Foundations of College Admissions Advising

EDUC X369.3
4 semester units in Education
Required course in the Professional Program in College Admission Consulting and in the
Professional Program in College Admission Advising in Schools

Course Description
This is the first course of a two-course sequence that introduces the knowledge and skills
required to advise students in the transition from high school to college. Emphasis is placed
both on acquiring specific knowledge of colleges and the admissions process and on becoming
ethical, skilled practitioners in a rapidly changing profession.

Prerequisite
Bachelor’s degree

Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to
 Describe the knowledge and skills required to provide college advising in the high school
setting.
 Identify specified legal and ethical issues in college consulting.
 Define important terms used in college admissions advising.
 Demonstrate how to research a college using public sources, campus visits, and
admission officer meetings.
 Identify the primary factors utilized in admissions decisions for a variety of college types,
locations, and selectivity and be able to give a national and local example of each.
 Describe the roles of various people in the college admissions process.
 Explain the types of standardized tests used in admissions decisions, provide key
differences between them, and describe how you will advise students in terms of testing
strategies.
 Explain the importance of student essays in admissions decisions and the roles advisors
and independent consultants can play in essay development.
 Describe the admissions requirements and process for the state systems in your own
state, and selected other colleges and universities that are popular destinations for your
students.
Course Materials and Technical Requirements
Required Textbooks
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling, 6th edition, by National Association for
College Admission Counseling (NACAC) 2023

 Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting Into
College, (5th Edition) by Sally P. Springer, Jon Reider, Marion R. Franck, 2023 (ISBN: 978-
1119885733)

 College Counseling for School Counselors, by Patrick O’Connor, 2024 (ISBN: 978-
1977275073)

 How to Write an Effective College Application Essay: The Inside Scoop for Students, 2nd
edition, by Kim Lifton and Susan Knoppow, 2022 (ISBN: 979-8985981407)
(Use this link to download a free copy.)
During Module 1, students will also choose one of the following to read for their Book Club
group discussion:
 Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain, by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore,
2018 (ISBN: 978-1610397315)

 Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania, by
Frank Bruni, 2016 (ISBN: 978-1455532681)

Students should also be aware of two assignments that will require extra preparation.
 In Module 2, you will be asked to interview a teenager and then discuss the results of
that meeting with the rest of the class. Since you are expected to choose a teen who
you don't know well, you should start organizing for this assignment now. Full
instructions are in Module 2.

 Students are required to visit a college campus and write a report of that visit by the
end date of Module 9. Further instructions for setting up the visit are in Module 1.

Technical Requirements
This course is built on a Learning Management system (LMS) called Canvas. In order to use
Canvas, your computer will need to meet these technical specifications.
Canvas allows you to record audio or video files of yourself and upload them in the course.
Although doing so is not required for any of the activities, using these features will enhance
your engagement in the course. If you would like to use these features, you will need to have a
webcam and a microphone installed on your computer. You must take quizzes and exams on a
wired internet connection to ensure complete and timely submission.

Accommodations
If you require accommodations for a disability and haven't already contacted Disabled Student
Services (DSS), please read the instructions for DSS Accommodations and contact the office
right away.

Learning Activities
This course consists of 10 modules of study outlined at the end of this syllabus. Each module
includes:

Lectures, Readings, and Viewing Assignments

A variety of resources have been gathered and developed to provide you with a wide base of
information: video lectures by the course developer, readings from the required textbooks and
other sources, and videos from experts in the field.

