Course Overview
College Planner is a one-semester high-school elective, with the following goals:
- guiding students in the entire college process
- planning for college
- selecting the right school
- the application process
- financial aid
- guiding students who may not be headed to college
The program focuses on the decision-making process of choosing a school, covering both the application process and financial requirements. Additionally, for those students who will not be attending college or university, the course surveys non-college options.
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to do the following:
- Articulate reasons for attending college and for choosing a specific institution over another.
- Identify the planning steps to be taken by students during each year of high school.
- Understand the basic differences between the SAT and ACT entrance exams, knowing how best to prepare for each one.
- Understand the major costs of attending college and what financial aid options are available.
- Identify post-high school options for individuals who will not be attending college.
Additionally, students will gain practice in report-writing, covering topics like God’s plan, admissions essays, college costs, and more.
Course Structure:
Each unit has its own theme.
Unit 1: My Educational Future
The first unit focuses on the big questions: What’s God’s will for my educational future? Why go to college? Why choose a particular school?
Unit 2: Choosing A College
The two main themes of Unit 2 are calendars and lists.
- Calendars: This unit includes a series of planning calendars, identifying what a student should be doing during each year of high school in preparation for college.
- Lists: Unit 2 also helps a student identify several colleges that might be the right choice, and then narrow that long list down, identifying each college’s strengths.
Unit 3: Entrance Exams And Applications
The theme of Unit 3 is entrance exams and applications. It gives students an introduction to all major entrance exams: the PSAT, the SAT I and SAT II, and the ACT. In addition, the application process is covered, including application essays.
Unit 4: Paying For College
The theme of Unit 4 is financial aid. In addition to explaining grants, loans, and scholarships, it covers these two questions: What Does College Really Cost? and How Much Will You Be Expected to Pay?
Unit 5: Non-College Options
Unit 5 focuses on non-college options, such as apprenticeships and internships. In addition, the military is considered as an option.
These content areas are presented in a reading-based format, utilizing a combination of on- and off-computer assignments and activities, with the power of SOS automation and administration.
Special Topics:
Unit 3 contains an assignment on specialized college applications which require a try-out or an audition, such as athletics and fine arts.
Unit 4 contains materials for parents and students, which takes a brief look at the scholarship “scam” industry and helps families learn how to avoid being scammed.
Multimedia Resources:
The SOS College Planner program provides a variety of multimedia resources (audio, video, and animation presentations) to help students understand abstract concepts.
A special feature of the College Planner course is an extensive series of video interviews with:
- the admissions officer of a Christian university,
- the admissions officer of a technical college,
- a financial aid officer,
- a university professor,
- Bible college students, and
- a graduate student of a state university.