College Bound with BASIS Charter Schools: The Impact of College Counseling

One of the benefits of a BASIS Charter School education lies in your student’s senior year. Through uniquely designed trimesters, they will be preparing for college acceptance, finishing courses and testing. They may also be participating in the BASIS Diploma Senior Project. As a part of their first two trimesters, your senior will attend a daily college counseling class, with guidance coordinators whose sole job is to prepare them for college admittance.

Our college guidance coordinators are in tune with the rapidly-changing college admissions environment. They are a resource to support and encourage your senior during the application process. Through my conversation with Adrienne Fluitt at BASIS Oro Valley, I came to understand the process of college counseling.

Daily College Counseling Goals

• Choose a college
• Understand the different types of applications
• Meet deadlines
• Apply for financial aid
• Apply for scholarships
• Interact and interview with admissions representatives
• Write different types of essays

Your senior has unprecedented access to their college guidance coordinator, and they are able to work with them outside the confines of the classroom. Some, like Ms. Fluitt, even make themselves available on a limited basis during the Winter Break.

Is it a Good Fit?

Your student will also do a deep dive into the more personal aspects of choosing a college. Determining whether a school is a good fit is just as important as declaring a major. The campus they choose will be where they are working, learning, and possibly living for the next four years. Your senior will be advised to consider:

• Their major (if they are going into marine biology, choose schools near an ocean!)
• The size of the campus
• The student population (diversity, culture, activities, student life etc)
• Community (urban, suburban, or rural)
• Proximity to necessities

Staying Focused

Our college guidance coordinators acknowledge the mental strain and stress that can occur during this time, and they are quick to address what can, and cannot, be controlled. Students are generally able to control their:

• Grades
• Essays
• Resume
• Test scores
• Extracurricular activities
• Major
• Interviews with admissions representatives

What they generally cannot control is:

• The competitiveness of the school
• State requirements
• Race, income, and their location
• Family educational background
• Gender identity
• The bias of the admissions department

Our college guidance coordinators vehemently stress that college acceptance is not a measure of self-worth! The goal through counseling is to discover what your student wants out of their college education and experience.

Every student deserves to have the best possible college counseling experience. If your student takes classes at another school, download this guide on how to get the most out of their sessions.

BASIS Charter Schools are here to support every student on their educational journey.