Assigned Activities and Discussions

You will explore many areas of college admissions advising through assigned research and
activities in each module. Whether your focus is on school counseling or independent
consulting, you will often be able to tailor your research and activities based on your current
level of knowledge and the skills you need to improve upon. Then, you'll compile the results of
your activities and discuss them with the rest of the class.
Discussion assignments will be evaluated as follows:
 Exceptional: In addition to fully addressing the prompt, messages exceed expectations
(e.g., uniquely insightful contributions, critical reflection, strong connections to other
posts and course content, integration of outside materials and experiences, etc.)
 Good: Messages fully address all aspects of the discussion prompt.
 Improvement needed: Messages attempt to address the prompt but reveal clear
shortcomings (e.g., partially incomplete, limited to repetition of course materials,
display only superficial understanding and thought, etc.)
 Unsatisfactory: Messages are either missing or reflect almost no evidence of having
attempted to address the discussion prompt.
The course also includes a Questions and Answers Forum, which is an ungraded discussion area.
If you have general questions regarding the course, procedures, etc., use this forum to share
them with your classmates and instructor. The instructor will review this discussion regularly
and will help whenever possible; however, please feel free to offer leads and suggestions to
comments and questions that other students have made.
And in Module 1 you'll introduce yourself to your instructor and classmates. You may also click
on your name at the top of the course and upload a photo so that your classmates and
instructor can get a better sense of you.

College Reports and Campus Visit

Throughout the course, you will be building knowledge about five schools of your choosing and
visiting one of those five. In Module 2, you will indicate which schools you will research and
which one you will visit, and you will share your college research reports in discussions in
Modules 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. You will also share your campus visit report in Module 9.

Book Club Discussion

In Module 1, you will choose one book from a list of two focused on either the people or the
process involved in college admissions advising. Then, in Modules 4 and 7, you will join the
other students who have made the same book choice as you in 'book club' discussions.

Admissions Panel Activity

In Module 10, you will join a group of your classmates to form an Admissions Committee that
will make decisions on five applicants at a fictitious university. You will be provided with
student applications and test results, as well as the university's requirements and review
procedures. Each committee is responsible for organizing its own process for discussion and
decision making, but within that process, each individual is responsible for making a
recommendation on each application, along with rationale for the recommendation.
Committees must reach a combined decision on each application so that the student can be
notified.
Two-thirds of your grade for this activity will be based on the submission of your
recommendation and rationale before your group meeting, and the remaining one-third of your
grade will be based on your contributions to our all-class discussion following your group
meeting.

Quizzes
Multiple-choice quizzes in Modules 3, 5, 6, and 10 will test your grasp of the terminology used
in college admissions advising.

Other Assignments
Other assignments in the course will ask you to write an essay and reflection that is similar in
scope to the ones student applicants are required to write (Module 7), provide resources to
improve teacher recommendation letters (Module 8), and identify three short-term and three
longer-term next steps for your professional development (Module 10).

Course Meetings

Your instructor will provide details about two live course meetings. This information will be sent
to you through Canvas as an Announcement.

The first meeting will be held in either Module 1 or 2, as a course introduction session. The
second meeting, an “Ask Me Anything” session, will be held in Module 5.

While not required, it is strongly encouraged that you attend these meetings when they are
scheduled to meet your instructor and fellow classmates. Should that not be possible, your
instructor will provide a recording of the meeting.

Academic Integrity, Research, and Proper Citation

Academic misconduct is any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair
academic advantage for you or any other members of the academic community. This
misconduct includes a wide variety of behaviors such as cheating, plagiarism, altering academic
documents or transcripts, gaining access to materials before they are intended to be available,
and helping another student to gain an unfair academic advantage.
As a student of UC Berkeley Extension, you are encouraged to reach out to your fellow students
in your class to discuss materials and to ask each other questions, but there are limits to this
collaboration. Please review the following information on academic integrity, which clearly
defines what constitutes cheating, as well as plagiarism and other forms of academic
misconduct. Their definitions might surprise you. As a UC Berkeley Extension student, you are
also bound by the UC Berkeley Extension Code of Student Conduct.
Please review this material, and contact your instructor for clarification, if necessary. You will
be asked to take your Pledge to Academic Integrity before you can access this course content.
UC Berkeley Extension takes academic misconduct very seriously. Depending upon the nature
of the incident, the academic disciplinary sanction may vary but can result in consequences
such as a failing grade for the course or even suspension and dismissal.

