High school students
constantly stress out about college and the future not knowing where, let alone how, they are going to achieve this goal. There have been numerous college prep
programs that have extensive resources to aid the students guiding them to
their future education. I have personally applied and participate in several
that have been helpful and useful in my preparation for college during high
school. Student Expedition Program (STEP) is one of the few best programs for
the students in Trevor G. Browne High School that desire assistance on the road
to college.
STEP was founded by a woman named Tracy Baynes has become
a successful program with 100% of their participants attending a four year
college or university after high school. This program had several requirements
that have to be accomplished in order to be considered in the program. In
addition, after a candidate is accepted there are several discussions had with
Tracy about a person’s schedule especially deciding whether the course load is
reasonable for college bound students. STEP suggests courses for students and
eventually has conferences with the student about the performance in school.
Although, there are other important preparations taken for important exams such
as ACT/SAT with extensive resources provided to support students with their
goals of success. Students are assigned to research liberal colleges and
universities expanding our awareness of types of colleges that are in the
world. Summer programs are also encouraged and are essential to the students in
STEP because a summer is never wasted on the pathway to college. Once the
program is close to an end juniors have the opportunity to take a trip to
Alaska as a reward of hard work and dedication that student’s demonstrate
throughout their sophomore and junior year. In the trip leadership is relied on
constantly and daily reflection is completed giving students a once in a
lifetime opportunity to reflect on life goals under the Northern Lights.
I will evaluate STEP based on the preparation for college
and their resources also on the diversity in areas of location it emphasizes. I
will also base the quality of STEP based on whether other college programs encourage
their students in and outside of school. Furthermore, whether the program directly
prepares their students for meeting administration representatives or providing
students to witness presentations from those representatives. Finally I will
evaluate the programs encouragement of out-of-state colleges and universities
and their programs. Throughout my assessment comparing this program to a couple
others common in Trevor G. Browne High School.
STEP has several similarities and differences with other
programs such as Be A Leader, another exceptional program for Trevor students. For
instance, a personal statement is important to Be A Leader in the beginning and
unlike STEP the personal statements are not as enforced. This is because STEP
encourages summer programs and suggests that students save their work because a
personal statements could be modified for one specific program application the
adjusted for another. However, having a personal statement “so to speak” is
enforced as much as in Be a Leader. An example of modification is my ACE Plus
essay I constantly modify this or my STEP application in order to answer
prompts in other applications allowing students to save time during the school
year. Moreover, out-of-state programs are constantly encouraged in order to
expose the students to new environments to encourage students to rise to new
expectations.
However, STEP does not directly prepare their students
for college as ACE Plus does through the college classes. Nonetheless, STEP
does contribute to the students applying to earn college credit in other state
colleges/universities both nationally and internationally. In addition, STEP
personally checks in with students during breaks and before summer to confirm
that students have college bound summers planned unlike Be A Leader. But ACEE
Plus does ensure that at least one month in the summer is dedicated to an
additional set of college courses before the students are allowed to be
“officially” off break. STEP encouraging students to apply to out-of-state
institutions does make it an exceptional program because very minimal programs
emphasive outside schooling yet STEP seems to demonstrate their desire for
students to explore other states. A great number of students were encouraged to
apply to several programs offered in Northfield, Minnesota at Carleton College
because of the competition to be accepted into the program would be high
however the acceptance would be college worthy.
Therefore, demonstrating that STEP although it does not
always directly students for college it does aid students in their path and
especially with their exposure to colleges. Inspiring students to become
curious of other programs and interests while providing tools to succeed in
high school as well as important exams. Overall preparing the students for a
lifelong curiosity for their future.
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