College Prep 0-Period:
Creating the Emotional and
Physical Structure Seniors Need
Timm DiStefano, M.Ed.
First of all, thank you
• So many interesting workshops here
• Realize afterwards, I had the shortest title
• Am excited to be your first presentation
Objectives
• Highlight strategies I’ve used/developed over
the past 6 years working with seniors
• Emphasize the importance of creating
emotional/ physical structures for students
• Highlight the results of my College Prep class
Introductions
• I’ll get to who I am in a bit…
• So much knowledge and expertise in the room
• First of all, who are you?
– Your name
– Your current position?
– Your passion?
– Why you decided this workshop?
Want to share my story…
• Our background/history heavily influences
how we work with students
About me
• Grew up in South Jersey
– Generational poverty
• Attended 13 different schools between K-12
• We used to lie about our address to try to attend better
schools
– I would walk two miles from Clayton to Franklinville every
morning to stand in front of someone else’s house to get the
bus
• First generation college student
– Dad graduated HS; Mom did not (Dropped out at 16)
• Parents divorced when I was 2:
– Lived with Dad 2-14 and Mom 14-18
• Both parents used drugs; Mother was an alcoholic until I
was in college; Alcoholic Step-Dad
• Statistically, I should not be here today (ACEs= 8/10)
Atlantic City High School, NJ
My High School Experience
• Went to Atlantic City High School
– 2500 students (1,000- 9th grade; 300- 12th grade)
– Only met a school counselor once: field trip to
Rutgers University
• Did not complete FAFSA until the summer
• Never completed a single scholarship
application
• Went to college to escape my situation
More about me
• Never took an AP class
• Didn’t select my high school classes to match
any college’s minimum requirements
• Showed up to an SAT test- didn’t study
• Started getting brochures in the mail from
colleges
– Remember filling out the paper applications on
my bedroom floor with a pen
• Looking back, I was very lucky that somehow I
fit what colleges wanted- was not intentional
Get to know you a little more.
Stand up if…
• You went to college immediately after high school
• You completed FAFSA January of senior year
• If you applied for at least 1 scholarship
– Stay standing if 5, 10, etc. The most?
• If the first college you attended was a good fit
• For those that stood up, what kind of help did
you have throughout the process?
• For those that did not stand up, did you have help
or not? Or, are you like me and refuse to stand up
when someone tells you to?
How I chose college
• Chose my college because of a picture (next slide)
• Small private university 500 miles from home
(Had 1,000 less students than H.S.)
– Doesn’t get more expensive than that!
• H.S. Psychology teacher told me, “If you don’t
leave now, you’ll be stuck in Jersey forever.”
• Was it a good fit?
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Distance from home? Yes
Environment/weather? Yes
Right school for major? No (was a medical school)
Price? Definitely Not
Overall… I think so.
University of New England
Biddeford, ME
“Through others, we become
ourselves.”-Lev S. Vygotsky
• 4th year at UNE, had a professor I respected tell me,
“You’ll never get into grad school or be a counselor. You
should go do something with your hands.”
• So, I did… but couldn’t afford to pay my loans
• Worked 2 full time jobs (100hrs/week)
• Pitco Frialators- do you know what a frialator is?
• NFI Midway: 15- adjudicated/CHINS males 13-17 yr old
• We were supposed to be there to change ‘troubled’
youth
• Not sure how much I changed them, but they sure
changed me
• They are the ones that inspired me to apply to grad
school
School Counseling is a thing?
• Learned I could work 1 job and make enough
to pay my student loans
• Could reach students before they wound up in
a place like the Midway Shelter (sometimes)
• But…
– Would need to go to grad school
– Told I couldn’t
– Applied anyway because of how much the kids at
Midway inspired / motivated me
– How did I select my grad school?
– The picture sure was nice
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA
Again, I was lucky
• Didn’t know how great the program was until
after I got accepted
• I was not the ideal student, but the program
was perfect for me
• Isn’t Dr. Diana Gruman the best?
So, here we are…
• College Prep, 0-Period
• Take a minute and with a neighbor discuss:
• What comes to mind when you hear College
Prep?
• Share a couple
How College Prep Started for Me:
• 1st job was at Pateros K-12 School
– 350 students TOTAL K-12; 22 seniors
• Had many roles:
– K-12: Counselor, Registrar (Created all schedules and
updated all transcripts), District Assessment
Coordinator, Running Start, K-4 Life Skills Teacher,
Senior Projects Coordinator, SIT Coordinator, and
more, but also: College Prep 12th grade 1st
semester/11th grade 2nd semester
• No curriculum, but the structure was in place
– Experienced for the first time the power of meeting
seniors daily to specifically plan and prepare for postsecondary life
My 1st two years of College Prep
• 1st group: 15 seniors, 7 of which did not want to attend
college
• 2nd group: Had them as juniors, then again as seniors; 20all of which applied to school/graduated/accepted
• Was a class period during the day
– Right before lunch
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A lot of resistance and lethargy to start
Tough to keep them motivated
Tough to keep myself motivated
Learned how seniors think and work
Learned how to search for scholarships
Learned how to hustle (wheel and deal)
– Coke tops?
