Guidance Counselors pave the way for college-bound students

October 19, 1:54 PMPublic School Reform ExaminerElizabeth Brown

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New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University

Guidance Counselors can be the golden ticket to college for kids living in poverty. With the recent cuts made to Hartford Schools, counselor reductions hit close to 50% of the Hartford Schools. In an article entitled Far too Many Students See College As Out of Reach, (Hartford Courant 10/4), John Motely, member of the board of trustees in the Connecticut State University System (CSUS), discusses the ramifications of leaving behind potential.

What will non-college bound kids do? According to the Bureau of Labor, jobs requiring higher education will double the amount of non-college jobs, in the next few years. By 2020, ¼ of Connecticut’s working age population will be minority groups (between the ages of 25-29).

Nevertheless, with too few counselors to assist with the “financial maze” of financial aide, college admittance paper work, and SAT Prep classes, many students, currently, miss the boat and are left behind in the low paying sector.

With proper guidance, kids will get there. Motely refers to the 49% enrolled in CSUS, which includes Central, Eastern, Southern ,and Western, who are the first in their family to attend college. He points out the daunting challenges these kids have had to overcome. Since 2004, there has been an increase in enrollment up to 16% for students of color.

Despite the increase, there still exists a disparity (5,237 minorities compared to 26,297 whites). Not surprising, as the income level decreases, so, too, does the college enrollment. Affluent or middle class student enrollment is at a rate of 70%. For low income students, the rate is 52%.

With a shortage of counselors, assemblies in the auditorium are held for students concerning college admittance. For students lacking resources and role models, hearing about college and higher earning power is irrelevant. It is not enough to sit in an assembly and watch a power point presentation on the importance of college. Students have immediate obstacles such as poverty and language and cultural barriers. Those who grow up watching a parent work two or three jobs and struggle can’t fathom $40,000 dollar tuition for college. It is, for many, self-indulgent. They want to work and help support the family. College is not part of their world. Even the brightest turns a deaf ear to lectures.

Consequently, for Hartford students, it takes more than a lecture or a brochure. It takes a personal touch, a mentorship, a frequent 1: 1 interaction with a counselor who will walk them through the process. Kids who are missing role models, or family members who graduated college, need someone who is familiar with the process and can guide them through it, let them know it’s feasible.

The work and influence of a Guidance Counselor extends way beyond the classroom, and should not be undervalued. Increasing rather than decreasing the number of counselors within each school is necessary to spark the flame, get these kids ready for the next academic step—mentally and logistically. As Motely emphasizes, we can’t afford to leave our brightest out of the pool, blame the victim for failing to reach out, when in fact, they don’t know how to see beyond the wall of poverty; they need a boost.