Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

College Enrollment and Success Toolbox

Shayna Pond | Published: October 17th, 2024 by K20 Center

Summary

This collection equips students, especially first-generation high school seniors, with knowledge to successfully navigate the college enrollment process. It offers activities that simplify the often-confusing tasks of completing admissions applications, financial aid forms, course registration, and applying for scholarships. By addressing these common barriers, students are better prepared to transition into college life. Additionally, the toolbox provides engaging experiences that empower students to recognize and build key skills—such as organization, self-regulation, time management, and effective study habits—necessary for thriving in the more rigorous and self-directed college environment. These activities help students identify their capabilities and develop confidence that they have what it takes to succeed on their college journey.

Resources

Through small-group activities, research, and discussion, students will be exposed to a variety of careers, along with their average salaries, educational institutions, and postsecondary requirements. Students will learn about a variety of jobs in eight career clusters and the educational institutions'... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Campus Visits, Students, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • College & Career Interest, Post-Secondary and Workforce Goals

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Choosing a Career, Benefits of Higher Education, Degrees, Professions, & Earnings, Private Economic Benefits, College Admissions Procedures, College Admissions, College Visits, Finding a Good Fit, Required Courses, College Expenses, Books and Supplies, Room, Board, and Travel, Tuition and Fees, Paying for College, Eligibility, FAFSA, Grants, Scholarships and Loans, Oklahoma's Promise
More
Time Frame 60 minutes
Life Is a Highway

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Just like in the board game, "Game of Life," in real life, getting to where you want to be may require you make a few pit stops along the way. Making important life decisions like what career you want, what colleges, technical schools, or certification programs are necessary to help you achieve those... Read more »

Educator Resource

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • College & Career Interest

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Choosing a Career, College Expenses
More
Time Frame

This professional learning session looks at K20's CAN DO resources. CAN DO stands for College Application Necessities for Different Opportunities. At the beginning of this session, participants will review common college vocabulary and application data. They will then explore the different resources... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 1st Nine Weeks, 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks, Summer Session

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture
More
Time Frame 60 minutes
College Admissions, Part 1

10th Grade Pre-Campus Visit Learning Activity

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

This lesson places students in the role of a college admissions officer in order to help them better understand admissions requirements, the admissions process, and how to fill out a good college application. Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
College Admissions, Part 1

10th Grade Pre-Campus Visit Learning Activity

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • Financial Literacy, Social Studies

Course Course

  • Personal Financial Literacy

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • PFL.1.1
More 50 minutes
Time Frame 1-2 class period(s)
College Admissions, Part 2

10th Grade Post-Campus Visit Learning Activity

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

After students have participated in the campus visit, you may want to follow up the lesson with a short activity that personalizes the experience. Read more »

Lesson 5E Lesson
College Admissions, Part 2

10th Grade Post-Campus Visit Learning Activity

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - 12th

Subject Subject

  • Financial Literacy, Social Studies

Course Course

  • Personal Financial Literacy

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • PFL.1.1
More 40 minutes
Time Frame 1- class period(s)

This educator resource helps teachers facilitate a classroom discussion about scholarship myths. Students will complete a K-W-L chart to state what they already know and want to know about scholarships. Afterward, students will research scholarships they qualify for using the Web Inquiry strategy. Students... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 1st Nine Weeks, 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Paying for College, Grants, Scholarships and Loans
More
Time Frame 60-90 minutes

In this session, students will learn the importance of the FAFSA and important information about filling out the FAFSA. Students will brainstorm ways to pay for college. Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Medium Group (at least 10), Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Analyze, College-Going Culture, Critical Thinking, Interpret, Recognize

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • Paying for College, Eligibility, FAFSA, Grants, Scholarships and Loans
More
Time Frame 2 periods

Students engage in activities that explore the characteristics of good college admission/scholarship essays. Then, using the generated list, they create a personal outline for a college admissions essay. Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Campus Visits, Students
More
Time Frame 60-120 session(s)

