School Counselors’ Role in College Readiness

College readiness is a popular term these days in education. As school counselors, we know that we provide services to foster student development in the career, academic and social/emotional domains as part of a comprehensive school counseling program. But how do we facilitate college readiness?

Before we dive into this question, let’s first set some things straight to make sure we’re all on the same page. When the term “college” is used, it doesn’t just include four-year colleges and universities, but also encompasses two-year colleges, technical institutions, apprenticeships, military, etc. Basically, any postsecondary training that may earn someone a credential – such as a license, certificate, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, etc. – may be considered as part of the term “college.” 

The South Dakota Department of Education aspires to prepare South Dakota students for success so that all students graduate high school being college, career and life ready.  That means that no matter what the student plans to do after high school, it’s important that students are set up to meet their goals and be successful post-high school.

Now we come back to the beginning question, “How do we facilitate college readiness?” Through all grade levels, K–12, school counselors work with all students as part of a comprehensive school counseling program. Working with students to be successfully academically and social/emotionally is one way to assist them in college readiness. For example, helping students learn test-taking strategies or how to use positive affirmations to feel calm and confident before taking an exam are ways to foster college readiness. Working with students in career development also aligns to college readiness. For example, if a student has an interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics career cluster, exploring careers within it, programs of study and postsecondary institutions that offer them is another form of working towards college readiness.

In all, college readiness is an overarching goal aligning to the career, academic and social/emotional school counseling domains. Facilitating college readiness comes in many shapes and forms but ultimately helps students be prepared for postsecondary education. School counselors play a large role in fostering development in college readiness. 

Andrea Diehm is the South Dakota Department of Education liaison on the SDSCA board.