Title of the Lesson: How to Build a College List

Grade Level: 10 12th Grade

Duration: 45 minutes
Co-Leader: 10-12th School Counselors & Teachers
Learning Objective: The objective is to successfully perform a college search,
research colleges and to build a tentative college lists to apply in the future.
Through the lesson, students will be able to independently search for schools of
their interest and fit.
ASCA/NYSSCA National Standards and Competencies
Academic Development
Standard A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that
contribute to
effective learning in school and across the life
span.
Competencies: A: A1 Improve Academic Self-Concept
A: A1.2 Display a positive interest in learning
A: A1.5 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful
learning
Competencies: A: A2 Acquire skills for Improving Learning
A: A2.1 Apply time-management and task-management skills
Competencies: A: A3 Achieve School Success
A: A3.1 Take responsibility for their actions
A: A3.2 Demonstrate the ability to work independently, as well
as the ability to
work cooperatively with other students
A: A3.3 Develop a broad range of interests and abilities
A: A3.4 Demonstrate dependability, productivity and initiative
Standard B: Students will complete school with the academic preparation
essential to choose from a wide range of substantial post-secondary
options, including college.
Competencies: A: B1 Improve learning
A: B1.1 Demonstrate the motivation to achieve individual
potential
A: B1.4 Seek information and support from faculty, staff, family
and peers
A: B1.5 Organize and apply academic information from a variety
of sources
A: B1.6 Use knowledge of learning styles to positively influence
school
performance
A: B1.7 Become a self-directed and independent learner
Competencies: A: B2 Plan to Achieve Goals
A: B2.4 Apply knowledge of aptitudes and interests to goal

setting
performance and
achievement

A: B2.6 Understand the relationship between classroom

success in school
A: B2.7 Identify post-secondary options consistent with interests,
aptitude and abilities

Standard C: Students will understand the relationship of academics to the

world of work and to life at home and in the community.
Competencies: A: C1 Relate School to Life Experiences
A: C1.6 Understand how school success and academic
achievement
enhance future career and vocational
opportunities
Career Development
Standard A: Students will acquire the skills to investigate the world of
work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career
decisions
Competencies: C: A1 Develop Career Awareness
C: A1.1 Develop skills to locate, evaluate and interpret career
information
C: A1.5 Learn to make decisions
C: A1.6 Learn how to set goals
C: A1.7 Understand the importance of planning
Competencies: C: B1 Acquire career information
C: B1.1 Apply decision-making skills to career planning, course
selection
and career transition
C: B1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of the career-planning process
C: B1.5 Use research and information
resources to obtain career information
C: B1.6 Learn to use the
Internet to access career-planning information
Competencies: C:B2 Identify Career Goals
C:B2.1 Demonstrate awareness of the education
and training needed to achieve
career goals
C:B2.2 Assess and modify their
educational plan to support career
C:B2.5 Maintain a
career-planning portfolio
Personal/Social Development
Standard B: Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary
action to achieve goals.
Competencies: PS: B1 Self-knowledge Application
PS: B1.11 Use persistence and perseverance in acquiring
knowledge and skills
PS: B1.12 Develop an action plan to
set and achieve realistic goals

New York State Learning Standards

English Language Arts
Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will
listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners
and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover
relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated
from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers,
they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions
of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Science
Standard 3: Resource Management
Students will understand and be able to manage their personal and
community resources

Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

Standard 2: Information Systems

Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using
appropriate technologies.
Standard 5: Technology
Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct,
use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental
needs.
NOSCA Standards
1. College Aspirations. Goal: Build a college going culture based on early
college awareness by nurturing in students the confidence to aspire to
college and the resilience to overcome challenges along the way. Maintain
high expectations by providing adequate supports, building social capital
and conveying the conviction that all students can succeed in college.
2. Academic Planning for college and Career Readiness. Goal: Advance
students planning, preparation, participation and performance in a
rigorous academic program that connects to their college and career
aspirations and goals.
3. -4. College and Career exploration and Selection Processes. Goal: Provide
early and ongoing exposure to experiences and information necessary to
make informed decisions when selecting a college or career that connects
to academic preparation and future aspirations.

5. College and Career Assessments. Goal: Promote preparation, participation

and performance in college and career assessments by all students
6. College Affordability Planning. Goal: Provide students and families with
comprehensive information about college costs, options for paying for
college, and the financial aid and scholarship processes and eligibility
requirements, so they are able to plan for and afford a college education
7. College and Career Admission Processes. Goal: Ensure that students and
families have an early and ongoing understanding of the college and
career application and admission processes so they can find the postsecondary options that are the best fir with their aspirations and interest.
8. Transition from high School Graduation to College Enrollment. Goal:
Connect students to school and community resources to help the students
overcome barriers and ensure the successful transition from high school to
college.
Materials:
Computers with internet access
Access to this URL: http://bigfuture.org/college-search
Projector to screen directions
Handout 1 Tentative College list & information
Accommodation: Students with visual impairments.
In order to ensure maximum retention of the lesson, each student must be able to
see the directions from the projector very clearly. For students with visual
impairments who do not wear corrective lenses, the counselor must arrange
appropriate seating changes so that students who are near-sighted or far-sighted
are in a seat where their needs are met. Additionally, when the counselor uses the
projector, the classroom lights should be dimmed or shut off in order for the light
from the screen projector to be at its brightest. The graphics and text on the
projector screen should also be very clear and large enough so that everyone,
regardless of visual strength. The computer font sizes and lighting must be
appropriate set for students to clearly see and follow through.
Introduction (5 minutes):
Before the lesson officially starts, have all students either create a log in or
sign in with an existing account the website above and distribute Handout 1
(see attached). Then the counselors will initiate classroom discussion topics
of their choice (choose one) 1. Have students describe what they picture
when they picture a college, and how that can become college search
criteria. 2. Discuss students experience with collegesfor example, if
theyve visited one on their own, or a friend or relative at college. 3.
Encourage students to share information they foundfor example, if
something surprised or interested them about a particular college.

Activity (20 minutes):

The counselor will begin by giving students instructions on how to build a
college list by following steps How-to-Build-a-College-List-Guide (see
attached). As the counselor gives an instruction, students are to follow
through each step. Once theyve gone through all the steps, students are to
work independently and complete the Handout 1.
Conclusion (5 10 minutes):
Counselors will ask for volunteers or pick at random for students to share
what they have completed and learned through their independent work.
Students are encouraged to keep the Handout 1 and begin their college
search and application process.
Assessment/Evaluation:
If students were able to complete the college list handout, (handout 1) we
can conclude that the learning objectives have met. Since the lesson requires
independent work after a thorough walk through of the guide, completion of
the handout would conclude successful effectiveness of the lesson.
Follow-Up: The subsequent lesson should be based on their completed Handout 1
from this lesson. From there, counselors will discuss FAFSA, grants, scholarships and
other financial aid information that are necessary for paying for colleges.

Handout 1: College List

Name: _________________________________________________ Grade:
________________________
Intended Major:
_______________________________________________________________________
College Interest
College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________
Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________

College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________
Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________

College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________

Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________
Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________

College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________

Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________

College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________
Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________
College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________

Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________
Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________

College Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Location:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Interested Major:
______________________________________________________________________
Public / Private:
_______________________________________________________________________
Tuition:
______________________________________________________________________________
ACT / SAT Requirements: ___________________ /
___________________________________________
High School Average Requirements:
_______________________________________________________

Other necessary documents for freshman applicants:

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Interesting facts about the school:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you/intend to meet the requirements?
__________________________________________________