Grading & Course Policies

Grade Breakdown
Your course final grade will be assigned according to the following percentages:
 Discussions, 25%
  College Reports, 20%
 Campus Visit, 5%
 Book Club Discussion, 5%
 Admissions Panel, 15%
 Essay, 10%
 Quizzes, 10%
 Other Assignments, 10%
Final grades follow UC Berkeley grading system, as follows:

UC Berkeley grading system

Letter Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F

100- 92- 89- 86- 82- 79- 76- 72- 69- 66- 62-
Percentage < 60
93 90 87 83 80 77 73 70 67 63 60

Visit the UC Berkeley grading policies and procedures page for grading information, including
letter grades and other letter designations (W, I, NC, P/NP).
To view your final grade and request official transcripts, log in to your student account at
extension.berkeley.edu and go to "My Enrollment History."

Course Policies
 Your instructor has up to 7 days to return assignments with a grade and provide
feedback that will help you complete subsequent assignments. Instructors are expected
to respond to email inquiries within 2 business days.
 All modules must be completed in sequential order unless otherwise noted by the
instructor.
 All assignment due dates are listed in the course Calendar, and you are expected to
work on only that week's assignments. You may not lag behind or work ahead. Any late
work must be approved ahead of time and handled on an emergency basis directly with
the instructor.

Process for Filing Student “Incomplete” or “Withdrawal”

Option #1: Obtain an "Incomplete" (Extension)
This option is for students who have completed 75% of the course and are in good standing
with their grade, and is usually reserved for extraordinary circumstances such as a health-
related situation. In this scenario, students indicate their incomplete request here, and the
instructor will ultimately be prompted to approve or deny the request. (Students must initiate
this process). It will then be sent to the Registrar for consideration. If approved, students can be
given up to a 90-day extension after the course ends. This request must be submitted before
the last day of class. More specific info about this is available on the Extension Student Services
website.

Option #2a: Withdrawal

Alternatively, a student can decide to “Withdraw” from a course, but this decision must be
made before the last day of class. In this case, the student would not be expected to complete
any additional work and would not be able to carry over any completed work from this
semester into another semester (i.e., they would have to start the course over at a later date).
If a student decides to Withdraw, they will receive a "W" on their transcript instead of a letter
grade. More information about this option, along with the appropriate filing instructions, can
be found at the Extension Student Services website (same link as above, just further down in
that section). It is important to note that if a student chooses to withdraw from a course, they
would not be eligible for a refund unless they've experienced some sort of extenuating
circumstance, in which case they can file an appeal for a policy exception (below).

Option #2b: Filing for an Appeal

In the event that a Withdrawal request is filed and granted, and in cases where a student is
unable to complete a course due to exigent circumstances beyond their control, requests for
exceptions to enrollment policies may be submitted for review (appeals for tuition refund).
Students must be withdrawn from the course prior to submitting an appeal, as exceptions will
only be considered in circumstances where a student is unable to continue in a course. Appeals
are most commonly approved for serious personal injury or illness, contemporaneous death of
an immediate family member, and military deployment. To file an appeal, the statement of
request and documentation should be sent to [email protected]. More
information on this can be found at the Extension Student Services website (same link as above,
still further down).
Lastly, it merits emphasizing that regardless of which option a student might choose, they will
need to personally file the appropriate form (Incomplete) or log into their student account and
submit the request (Withdraw) themselves – advising their instructor or our office is not
sufficient.

Communication
To contact your instructor, you can access course email by clicking on the Inbox link in the left
navigation (see also “How do I use the Inbox as a student?”).
Instructors have 2 business days to respond to student communications and 7 days to return
graded submissions unless students have been notified otherwise (e.g., because of vacation or
other reasons).
Please ensure that you are following guidelines of the Student Code of Conduct and Academic
Integrity in these interactions.
Course Evaluation
UC Berkeley Extension is committed to improving our online courses and instruction. Please
take a few minutes to participate in our Course Evaluation to share your opinions about this
course. We are interested in your online learning experience, and your candid feedback will
help us plan for the future and make improvements. Please complete the evaluation before
your course end date. The evaluation does not request any personal information, and your
responses will remain strictly confidential.

Canvas Tech Support

The learning management system (LMS) used in this course is Canvas, which has convenient
mobile apps for phones and tablets. In order to use Canvas, your computer will need to meet
these technical specifications.
Anytime you are in Canvas you can access the help menu where you can report problems, get
support, and search Canvas user guides from the Help link in the left navigation.