Burn out or move out… I moved out
• After working 12+ hour days for two years straight:
• Transferred to La Center High School (I-5 exit 16)
– 570 total students grades 9-12; 137 seniors
• My first year at LCHS
– No college prep offered; no systems in place to reach
seniors efficiently (except for NAV- that’s another story)
– Navigation: run by the teachers, resistant to letting me
influence assignments/offer presentations
– Would run around the halls with stacks of papers trying to
find interested students and they wouldn’t complete the
applications anyway
– Counseling offices were called ‘Career Center’
• Immediately had that changed to ‘Student Services’ (even made a
sign- see next slide)
Student Services
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The struggle is real for seniors:
College Prepping
Don’t know how to start
Don’t understand the significance
A lot of ‘misinformation’ out there
Seniors can/do procrastinate anything
If friends don’t care, why should they? (Huge)
Even the most successful students doubt that they
can/will succeed
• Many seniors fear- what if I apply and don’t get
accepted?
• They’re already sleep deprived, overworked, and
overwhelmed
• A lot of adults assume that students get the
information they need from their parents
Even when seniors have the
information…
• Seniors do care
• Seniors want to get prepared
• Seniors are interested in post-secondary options
and scholarships
• Seniors can do the work
• They just need our help to create a structure
• Like any skill, needs scaffolding
Making change happen
• Surveyed the junior class:
– Do you want help completing
scholarships/understanding the college process? YES!
– Structure: during the day? After school? Before
school?
– Compensation: .5 elective credit
• During the day: too many conflicts with AP/ core
classes
• After school: too many conflicts with sports
• Before school: only issue is sleep/ transportation
Getting Support/Approval
• Gathered the surveys
• Disseminated the data
• Brought data to admin
– Overwhelming interest from Juniors for the class
• Admin decided I could ‘pilot’ the class
• Had to prove with results that the class was
worth having to continue
• Parents excited about the idea
The pilot
• Before College Prep at LCHS:
– No way to track how many scholarships completed
– FAFSA: 32/92 (34%)
– Overall senior class offered: $870,000
• Pilot results:
– 640 Scholarship Applications completed 1st semester
– FAFSA: 43/98 (44%)
– Overall senior class offered: $1,890,000
• As a result of the class, admin allowed me to continue
and every year, it gets better
My 5th year- 3rd year at LCHS
• Is now one of the most popular classes offered
– 40+ signed up for the class
• Reduced frivolous/busy work
• Use variety of delivery methods: Marker board,
website, handouts, etc.
– Classroom.google.com
• Repeat the message 27 times if necessary
• The more I stay motivated, the more they stay
motivated
• If I know someone qualifies for something, am
relentless until they complete the application
Physical Structure
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Meet 4 times/week
7:00 a.m. – 7:50 a.m.
Counts as .5 elective credit
Strict on taking attendance/tardies
– Students can’t participate in sports if they are
marked absent during 0 period
• And yes, they consistently show up
Emotional Structure
• Build trust from the beginning
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The relationship dictates everything else
Show them you care and you’re a credible source
Avoid assumptions/judgment/shutting students down
Help build up their strengths
College reps love 0 period
• Motivation
– Intrinsic: Regular reminders of personal goals
– Extrinsic: Set goals/rewards along the way
• Allow flexibility
– Kids are kids; I always want to find ways to keep moving
forward not dwell on the past or the ‘what ifs ‘
Motivation
• Three factors that influence student motivation
to learn (Marzano, 1992). Students are more
likely to put forth the required effort when there
is:
– Task clarity: When they clearly understand the
learning goal and know how teachers will evaluate
their learning
– Relevance: When they think the learning goals and
assessments are meaningful and worth learning
– Potential for success: When they believe they can
successfully learn and meet the evaluative
expectations
Achieving Greatness Together
• The students enjoy working towards goals as
a class; After our 1st goal met, one student
said: “I feel like we just accomplished
something great as a class.”
• Semester goal set on Day 1: 1,000 scholarships
complete and 32/32 complete F.A.F.S.A.
• Rewards: Bagels and OJ, Hot Cocoa, Tiramisu,
Brownies, Ice Cream Floats, and more
• Compete against previous senior classes
Remove the smallest of barriers
• Amazing how something so ‘small’ prevents
students from applying
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I mail most scholarships for them
Have transcripts ready
Always willing to write a letter of rec
My “Tomorrow doesn’t exist, it’s a myth!” speech
Break application into chunks
What are your chances of winning if you don’t apply?