This resource gives students real-world content knowledge and information needed to be successful when navigating the interview process. These activities will prepare students to make a good first impression and to answer interview questions, regardless of the desired goal (applying for a job or trying... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Students

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Small Group, Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, College-Going Culture, Critical Thinking, Organize, Persuade, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • Post-Secondary and Workforce Goals
More
Time Frame Two 45–50 minute class periods

In this lesson, students will explore the history and societal impact of fraternities and sororities. Students will explore new vocabulary and read about the history behind multicultural Greek organizations. They will then watch interviews with members of Greek organizations who share their personal... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, Campus Visits, Students, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 1st Nine Weeks, 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks, Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group, Small Group (at least 4), Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • College & Career Interest

Tag Family Engagement

  • Collaborating with Community, Decision-Making, School Environment

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • College Visits, Extracurricular Activities, Finding a Good Fit
More
Time Frame 1–2 days

This collection of lessons provides students with resources to explore Minority-Serving Institutions. Through it, students will learn the history, culture, and importance of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, All Staff or Teachers, Campus Visits, New Teachers, PLC, Parents, Students, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 1st Nine Weeks, 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks, Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time, Pre-Service Training, Summer Session

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group, Small Group (at least 4), Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Active Engagement, Aligning with Other Programs, Analyze, Annotating Text, Brainstorming, Collaborate, College-Going Culture, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Cross-Curricular, Identify, Organize, Persuade, Present, Problem Solving, Reason, Recognize, Reflection, Research, Review, Speak & Listen, Student Choice, Summarize

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • College & Career Interest, Post-Secondary and Workforce Goals

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • College Admissions Procedures, College Admissions, College Visits, Extracurricular Activities, Finding a Good Fit, Required Courses, College Expenses, Effort Costs, Tuition and Fees, Paying for College, Grants, Scholarships and Loans

Tag Family Engagement

  • Communication, Decision-Making, School Environment, Supporting Student Success
More
Time Frame
Concurrent Enrollment Tool Kit

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

This collection of discussion guides is designed to help mentors facilitate conversations that support the success of concurrent enrollment students as they progress through the semester. Each discussion guide covers a weekly topic and provides guidance for students throughout the concurrent course.... Read more »

Lesson Collection

Tag Target Audience

  • Other Stakeholders, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Small Group

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • 10 - 20 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • College-Going Culture, Conversation Starter

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 10th - 12th

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • Academic Progress

Tag Family Engagement

  • Supporting Student Success
More
Time Frame
Club Curriculum

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - Secondary

This collection of club activities provides teachers and facilitators of school clubs with resources for helping students to practice academic skills within the club context. These activities will enhance students' skills in areas such as self-regulation, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical... Read more »

Lesson Collection

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, Other Stakeholders, PLC, Parents, Students, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • 1st Nine Weeks, 2nd Nine Weeks, 3rd Nine Weeks, 4th Nine-Weeks, Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time, Pre-Service Training, Summer Session

User Group Group Size

  • Individual, Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group, Small Group (at least 4), Whole Class

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Aligning with Other Programs, Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, College-Going Culture, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Cross-Curricular, Evaluate, Identify, Organize, Persuade, Physical Movement, Present, Problem Solving, Reason, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Research, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Student Choice, Summarize, Synthesize, Writing, Writing Across Curriculum

Grade Level Grade Level

  • 9th - Secondary

Tag ICAP (Individual Career Academic Planning)

  • Academic Progress

Tag College & Career Readiness Framework

  • College Admissions Procedures, Extracurricular Activities

Tag Family Engagement

  • Communication, Decision-Making, School Environment, Supporting Student Success

Tag Related

  • Argument Writing, Communication, Informative Writing
More
Time Frame

Standards

Oklahoma Academic Standards (Personal Financial Literacy (7th through 12th grade))
PFL.1.1: Using decision-making models, evaluate how career choices, educational/vocational preparation, skills, and entrepreneurship affect income and standard of living (e.g., postsecondary degree/ certification, needs versus wants, and the ability to live on less than you earn).

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