The Right Guidance for College and Career Success: Maximizing Your Educational Investment

Interested in what we have to offer? Here are the many services we provide our ForwarDirections students and parents. We guide all students through our 7 Steps to Success to achieve their personal college and career goals.”

SPECIFIC SERVICES

Here is a detailed list of the specific services we provide as we walk our students through our 7 Steps to Success.

FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Financial literacy
  • Help with the FAFSA
  • Finding/applying for scholarships/grants
  • Pros and cons regarding work study
  • Discerning loan options

SAT and/or ACT

  • How to prepare
  • When to take these kinds of tests
  • Whether to take one or the other or both
  • When to take an admissions test again
  • Registration process

COURSEWORK AND EXPERIENCES ADVICE

  • High school coursework
  • School activities
  • Community service
  • Work experience
  • Internships

CAREER PATH

  • Knowing who you are
  • Exploring interests and passions
  • Identifying career interests
  • Selecting potential majors
  • Resumé prep / Internship opportunities

COLLEGE FIT PROCESS

  • Academic fit process
  • Social fit process
  • Financial ft process
  • Location preferences
  • Identify colleges to apply to

FILLING OUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

  • Early Action vs. Early Decision options
  • Making the right decision
  • Filling out applications
  • Essay writing
  • Dealing with deadlines

TYPES OF APPLICATIONS

  • California specific (CCs / CSUs / UCs)
  • Common App
  • Coalition App
  • Universal App
  • Individualized college apps

COLLEGE VISITATIONS AND INTERVIEWS

  • Knowing where and when to visit
  • Connecting with the right people
  • Asking the right questions
  • What to look for and who to talk with
  • Interview preparation

DISCERNING THE BEST COLLEGE OFFER

  • Examine offers
  • Rank and evaluate
  • Determine best fit
  • Identify best offer
  • Complete acceptance process

TRANSITIONING TO COLLEGE

  • Registration
  • Orientation
  • Housing
  • Living in community issues
  • Role of social media

AVOIDING THE SUMMER MELT

  • Preparing for college
  • College checklists
  • Getting the right courses
  • Preparing for dorm life
  • Networking with the right people

IN COLLEGE

  • Check-ins
  • Building your network
  • Academic strategies
  • Navigating college life
  • Networking and social media
SPECIALIZED SERVICES

We provide a wide variety of specialized services to meet the needs of our students. If you have a special need that you do not see addressed below, please contact us so we can develop a customized plan for you.

ATHLETES

  • Marketing yourself within your sport
  • Networking with college coaches and recruiters
  • Navigating applicable NCAA / NAIA sports federations
  • Understanding the role of intramurals
  • Learning to balance academics and athletics

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS

  • Marketing yourself within your talent area
  • Networking with college directors and recruiters
  • Preparing a portfolio
  • Auditioning and performance guidance
  • Learning to balance academics and your art

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN MILITARY SERVICE

  • Learning about military academy options
  • Identifying ROTC options
  • Guidance about making political connections
  • Understanding eligibility expectations
  • Completion of preliminary applications during junior year

LGBTQ STUDENTS

  • Learning about LGBTQ-friendly colleges
  • Identifying components of an inclusive college environment
  • Connecting with support personnel on campus
  • Dealing with discrimination during college
  • Campus resources and support for LGBTQ students

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS

  • Making sure you are college-ready
  • Preparing documentation of special need
  • Connecting with disabled students / service programs (DSPS)
  • Awareness of available accommodations and resources
  • Learning when and how to advocate and to be independent

STUDENTS OF COLOR

  • Exploring college options for specific ethnicities
  • Identifying culture-specific activities on campus
  • Dealing with racial disparity
  • Identifying ethnic-specific scholarships
  • Connecting with support personnel on campus

FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS

  • Making sure you are college-ready
  • Garnering family support
  • Learning self-efficacy and self-advocacy skills
  • Identifying college scholarships for first generation students
  • Campus resources and support for first generation students

STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES

  • Learning strategies to make college affordable
  • Identifying college scholarships for low income students
  • Overcoming material hurdles
  • Preparing to deal with financial challenges while in college
  • Campus resources and support for low income students

FAITH-BASED COLLEGE ISSUES

  • Exploring options for specific faith-based colleges
  • Identifying faith-based activities on campus
  • Building a faith-based support team within college community
  • Staying committed to your faith during college
  • Finding places of worship while in college

JUNIOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

  • Getting the most out of a 2-year college experience
  • Understanding academic expectations for transfer students Identifying college scholarships for junior transfer students
  • Making connections after transferring to a 4-year college
  • Exploring post-graduate options

STUDENTS APPLYING TO MASTERS/DOCTORATE PROGRAMS

  • Assessment of schooling already completed
  • Dealing with deadlines
  • Assistance with application process
  • Essay writing
  • Identifying the best offer

CAREER TRANSITION AND/OR MILITARY PERSONNEL “REENTRY”

  • Identifying your strengths
  • Building on past experiences
  • Exploring your career options
  • Discerning a training/career path
  • Implementing your plan