Other Options
 Canvas Support 24/7 Hotline: 855-308-2758
 Canvas online support is available by selecting the “Help” from the left navigation
 Email: [email protected]

Course Outline
Orientation Required, including Academic Integrity Pledge and Course Policies Quizzes

Module 1: Why Are You Here?

1.1 Why Are You Here?
Watch: Course overview video
Complete the Assessment of Key Areas of Competence
Watch: Course objectives video
Discussion: Introductions – Why Are You Here?
1.2 Preparing for the Course Ahead
Read:
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapters 1 and 4
  Admission Matters: Introduction and Chapter 1
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Introduction, Chapters 4 and 5
Assignment: Choose a supplementary reading
Assignment: Choose five colleges to research, and one of those to visit
1.3 Attend the Live ‘Course Introduction’ Session

Module 2: Understanding Teens

2.1 Understanding Teens
Watch: Module overview video
Assignment: Talk to a Teen
Discussion: Discuss experiences with teens
2.2 Generation Z
Watch: Gen Z: Making a Difference Their Way
Read: The Campus of Tomorrow
2.3 Adolescent Brain Development
Watch:
 The Neuroscience of the Teenage Brain
 The Teenage Brain: Paradox and Practical Solutions
Discussion: Neurological and Generational Research
2.4 College Research Report #1
2.5 Reflection

Module 3: Exploring the Decision

3.1 College Types
Watch: Module overview video
Read:
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapter 5
 Admission Matters: Chapter 4 (portions)
Research college types
3.2 College Fit
Read: Admission Matters: Chapter 4 (portions)
Watch: Overview: Exploring College Options
Listen: Demystifying College Admissions: Finding Your College Fit
 Research ‘College Fit’ from a student point of view
Discussion: College types and college fit
3.3 Admissions Factors
Read:
 Admission Matters: Chapter 2
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapter 7
 Factors in the Admissions Decision
Discussion: Admissions factors
3.4 Quiz
3.5 National Association of College Admission Counseling
Explore the NACAC website
3.6 College Research Report #2
3.7 Reflection

Module 4: Exploring the Process

4.1 Tasks and Timing
Watch: Module overview video
Watch: Lecture video on Exploring the Process: Tasks and Timing
Read:
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapter 8
 Admission Matters – College Preparation Time Line
 College Counseling for School Counselors:
o Chapter 11
o Chapter 12
o Chapter 15
o Chapter 18
o Chapter 22
o Chapter 42
o Chapter 54
Discussion: College curriculum and timing
4.2 Building Team Member Relationships
Watch: Lecture video on Exploring the Process: Team
Watch: Independent Educational Consultants and the College Application
Process
Read:
  College Counseling for School Counselors
o Chapter 6
o Chapter 9
o Chapter 23
o Chapter 24
o Chapter 39
o Chapter 44
Assignment: Explore ways of building team member relationships
Discussion: Building team member relationships
4.3 Ethical and Legal Issues
Read:
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapter 2
 College Counseling for School Counselor, Chapter 55
 IECA Principles of Good Practice
 HECA Ethics & Standards Statement
 NACAC Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission (portion)
Discussion: Ethical and Legal Issues
4.4 Book Club discussion
4.5 Reflection

Module 5: Application Platforms

5.1 Attend the Live ‘Ask Me Anything’ Session
5.2 Application Platforms
Watch: Module overview video
Read: Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapter 6
Read: Admission Matters Chapter 9 (portions)
Assignment: Explore application platforms
5.3 Application Elements & Application Types
Watch: Application Elements lecture video
Read:
 Admission Matters Chapter 7
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapter 45
Discussion: Application platforms and application types
5.4 Application Deep Dive
Assignment: Explore the Common Application or Coalition Application
 Discussion: Application deep dive
5.5 Application Decision Making
Watch: AXS Companion Toolkit
Read:
 Admission Matters Chapter 3
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 50 and 51
Watch admissions insider videos:
 Grinnell’s Admissions Process
 Behind the College Admissions Decision Room
Discussion: Application decision making
5.6 Quiz
5.7 College Research Report #3
5.8 Reflection

