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CGN's
College & Career Library

2023-2024

Advice for Undecided Majors
2:03

Expert: Mike Drish, University of Massachusetts

There are limitations on applying as an undecided. The best practice is to ask the schools where you're applying.

The "Best" Rankings Webinar Ever Companion Resource
1 page

Companion resource for The "Best" Rankings Webinar Ever. Watch the recording here: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/video/66c5c721-7a22-420a-86d2-d77b7d4f947f

CGN Live: College - Exploring Hispanic-Serving Institutions
35:14

Featured Experts:
- Falone Serna, Dean of Undergraduate Admission & Outreach, California Lutheran University
- Francisco Estrada, Dean of College Prep, Uplift Luna Preparatory

Host: Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling, Khan Lab School

Are you a Hispanic high school student interested in finding a college where you'll feel at home? Or a parent looking for schools that will support your child's identity? Then you may want to take a closer look at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s). In this video, you'll learn about:
- The benefits of attending an HSI
- How HSI’s affirm and support Hispanic students 
- Resources specifically for first-generation students.

Much Ado About Testing
54:24

Experts: Akil Bello, FairTest; Adam Ingersoll, Compass Education Group

How to make sense of the test-optional landscape and understand all the aspects of standardized testing

Ranksgiving: Data and the College Search
57:15

Experts: Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author; Lisa Heffernan, Grown & Flown; Sofia Hernandez, student; Kira Ratan, student

The time has come to take a closer look at how to use rankings and data in a smart, responsible way in your college search.
This program casts a little light on how families can use rankings and other data to inform their search.

Make the Summer Work for You Toolkit
8 pages

Companion resource for "CGN Live: Career -- Make the Summer Work for You" including resources for conducting internet searches, tips for networking in your community, businesses that hire summer students, and options to consider for your summer.

What is financial fit?
6:30

Experts: Robert Kelchen, formerly of Seton Hall University: Sabrina Manville, Edmit: Lauren Sefton, Rhodes College: Darryl Tiggle, Baltimore Friends School.

Expert advice on understanding affordability and making sure your college list is aligned with your family's financial situation.

SWAG from Union College
16:25

From CGN partner OnTrack

Borrowing smart is essential to avoid crushing debt. What loans do you need to repay when, and what steps can you take if you have trouble keeping up with payments?

Tailoring a College List to Your Needs
3:29

Expert: Candice Mackey, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies

Learn how to personalize their college list and explore some helpful resources to customize your search.

SWAG from Temple University
16:12

Experts: Angela Duckworth, Character Lab; Sal Khan, Khan Academy.

Tips on how to engage with adults to learn about their careers. Get the inside scoop on curiosity conversations.

Researching Colleges

CGN Live: Career — Make the Summer Work for You
1:02:33

Featured Experts:
- Robyn Lady - CEO, Standout College Apps; Member, NACAC; former Director of Student Services, Chantilly High School
- Luis Portillo - Regional Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Mid-Atlantic, University of Rochester
**Host:** Michael Horn, Author, _Choosing College; _Co-Host, _Future U Podcast_

What will you do this summer? Our experts weigh in on how to design a summer that includes skill-building and work experience but leaves time for fun and relaxation. In this episode you will learn:
- This summer’s jobs forecast for teens
- How to identify and apply for jobs (paid and volunteer) in your community
- The best online opportunities in career exploration and virtual internships

Careers
6 items

1. Career Planning - Exploration
2. Career Planning - Assessment Tool
3. Talking to Adults About Their Careers
4. Sal Khan and Angela Duckworth on Careers
5. Career & Family Dynamic
6. Future-Ready: Starting to Bring Your Career into Focus

Design Your Future Toolkit
8 pages

Companion Resource to "CGN Live: Career—Design Your Future - Pro Tips You Can Use Today"

Watch the live event recording here: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/video/b1598c69-29f6-4e69-8360-2fe686b88260

Make the Summer Work for You Toolkit
8 pages

Companion resource for "CGN Live: Career -- Make the Summer Work for You" including resources for conducting internet searches, tips for networking in your community, businesses that hire summer students, and options to consider for your summer.

