Here are the August Checklist and Cheatsheet! The checklist is a monthly resource collecting all of the typical duties and tasks for a college counselor for the month. See the PDF for August here, or read below. Then, the intention of the College Counseling Cheatsheet is to provide a 30-minute (or less) activity each weekday that college counselors can do to improve their counseling practice. Furthermore, the monthly calendar is designed to be uploaded as a CSV file into your Google (or other) calendar so you can get reminders and even move the event to whenever you want within your busy schedule. (Download the Cheatsheet, open your Google Calendar, open Settings, and follow the instructions in the Import/Export tab on the left-hand navigation menu!) Here is the link to the August Cheatsheet.

Take a look, and give me some feedback! Did I miss anything? Do you have any good ideas to share? Any thoughts? Please add them in the comments or email me!

August Checklist
"New Beginnings and Fresh Faces"

As the new academic year begins, the college counseling office is filled with enthusiasm and anticipation. Counselors work closely with incoming students to help them transition into high school and introduce them to the college planning process. They also reconnect with returning students, providing guidance on academic progress, extracurricular involvement, and college planning. Students are encouraged to embrace new opportunities, set goals for the year, and take advantage of the support available to them.

1. Monthly Reminders: Get the year off to a great start by sharing updates and information about what lies ahead in the upcoming weeks, months, and year. To make this happen smoothly, create a thoughtful communication plan that takes into account all the individuals involved: students of all grades, parents, faculty, administration, board members, and even alumni. By connecting with everyone, you'll keep them informed and engaged!

2. Common App Exploration: The Common Application website goes live around August 1. If you haven't already, go ahead and create a counselor account and take some time to get acquainted with any changes that may have been made. Once you're all set, it would be super helpful if you could put together a handy checklist or guide for students, tailored to our school's specific requirements and information. This will make it a breeze for them to complete the Common App smoothly. Thanks in advance for your help!

3. File Updates for Students: Make sure you have all the right student information, both online and offline. It's important to keep everything up to date. If you come across any problems, deal with them right away. Take the time to organize your digital and paper files, as well as your Student Information Systems. Check that all students are listed and that each one has their appropriate files. And don't forget to assign them to their assigned counselors too! Take care of all their needs now and you'll be all set!

4. Updates for Teachers & Staff: Get all the faculty on board with our college counseling software by creating and updating their accounts. We don't want anyone to miss out, so it's important to provide proper training to all our staff members, whether they're writing letters of recommendation or not. Speaking of which, let's make sure everyone who will be writing those letters has all the necessary instructions and training. Your support in this effort is highly appreciated!

5. Semester 1 Schedule Updates: Take a moment to review and refresh our fall semester schedule and calendar, ensuring that all our important programs are accurately planned and marked. It's crucial that we provide all our stakeholders with the correct dates and helpful reminders. By investing some time now, we can ensure a smoother experience in the future.

6. Counselor Letters of Recommendation: Make sure to get a head start on crafting a counselor letter of recommendation. Plus, make arrangements to have everything ready for writing an outstanding letter. And if you're dealing with international applicants, make sure you have a well-organized system to gather all the necessary information for your incredible letters.

7. College Rep Visit Planning: Get ready to welcome college representatives by organizing some fantastic events! Start by updating your scheduling software and website, making it easy for everyone to access and plan their visits. Don't forget to send out invitations to all the students so they don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Lastly, it's important to ensure that all students are prepared, so create a plan to train and equip them for these valuable encounters.

8. School Profile: Get ready to give your annual school profile a fresh new look! Start by gathering all the important data you'll need for a thorough review. And don't forget to check out the latest best practices and see what other schools are doing with their profiles. You'll be amazed at the inspiration and ideas you'll find!

9. Social Media Scouring: Explore the exciting world of social media by delving into the online presence of both a well-known university and a lesser-known school. Take a captivating journey through their social media channels to discover amazing new things. And don't stop there! Delve into the virtual world of peer institutions to see what innovative ideas they are brewing. Social media is an incredible resource that constantly offers fresh methods to engage with our diverse communities. Let's tap into this invaluable tool and embrace its endless possibilities!

10. Student Review: Where are your students in your established process? It's important to take a moment and consider if there are any individuals, groups, or grade-levels that may need a little extra attention. Why not review all of them for some potentially helpful insights? It could make a real difference in their learning journey!

Again, if you have any ideas or thoughts, please put them in the comments below or email me!