Module 6: Tackling Testing

6.1 Testing Overview
Watch: Module overview video
Read:
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 16, 17, and 21
 Admissions Matters Chapter 6
 What We’ve Learned about Test-Optional and Test-Required Admissions
 Big Changes to the ACT Coming in Spring
 Compass Guide to College Admissions Testing
6.2 Which Tests? When?
Assignment: Analyze testing requirements
Read: Test Comparisons and Testing Schedules:
 Compass Guide to College Admissions Testing pages 20, 26 – 29, 56
 Applerouth Test Comparison
 Applerouth Blog on Making Judicious Use of Junior Year
Discussion: Testing advice
6.3 Test Preparation
Read Understanding the Benefits of SAT and ACT Preparation
Assignment: Review SAT and ACT site information
Assignment: Gather test preparation resources
 Discussion: Test preparation advice and resources
6.4 Additional Testing Resources
Assignment: Explore more information on testing
Discussion: Testing resources
6.5 Quiz
6.6 College Research Report #4

Module 7: Essays Examined

7.1 Essay Essentials
Watch: Module overview video
Read:
 Admissions Matters: Chapter 9 (portions)
 How to Write an Effective College Application Essay: Chapters 1 and 2
 Common App Essay Prompts
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 46 and 49
Assignment: Gather essay prompts
Discussion: Essay prompts
7.2 Writing an Essay
Listen: 107: What I've Learned from Reading Over 10,000 College Essays
Read: How to Write an Effective College Application Essay: Chapter 3
Assignment: Write a 500- to 600-word essay
Discussion: Essay and reflection
7.3 Essay Resources
Read: How to Write an Effective College Application Essay: Chapter 56
Watch: College Essay Q&A for Pros: How to Review Essays Quickly and Efficiently
Read: Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps
7.4 Book club discussion
7.5 Reflection

Module 8: Additional Application Elements

8.1 School Generated Application Elements
Watch: Module overview video
Watch: Common Application demonstration
 Assignment: Explore application elements
8.2 Counselor Recommendations
Read:
 Admission Matters: Chapter 10
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapter 48
Assignment: Analyze recommendation letters
8.3 Teacher Evaluations
Read: College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 40 and 41
Read: Writing Character Conscious Letters of Recommendation: Tips for High
School Counselors and Teachers
Watch: Insider’s Guide to Writing a Great Recommendation Letter
Discussion: Counselor recommendations and teacher evaluations
Assignment: Improve teacher recommendations
Review the Common App Ready PDFs
8.4 Interviews & More
Read: Admission Matters: Chapter 10 (portions)
Read: College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapter 47
Assignment: Explore interviews and more
Discussion: Interviews and more

Module 9: College Counseling Resources

9.1 Resources Overview
Watch: Module overview video
Read:
 Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling: Chapters 10 and 11
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Assignment: Analyze the data
Assignment: Explore professional organizations
Discussion: College counseling resources
9.2 Information Management and Document Delivery
Assignment: Explore platforms
Assignment: Explore Parchment
Discussion: Information management and document delivery resources
 9.3 Building Knowledge
Read:
 Admission Matters Resources section
 College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapter 58
Assignment: Explore resources
9.4 Sharing Information
Read: College Counseling for School Counselors: Chapters 7 and 8
Assignment: Explore high school counseling websites
Assignment: Explore high school counseling social media
Discussion: Building knowledge and sharing information
9.5 Campus Visit Report Part 1 (College Report) and Part 2 (Campus Visit Report)

Module 10: What Now?

10.1 Overview and Admissions Panel
Watch: Module overview video
Assignment: Conduct the admissions panel group activity
Discussion: Admissions panel
10.2 Strategies for College Admissions Advising: Course and Program Overview and
Check-In
Read: UC Berkeley Extension catalog page for Strategies for College Admissions
Assignment: Take the program pathway check-in survey
10.3 Assessment, Reflection, and Next Steps
Quiz
Assignment: Self-assessment
Assignment: Identify your next steps
Discussion: Assessment, Reflection, and Next Steps
10.4 Course Evaluation