What's Your Idea of a Great Job Toolkit
6 pages

Companion resource for "CGN Live: Career -- What's Your Idea of a Great Job?" including role models vs. mentors, what to consider to find a job that's right for you, and recommended resources.

Watch the event recording here: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/video/80effed9-a8a1-4709-b6cb-6464d7f92748

How to Land a Job Companion Resource
8 pages

Companion resource to "How to Land a Job"

Watch the event recording here: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/video/20319533-8fda-40ff-81fe-46de9a7b2588

What to Ask Colleges About Careers
1:11

Expert: Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why

How to find information about the ways colleges factor career planning into their undergraduate curriculum.

Majors & Careers: Biggest Mistakes
1:00

Expert: Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why

Why approaching your college choice with too narrow of a career or major view can be a big mistake.

Career & Family Dynamic
3:25

Experts: Bill Stiles, American Student Assistance, Cherish Lamar Smith, student.

How a family can support a student’s career-oriented journey.

Future of Jobs: Pathways to Opportunity
57:31

Experts: Sheila Curran, Curatace; Jeff Selingo, Author

Is earning a college degree “worth it”? We’ll explore how you can best ensure optimal return on investment (ROI) by taking a look at today’s most promising sectors for growth and current career trends. And, we’ll also discuss how students can avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, as they chart their career path. We’ll help you navigate today’s job market and give you the tools you need to land that dream job, after graduation. Opportunity awaits!

Career Exploration

Picking Senior Year Classes with Intended Major in Mind
0:47

​Expert: Diane Campbell, Liberty Common HS

A look at the ways to research which courses are required for your intended major.

Financial Aid Impact on Admissions Decisions
1:02

Expert: Nicole Curvin, Middlebury College.

Doing your research into whether a college is need-blind will help you understand the impact of applying for financial aid on your admissions decision.

Apply Here: Tips for Completing College Applications
57:34

Experts: Scott Anderson, Common App; Rachelle Hernandez, University of Texas

This webinar will address the biggest questions around the process of filling out your applications. We’ll show you how to save time, get organized, and stress less.

CGN Live: Straight Talk with College Admission Leaders
55:46

Experts: Milyon Trulove, Reed College; Mary Wagner, University of South Carolina

An open Q&A with college admissions leaders answering questions from our audience.

Tell Your Story: Crafting Great College Admissions Essays
6 pages

Your college essay is an important part of the entire package you will submit to colleges to give a sense of who you are and what you might contribute to a campus community. It’s an opportunity for you to tell your story in your own words. What inspires you? What drives you? You may be asked to write multiple essays, including a Personal Statement and Supplemental Essays. Let’s dig in with key guidance, resources, helpful terms, and advice to parents.

CGN Spotlight: Live Town Hall - Where Do We Go From Here?
56:42

Featured Experts:
- Eric Hoover, Senior Writer, The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Angel Perez, CEO at National Association for College Admission Counseling
- Stefanie Niles, President, Cottey College; former VP for Enrollment, Ohio Wesleyan University

Overview: On October 31, 2022, the Supreme Court heard back-to-back arguments in lawsuits against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The court’s decision, expected by June 2023, could severely limit – or end – the consideration of race as a factor in admissions.

This discussion, recorded just two days after the Supreme Court hearings, with four leading experts in college admission, offers insights on:
- How is the court likely to rule, based on the justices’ comments?
- How could this affect the way colleges approach the admission process?
- What is the anticipated impact on students applying to college?