S.F.S.: If you’re losing hope, so are thousands of other
seniors; If you can keep applying, your chances of
winning increases because many are giving up
Do not accept the Following:
• “The application is too hard.”
– That means a lot will avoid it, so if you apply, your
chances of winning are greater.
• “Give me one I can start/finish today.”
– Here’s one you can ‘start’ today.
• “I would never win that one!”
– What are your chances if you don’t apply?
• “I don’t have the GPA.”
– If it has an essay, apply.
• “I don’t feel like doing it today.”
– Tomorrow doesn’t exist.
More Barriers Removed
• ‘Master Scholarship List’
• PDF students can access through
classroom.google.com
• Over 500 scholarships
– Compiled over last 6 years
• Colored coded: Blue= local
– PNW, WA State, Clark County, and/or La Center
• Cntrl + F
Assignments
• Scholarship Applications (50% overall grade)
– Minimum 30; Completion Checklist to track them
– Do not accept sweepstakes scholarships for a grade
– Previous years was 25- but I felt this group was unique
• F.A.F.S.A. completion (20% overall grade)
– Before winter break: letter signed by parent
– After winter break: Student Aid Report
• Essay Writing/other (15% overall grade)
– Scholarship prompts, personal statements
– With essays complete, barriers removed
• Admissions Applications (15% overall grade)
– Minimum 3: 2 or 4 year schools
• Flexible: If student only wants to apply to 1 school,
must complete 32 scholarships
Completion Checklist
Scholarship Completion Checklist
Today’s Date: _________
Scholarship #_____
Student Name: ________________________
Scholarship Name: _____________________
Award Amount: $__________
Scholarship Deadline: ___________
Completed scholarship verified by Mr. DiStefano:
__________________________________
 Grade added to Skyward
Come
prepared
• I download
all students’
transcripts,
write letters
of rec, and
have as
much data
ready for
them as
possible.
Student FAFSA Rank (138)
1
X
21
2
X
8
3
X
61
4
X
88
5
X
26
6
X
2
7
X
85
8
X
9
9
X
16
10
X
14
11
X
40
12
X
37
13
X
25
14
X
45
15
X
89
16
X
1
17
X
51
18
X
47
19
X
4
20
X
57
21
X
35
22
X
5
23
X
6
24
X
18
25
X
19
26
X
7
27
X
73
28
X
24
29
X
12
30
X
10
31
X
109
32
X
28
GPA
3.542
3.826
3.011
2.472
3.465
3.992
2.541
3.826
3.65
3.705
3.297
3.312
3.478
3.218
2.457
4
3.133
3.185
3.922
3.044
3.334
3.861
3.855
3.589
3.568
3.854
2.72
3.495
3.801
3.83
2.004
3.444
ACT
SAT
R-370, M-480, W-390
R-540, M-540, W-440
16
17
R-510, M-510, W-530
27 R- 510, M-490, W-680
29
26 R- 630; M- 550; W- 660
R-560 M-530 W-470
25 R-630, M-590, W-610
R-390, M-380, W-440
R-730, M-610, W-630
R- 550; M-420; W-470
R- 530; M- 540; W- 450
35 R-800, M-750, W-700
27 R-550, M-570, W-570
16
R-740, M-730, W-660
R-450, M-520, W-460
19
25 R- 580; M- 520; W-630
26 R-530, M-560, W-520
16 R- 490; M-510; W-530
R540, M-540, W-510
22 R-430, M-470, W-440
19 R-400, M-440, W-420
R- 550; M- 470; W- 520
24 R-560, M-500, W-600
21 R-560, M-530, W-590
R-580, M-440, W-480
21 R-420, M-580, W-370
Applied #1
WSU- Pullman*
Concordia University*
Portland State University*
WSU Pullman*
WSU-Vancouver*
Corban University*
WSU-Pullman*
WWU*
Web Admissions Center*
WSU Pullman*
WSU Pullman*
WSU-V*
Portland State University*
Montana State University*
WSU-V*
MIT*
Northern Arizona University*
WWU*
WSU-Pullman*
CWU*
Rocky Mountain College*
WSU- Pullman*
Montana State University*
WSU-Pullman*
UW-Seattle
WSU-Pullman*
Univ of Hawaii- Manoa*
WSU-Vancouver*
WSU-Pullman*
Univ of Utah*
DigiPen
Univ of Portland*
Increase your chances of winning
• Quality + Quantity
• Match strengths of students you know with scholarships
that are open
• Better chances of winning:
– Local scholarships, less applicants
• Sometimes, only 1 or 2 apply!
