This website includes links to Google-based curriculum files, organized by lesson. Our Facilitator Guide is designed as a reference resource for anyone teaching the course, and contains helpful information including:
- Instructions for how to use course components
- Overview of course content
- Scheduling information
- Explanations for how to access and use the course files
- Access to training materials and feedback forms
Before you begin teaching the College App Classroom, make sure you review our facilitator guide!
Training Materials
Ready to dive in and bring this course to life for your students? We're here to help set you up for success!
Before you start the course, we'll conduct training sessions for facilitators on how to use the College App Classroom in your schools. Below, we're providing the training materials so you can reference them whenever you need them. We highly encourage you to always start with the Facilitator Guide!
Preparing for College Admissions
Lesson 1: Your Motivations for Attending College
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Determine their reasons for why they want to attend college and why a college education is important
- Formulate a personal goal related to the college admissions process
- Interpret diverse perspectives about college
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 2: The College Application Process
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Compile a list of items that will be part of their college applications, such as an essay or letter of recommendation
- Compare/contrast three main application pools: early, regular, and rolling admissions
- Discover the roles of university offices that are involved in the college admissions process
- Reflect on the interactions that they may have with other people during the application experience
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 3: Your College Admissions Support System
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Differentiate between a network and a support system, and illustrate why each is valuable during the college admissions process
- Identify the people in their support system for college admissions
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 4: Standardized Tests & Letters of Recommendation
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Examine the recommendation process and how to prepare your recommenders
- Explain the basics of test-optional admissions and how to determine the testing policy of any college
- Evaluate the factors that you may consider when deciding whether or not to take a standardized test
- Formulate a standardized test strategy
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 5: Essay Topics & Supplemental Essays
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Identify strategies for writing effectively in their applications & writing for a specific audience and purpose
- Select essay topics that align with their strengths and goals
- Use a standard writing process: Brainstorm, write, revise
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Supplemental Lesson: College Preparation & Advance Work on Applications
Learning Objectives
This is a special lesson for students in grades 9-11 who are looking ahead to college applications. The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explore how to prepare academically for college, before 12th grade
- Identify college application tasks can be accomplished in grades 9-11 versus 12th grade
Key Resources
Lesson 6: College Admissions Timeline and Organization
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Develop a personalized timeline of tasks related to the college admissions process
- Outline the types of files and other application components that they will need to manage
- Begin to build an organized system for college admissions that is aligned with their college application goals
Key Resources
Lesson 7: College Categories and the Concept of “Fit”
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explain the concept of "college fit" and why it is important
- Prepare a list of factors that can help determine college fit, such as affordability, academics, extracurricular activities, student life, location, and size
- Decide on your preferences as they pertain to college fit
- Characterize colleges on your list according to how they best match your preferences
Note: We will cover the concept of fit in more depth in Unit 4 of the classroom course; this lesson is meant to be an introduction.
