Morgan Barth is a proven leader with many years of experience at the top echelons of education. For nine years, Morgan Barth served as a principal with Achievement First, one of the most successful charter school networks in the country. He was also a founding teacher at Elm City College Prep in New Haven, Connecticut.
College prep counselors typically focus on improving a student’s grades and SAT scores for college. However, there’s much more that students could potentially receive from college prep if counselors focused on some other key areas. For instance, students should be encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities. Studies show that students who engage in extracurricular activities have higher graduation rates and perform better academically.
Moreover, counselors can and should emphasize the development of soft skills in students. In particular, things like persistence in the face of adversity, budgeting, and mental health protection techniques are valuable tools for any aspiring college student. And counselors can also help students choose a college based not only on the location, size, and academic focus. Other factors, such as a school’s culture, demographic makeup, and values, can also come into play.