Postsecondary match & fit
After postsecondary options are thoroughly explored, the nuance of match and fit come into play. This is a critical step in helping students and their families select successful pathways and placement options. It can be harder to gauge match and fit through virtual experiences; connecting with the right resources will help guide towards the best possible outcome.
Guiding Questions
- What tools will empower students and families to feel confident in their postsecondary options?
- What resource investments can districts and schools make to support students and families in making their postsecondary choice?
| Strategies | Aligned Resources |
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Use an interactive match and fit tool Sharing data insights with students and families pulls back the curtain to show why counselors are suggesting various options, as data does not lie. Looking at Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) student and Federal Pell Grant recipient graduation rates are a strong indicator of supports on campus and return on investment. Layering in admissibility over this data will ultimately help students and families be informed consumers as they work on cultivating best fit options. |
Consider investing in a college and career data base, such as Overgrad’s college and career site + Add to Action Plan to help students and families see admissibility as well as graduation rates and financial fit based on their profile. Teachers can support students in younger grades to create a profile and build their student friendly list + Add to Action Plan that shows important data points noted above. Schools or districts will need to sign up in order to access the free match tool. Another way to increase student autonomy and decrease the workload of counselors is this college match tool + Add to Action Plan from Cappex that helps students explore match and fit. Counselor resources + Add to Action Plan from College Greenlight are specifically geared towards supporting traditionally underrepresented students. |
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Provide financial fit resources Student debt is often considered one of the key enforcers of racial wealth inequality. Provide students and families with a tool to gauge financial fit for all involved in the college and career process. Finances should be a key consideration when it comes to fit with a program or college. |
Publicly sharing data about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will help schools and districts rally around a goal. Track FAFSA completion rates for your district or school with this dashboard + Add to Action Plan from Forum Your Future and see year over year comparisons. Several resources from uAspire are available for districts, schools and families. How-to videos and free virtual help + Add to Action Plan is available so all students have opportunities to complete FAFSA, including advice and support for undocumented students. Share this resource with schools that will calculate post-secondary costs and compare financial aid resources + Add to Action Plan, demystifying often-confusing financial aid awards. Many families have experienced significant income changes in the pandemic, and this tool helps families appeal financial aid packages + Add to Action Plan. |