Connecting the Classroom and the Workplace: We have a variety of ways in which this topic can be addressed including a workshop which shows the relationship between education and income potential / life options. Another involves a Power Point presentation and workshop that documents the world economy and labor force and the implications for today’s students. Yet another involves developing local job profiles based on interviews with area employers who are having trouble filling jobs and ties those jobs back to the classroom, including specific academic course requirements and soft skills. The best activity is often determined by the age of the targeted students, time and resources available, etc.

Mock Admissions Committee Case Studies: Students are broken down into small admissions committees of 4-6 students. They review live college admissions files, but are only allowed to admit half of the candidates. The students see good and bad course selections, essays, grade trends, and attendance patterns. Basically, they get to see their own high school records and admission applications years ahead of time. The biggest takeaway: high school course selections and grades really matter.

Finding the Right Fit (College Selection Workshops): This activity gives students (and parents) tips on how to go about the postsecondary selection process, from setting priorities to some of the key questions to ask any college or university. A step-by-step approach to postsecondary selection is discussed along with the importance of taking all the necessary steps in selecting the right college. Suggestions on free assessment tools available on the internet that can help with this process also are offered.

Executing an Effective Essay (Workshops on Writing Admissions, Scholarship and Employment Essays): The program begins with a session on writing a persuasive essay. In other words, how do you effectively get yourself out on a piece of paper? Actual college admissions and scholarship essays are shared as examples. In addition to this session, an essay topic can be assigned, perhaps based on a local scholarship or college (e.g., Common Application) essay question so that it has immediate value. In a subsequent session, a critique of the first draft of the essay can be shared with each student in the class, if time and funding allow.

College Visit Bus Trips: With input from the schools and colleges, our staff plans one-day bus trips to selected institutions with the aim of exposing high school students to different postsecondary options and giving them often their first glimpse of college life. During these trips, Murray & Associates staff provides tour tips for use on any college campus visit and goes over tips on how to get an advantage in an application process for a job, college admission or a scholarship.

College Survival 101: These activities are intended to eliminate many of the problems otherwise unsuspecting first-year college students often encounter. Tips and materials are given to help students and their parents understand how to manage college finances, loan procedures/loan default prevention, etc. Other topics include how to break down course syllabi to manage each semester, time management tips and where to find key resources on most any campus. Overall tips for success in college also are shared. These activities are valuable for any family, but they are especially critical to the success of first-generation college students and their families who typically don’t have a clue where to start.