The Gap Between Influence and Efficacy: College Readiness Training, Urban School Counselors, and the Promotion of Equity

Abstract

This phenomenological study presents 11 urban school counselors' perceptions of their graduate education in school counseling in relation to their engagement in college readiness counseling with low-income, 1st-generation college-bound students. Findings from 2 rounds of interviews suggest that intentional strategies to integrate postsecondary readiness and planning into counselor education curricula is necessary to efficiently prepare school counselors to promote college access and success for at-risk youth, thereby reducing the inequities that currently exist in postsecondary degree attainment.

Counselor Educator Perceptions: College and Career Readiness of African-American Males

“…Students also need to have an understanding of the complex college admission and selection process, the academic requirements for college work, the options available to them, how to pay for postsecondary education, and the cultural differences that exist between high school and postsecondary education (Bradshaw, Waasdorp, Debnam, & Johnson, 2014;Conley, 2010;Hooker & Brand, 2010;Savitz-Romer). Although many students aspire to attend a fouryear college and understand the opportunities an advanced degree will allow, they have little understanding of the academic and social preparation necessary to actually enter a four-year college and to be successful in such a setting.…”

“…School counselor participants in a study conducted by Savitz-Romer (2012) described their graduate training programs as having emphasized clinical counseling, for which they were grateful, but which left very little time to focus on topics germane to public education, such as college and career readiness. Association (ASCA, 2014;2012) have also prompted that more attention to be given to how preservice school counselors are being trained in facilitating college and career readiness as well .…”

“…According to Savitz-Romer (2012), it is very rare for postsecondary education to be included in career development courses, and much of the vocational theory appears removed from facilitating the college and career readiness of underrepresented K-12 students, in particular. To that end, evidence-based counseling practices with African-American males seem sparse (Harper, Terry, and Twiggs, 2009).…”

“…Conley (2007) defines college readiness as the level of preparation and skills necessary to qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses at a postsecondary institution without the need for remedial coursework. School counselors can be incredibly helpful with postsecondary planning, as they engage students in thinking about and planning for their future (Savitz-Romer, 2012).…”

“…As critical as school counselors are to facilitating the college and career readiness of students (Harris, Myers, Appel, Han, Warren, Ware, Talmage, & Addison, 2013), the revealed dissatisfaction of school counselors with their graduate training (Savitz-Romer, 2012) in this regard is cause for concern. Post-secondary education is seen as a pathway to increased economic opportunities (e.g., higher salaries), benefits (e.g., healthcare and vacation time), and career mobility (Oreopoulos & Salvanes, 2011).…”