Standardized Testing
3 items

1. SAT or ACT
2. Understanding Test-Optional and Other Policies
3. Registration and Fee Waivers for the SAT/ACT

Selective Admissions: An Inside Look at How Admissions Pros Read Applications
58:06

Experts: Ronné Turner, Washington University in St. Louis; Peaches Valdes, Hamilton College, Gil Villanueva, University of Richmond

Three fictitious applicants have their resumès examined by real college admissions officers for a peek behind the curtain at how admissions really works.

Extracurricular Activities
3 items

1. The Activities Section
2. High School Jobs and Internships
3. FAQ: Extracurricular Activities

Tell Your Story: Crafting Great College Admissions Essays
59:51

Expert: Brad Schiller, Prompt

Advice from an experienced essay coach on how to be most effective in your writing.

Building the Application

Investing in Your Future: The Return on College
52:39

Short of buying a house, where to attend college is the most expensive decision most students will make in their lifetime. With ballooning costs and the question of how much of student loan debt is reasonable, applicants and their families are increasingly focussed on return on investment.
This interactive Q&A will:
- Explain the nuances of ROI as well as its limitations
- Explore key findings of the Georgetown CEW report which ranked 4,500 colleges and universities by ROI
- Discuss how the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard can help families make fiscally responsible decisions

FAFSA Student Section
10:15

From CGN partner OnTrack.

A detailed, step-by-step look at how to fill out the student section of the FAFSA.

How Much Do Brand Name Schools Matter?
2:27

Experts: Mark Kantrowitz, Cerebly, Inc; Robert Kelchen, formerly of Seton Hall University.

Some fields place an emphasis on prestigious schools - others do not. The same goes for graduate school applicants. Learn more about how you should evaluate this expensive decision with a focus on where you want to go after graduation.

Student Loans 101: Part B
8:17

VP for Admissions and Financial Aid Matt Malatesta provides insight about Union College and offers some myths and realities about college admissions.

CGN Live — College Costs: Making Sense of it All
1:03:44

Featured Expert: Lynn O’Shaugnessy, Author of The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price

Host: Mark Salisbury, Co-founder and CEO of TuitionFit

College affordability is not something that just comes up at application time. For 11th graders and their families, it needs to be part of the college exploration process. You and your family will begin having “the money talk.”  It’s a confusing and sometimes intimidating topic, but there are ways to gain clarity so your family can engage in a more informed search.  In this video, we’ll dispel common myths and also help you better understand: 
- What tools and resources are available to help you understand your options
- How to see beyond the sticker price and gain a better understanding of what you will pay
- How to be financially realistic but also aspirational in your college search

Affordability
6 items

1. Financial Aid and College Affordability
2. College Costs
3. What is financial fit?
4. Discussing Finances at the Start of the College Search
5. Considering Financial Aid When Choosing a Decision Plan
6. Money Matters: College Affordability & Financial Aid

The Real Value of College: What Every High School Student Needs to Know
31:48

Featured Experts:
- Frank Edelblut, Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Education
- Jeff Selingo, Author, Who Gets In and Why

Host:
Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling, Khan Lab School

Is college still worth it? This question is asked in households across America. How can leaders help families achieve the best possible outcomes for their students? Our experts will discuss:
- How to ensure students get the most value out of their experience
- How students should be preparing now for the workforce of the future
- Ways to find the right post-secondary path

Money Matters: College Affordability and Financial Aid 101 - Part 2
56:50

Experts: Claire Dennison, uAspire; Holly Morrow, uAspire; Patricia Reilly, Tufts University; Darryl Tiggle, Baltimore Friends School

This companion episode to Money Matters Part 1 features the panel taking audience questions on all aspects of college affordability.

FAFSA
5 items

1. FAFSA Overview
2. What You Need to Complete the FAFSA
3. FAFSA Student Section
4. FAFSA Parent Section
5. How to Submit Your Completed FAFSA

Student Loans 101: Part A
8:38

Assistant Director of Admissions Jua Howard provides insight about University of California, Berkeley and offers some myths and realities about college admissions.

Money

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