CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF METACOGNITIVE
,
VARIABLES
Autumn 2016
.
I Volume
1
IN THIS ISSUE
I Topic
Issue :l
~ , "'
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'
Getting Your Child into College without the GPA by Shanice Jones-Cameron,
Keisha Talbot-Johnson,
Justin's family income is less than annually. His high school offered few honors and advanced
and Antonio Henley
$30,000
The two examples represent extreme cases, but they also illustrate
placement
very real scenarios for many college applicants. College hopefuls have
courses. Justin cannot afford
SAT preparation courses or other study materials. His parents did not attend college;
therefore,
they
are unable to
advise him on less obvious may help him become competitive
college
steps that a more
applicant.
Justin's
grade point average (GPA) is a 1.9, and his SAT scores are in the 15th percentile. Justin wants to attend college.
varying
family
incomes,
more than $250,000 annually. She attended a top-tier private school. Michelle
took
mostly
advanced
ethnic
States rely almost exclusively on cognitive variables such as SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA to select the best students with little regard students' diverse backgrounds.
and whether attend attend
for
make-up
their parents were able to
college, students a university.
often wish to Sometimes,
because of a number of other factors, students may not have a parent or
placement courses. She took an SAT preparation course and worked with a
mentor who can help them through the process of getting to college or
private SAT tutor. Both of Michelle's parents are doctors, so they are able to stress the importance of extracurricular
university, especially if they were not stellar high school students. Some students have testing anxiety, while other potentially high performers were
activities when applying for college. They encouraged Michelle to join the Debate Team and become class president in addition to playing volleyball,
Michelle's
GPA is a 4.0, and
her SAT scores are in the 90th percentile. Michelle also wants to attend college.
Factors
is redefining potential for college success.
backgrounds, and access to academic resources. Yet Institutions in the United
Regardless of their family On the other hand, Michelle comes from a family with an annual income of
Non-cognitive JCsu
bored in environment.
the
Many students and ambition
traditional
school
Parental Guidance Understanding your student's strengths and helping to provide strategic advice in the college application process can make a world of difference.
still have potential
to earn a college degree
despite low test scores and grade point averages. Through the Biddle Institute
Page
1
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF METACOGNITIVE Topic Issue
VARIABLES
2
1
programs
at
University,
Johnson
C.
Smith
our aim is to meet them at
the point of that aspiration can achieve that dream.
that they We use a
50
• Desire
strengths-based student success model which looks at the student as a whole
• EDlightment
·E:Ipomn
• Su.bstinDatioll
person. The Biddle Institute's StrengthBased Student Success Model outlines the
process for
student
development
and represents the phases through which students are expected to progress as they come into a deeper understanding
how to
apply
of their
strengths
trained faculty extracurricular
and
align
them. The stages in this
demonstrates to attend college by
to the
university.
To
are required for students to learn
support student success, the institution collects and evaluates
how to use their strengths overcome normal feelings
required application materials. All assessments are intended to
being in environment,
identify each student's strengths. Induction: Three to four weeks prior
structures
of
in a pre-semester to facilitate team-
college.
Enlightenment:
At this stage, the
student clearly understands his or her strengths and the ways in
Support
which they flourish. The student
in this phase include
consistently is able to skills, recognizes when
advising, mentoring, and tutoring. Exposure: During the academic year participants enroll in the general education I liberal studies
apply they
need help, and knows how to find it. Academic and career advising plays an important role in helping students arrive at this
curriculum. Students typically take a full load of coursework and are supported
the college including struggle,
coaching, faculty teaming, as well as tutoring and advising are critical in this phase.
building among participants and introduce them to the academic culture
phase.
to
Since 2009, we have been working understanding non-cognitive
strengths.
Over
the
years
we
Variables
I Johnson
C. Smith University
1100 Beatties
have
learned a few things that may be helpful to parents and guardians. First, students who are determined to achieve a college education,
usually invest the necessary
time and energy to study and thereby accomplish their goal. Second, students who encountered and
difficulty
some type of hardship and
learned
how
to
overcome it, are better able to get around the challenges experienced in college. Finally, students who have a good sense of themselves and their strengths and weaknesses tend to use the knowledge These skillsets
to their advantage. are non-cognitive in
nature and they help students
succeed
in college, regardless of their high school performance or SAT/ACTtest score. The phases of our student success model are intended to facilitate students' development
in these skills.
If you know a student like to attend
college,
who would
understanding
these stages and how each college admits its students can mean the difference between a "Congratulations!" letter, and a "We regret to inform letter."
by specially-
Center for the Study of Metacoqnitive
to of
the sense of being overwhelmed, and reliance on old habits. Peer mentor
to the start of the fall semester, entering first-year students participate orientation
content.
students, peer mentor coaching, advising, and tutoring. Substantiation: Stre ngth-sem ina rs
Desire: The student applying
course
Program supports at this stage include faculty teams to monitor
system are as follows:
aspiration
with
who incorporate activities that
Ford Road, Charlotte,
NC 282161704-378-6467
you