Key Resources
Additional Resources
All About Financial Aid
Lesson 1: Introduction & Student’s Role in the Financial Aid Process
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Assess their expectations and goals for learning about college financial aid in this course
- Describe their opportunities and responsibilities in the financial aid process
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 2: Your Cost of Attendance
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Break down the components of Cost of Attendance (COA) and identify factors that could change it
- Research details about COA information for the individual colleges on their list
- Interpret the overall cost of a college education within the context of financial aid
- Assess the value of campus programs that provide support, in addition to the financial aid that they may receive
Key Resources
Lesson 3: Federal Aid, Loans versus Grants, Debt and Repayment
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Classify the different types of federal aid, including the difference between grants and loans
- Examine options for loan repayment, and explain what your responsibilities will be once you graduate
- Find the location of documents and information that they need for their federal aid application
Key Resources
Lesson 4: Applying for Federal Aid with the FAFSA
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Summarize how federal financial aid methodology works
- Disprove common myths about the FAFSA
- Model the process for completing their FAFSA and applying for federal aid
Key Resources
Lesson 5: Institutional Aid
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explain different types of institutional aid, especially scholarships and grants
- Discover why institutional aid is worth the effort to apply
- Find the location of documents and information that they need for their institutional aid application
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 6: Applying for Institutional Aid with the CSS Profile
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Summarize how their institutional aid application will be evaluated
- Model the process for completing their CSS Profile and applying for federal aid
Key Resources
Supplemental Lesson: Scholarships & How to Incorporate Them
Learning Objectives
This is a special lesson for students in grades 9-11 who are looking ahead to college applications. The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explore different types of scholarships
- Determine your eligibility and what you need to do to apply
Research what you need to do to apply for scholarships and how you will incorporate scholarships into your timeline for college applications
Key Resources
Finding Your Fit
Lesson 1: How to Build Your College List
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Compare/contrast different types of colleges based on standard categories
- Determine your priorities for building a college list
- Imagine your future in various college communities
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 2: Research & Connect with the Colleges on Your List
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Research colleges and create or shape your college list based on fit
- Assess the bias or limitations of various information sources in college admissions
- Summarize ways that you may interact with colleges
- Describe your plan to connect with the colleges on your list
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 2.5 for grades 9-11: Fly-in Programs & Summer Workshops
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explore opportunities for fly-in programs, summer workshops, and other similar programs
- Understand how “pay to play” programs work
- Explore national, nonprofit college access organizations
Key Resources
Lesson 3: Evaluate Your College List Based on Your Research
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Evaluate each college on your list based your research into how well it meets your needs and wants
- Decide if you need to do additional research or outreach to colleges before you submit your applications
- Adapt your college list based on any new information
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Telling Your Story in Your Application
Lesson 1: Your Application Tells a Story
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Recognize how the individual components of their application comes together to tell a story to colleges
- Identify strategies for using elements of a strong college application to tell their story
- Understanding the context in which their application will be reviewed
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 2: Reflecting on Different Parts of Your Story
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Reflect on their academic work and extracurricular activities in high school and how they connect to their college goals
- Practice self-reflection to center their lived experiences and interests, exploring what stories they want to tell about themselves
- Explore ways they can express their story through their applications to help colleges understand them better as an applicant
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 3: Intentional Storytelling in College Applications
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Explain how effective storytelling in college applications may help you produce your best application
- Identify strategies for using your application to communicate your story and your preparation for college
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 4: Revising Your Essays
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Model ways to respond to various prompts for their college application essays
- Select essay topics that align with their strengths and goals
- Develop strategies for revising essays
Learning Objectives
Additional Resources
Lesson 5: Tailoring Your Application for a Specific College or Major
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Find the requirements for particular colleges or programs
- Determine ways you can present your application to colleges in ways that match their stated values
- Gauge the need to adjust application strategy based on realistic reflection on admission decisions and/or schools with varying levels of selectivity
- Identify what priorities are important to you when considering the type of college experience you want to have
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Your Next Steps After Applying to College
Lesson 1: What To Do After You Apply
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Generate a timeline and tasks that should be completed after submitting college applications
- Devise a plan to combat senioritis and end the academic year with a strong finish
- Set expectations with family about their college options and what it will be like when they are away at college
- Manage your expectations for their future in the context of other students’ future plans
Key Resources
Lesson 2: Comparing Your Financial Aid Offer Letters
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Review the differences between merit aid and need-based aid
- Learn how to interpret a financial aid offer
- Evaluate sample aid offers
- Discuss the process for asking questions about your aid offer, or requesting reconsideration
Key Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 3: Building your financial aid plan
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Formulate a personalized financial aid plan
- Construct a personal financial aid timeline for the next calendar year
Key Resources
Lesson 4: How to Navigate Admission Decisions
Learning Objectives
The material in this lesson teaches students how to:
- Plan for ways to evaluate offers of admission during a busy time of year
- Consider options for gap year or gap semester
- Integrate new knowledge from this course into future choices about your education