– More difficult the application, less applicants
– Confusing/difficult process, less applicants
• Having the right attitude:
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How to structure your essays
Staying persistent (overcome S.F.S.)
Ask for help (early and often)
Let someone review essay/application before submitting
• Still involves some luck
Momentum
• The hardest part of anything is getting started
– Best part of College Prep is that it serves as a catalyst
• Even the hardest working/most qualified students
procrastinate/focus on the easiest/avoid risk
• Motivation ebbs and flows
– School Counselors are the tai chi of motivation
• I’ll start up a computer, open an application and tell a
student, “Hey, come check this out.” Show them the
steps and have them switch places with me.
• Make checklists; help prioritize
• More likely to work on/complete the scholarship if
their ‘neighbor’ is doing it as well
Speaking of Momentum…
• Use scholarships as a tool for much more:
– Help 9th – 11th graders understand the significance
of their GPA/ Focus more in class/ turn in work
– F.A.F.S.A. Completion: Foundation scholarships;
Love the WSOS! And more
– Birds of a feather: Students not in College Prep
hear their peers bragging about getting into
college/completing 30 scholarships and they feel
pressured to get started too
Take a moment…
• What is one thing from this presentation so
far that you will remember?
• One thing you can see working at your
school?
• Share a few thoughts?
Some data
• My first year at LCHS:
• About 70% of students went on to college
– 45% Community/Tech
– 25% Four-year school
• Into my 4th year (3 years of College Prep):
• About 85% of students go on to college
– 50% Four-year school
– 35% Community/Tech
College Prep after 1st semester
• 1st year of College Prep:
– 640 Scholarship Applications complete
• 2nd year of College Prep:
– 713 Scholarship Applications complete
• 3rd year of College Prep:
– 1,007 Scholarship Applications complete
– 32/32 completed FAFSA by 1/27
– 1 student completed 48 scholarship applications
Results at La Center
• F.A.F.S.A.
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Year 1 (no college prep): 32/92 (35%)
Year 2: 46/98 (47%)
Year 3: 61/99 (61%)
Year 4 (currently): 89/135 (66%)
• If 110 seniors complete FAFSA- pizza party for the whole grade
• Full time Running Start Seniors are the biggest group that has not
completed their FAFSA
• Scholarships/Grant awarded for entire senior class
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Year 1 (no college prep): $870,000
Year 2: $1,890,000
Year 3: $2,507,240
Year 4 (currently): $3,042,374 (more to come! 15 students
submitted a WSOS application and more to hear from)
Using visuals to track progress
Keep it going
• Currently, our college prep is only 1st semester
• Importance of having it 2nd semester as well:
– Seniors stop applying when the class is over
– Majority of local scholarships are due between FebruaryApril (1st semester ends before February)
– They will not create the structure themselves
– Life gets in the way, senioritis takes over, they are more
interested in the short term- graduation party, senior skip
day/prank, prom, senior trip, etc.
• Juniors want to prepare for senior year 2nd semester!
• Guess which group has applied to the least FAFSA +
Scholarships…
Success Stories
• JC: Gates Millennium Scholar (10 years covered)
– Also accepted to UW-Seattle Computer Engineering program
• KN: Air Force Academy (16% acceptance rate)
• SN: West Point (9% acceptance rate)
• KW: Full ride at Gonzaga ($45,438)
– Applied for about 35 scholarships and won 7
– Told me he’d get a College Prep tattoo if he won enough to
cover cost of attendance for 1st year; He was going to actually
get it but I talked him out of it
• JM: Accepted to MIT (8% acceptance rate); Semi-finalist
for Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
• CM: 1.7 GPA, Clark College
– Still won enough scholarships to pay for year 1
– Reinventing himself; currently has a 3.3 GPA in college
• PH: Hasn’t won yet, but, grew the most
Don’t leave it to luck
• I was lucky.
• I easily could be driving a school bus in South
Jersey or pumping gas (yes, they still have gas
attendants in Jersey- NJ and OR are the only 2)
• Didn’t know what I was doing throughout the
process- wasn’t intentional, except to follow
my instinct
• My mistakes are preventable
• It’s not too late for us to help our high school
students be intentional with their futures
Other Positive Results from the Class
• Teachers want to learn more about the
process/their awareness increases
• Other schools in our area are adopting a
similar class after seeing our results
• Students that take the class become
scholarship warriors: Eventually, they just
need the name
• More than just college/scholarships: So much
personal growth happens
Conclusion
• A College Prep class is a catalyst for
developing a post-secondary cultureincreasing student/parent/teacher interest
and awareness
• Building trust with students/parents is
essential in the scholarship/college process
• Must have an emotional and physical
structure in place in order for majority of
students to get the work done
• Can replicate a College Prep class at any
school
Thank you
• Questions? Comments?