-savvy and familiar with downloading, editing, and uploading as a PDF document, you can skip this step. Otherwise, please view this video first, to learn how to use the websites and download the College Research Worksheet.

The goal of this training module is to understand the importance and key criteria that make a balanced college list and learn strategies that you can implement to support your student. At the end of this module, you will be asked to complete a short mastery assignment, which includes providing feedback on a sample college list.

1. 1. Building a College List

      Review these slides to better understand why it’s important for students to build a balanced college list and how to support them during this process.

   2. College List Building Resources

      We’ve compiled a list of resources researched by our staff and shared by previous coaches that can help you and your student build a college list. From various college search tools to resources for undocumented students, these resources are a great way to jumpstart the college search process.

   3. College Spotlight

      This document is a good starting point when providing suggestions or recommendations to your students’ college list. It outlines very specific school characteristics, majors, and interests.

   4. Sample College List Activity

      This is your opportunity to practice what you’ve learned so far. In this sample College List Activity, you’re tasked with reviewing two student profiles and providing feedback on their college lists. Your goal is to ensure that each student has a balanced college list that includes reach, target, and likely schools. Good luck!

The goal of this training module is to understand the best practices for reviewing personal statements with students. At the end of this module, you will be asked to identify areas of growth when providing feedback on a student’s personal statement. You will review two examples of feedback provided by coaches to identify what went well and what could have been improved.

The personal statement is your students’ opportunity to offer a compelling glimpse of their character that goes beyond test scores and grades. Remember that your role is not only to edit essays for flow and accuracy but, perhaps more importantly, to encourage your students to recognize and articulate their strengths with confidence. This is your students’ opportunity to expand their application and give admissions counselors a deeper understanding of who they are.

Learn firsthand about the nuances of the personal statement from admissions officers in this video. 

1. Guidelines For Editing

   When editing and revising your students’ work, you’ll likely have some questions on the best practices and approach. Read this document to review some useful Do’s and Don’ts.

2. How To Provide Feedback

   As the school year picks up, you may find that communication with your student will become inconsistent via phone or video chat, which is why providing thorough, encouraging, and focused feedback on their personal statement via direct document edits is essential in virtual advising. You’ll likely edit their personal statement directly on a Word document and send it back with your revisions (you’ll probably repeat this process 2-3 times before finalizing all edits).

   As you work through the personal statement with your students, remember that a good essay can boost an application that might not otherwise stand out in a field of highly qualified and competitive applicants. Read this document to review tips and strategies on how to provide feedback.

    

   How to complete this module:

   To complete this training module, please complete the following assignment using the tips and recommendations you just learned above:

   1. Please review Essay A and Essay B
   2. After reviewing both essays, complete the Mastery Assignment below