The College Knowledge Program
The college process asks students to use many of the skills that they have been honing during their Academy careers – self-reflection, critical thinking, analysis, discussion, and persuasive writing. These skills are directed towards a new set of knowledge: college types, personal essays, interviews, majors, careers, applications, deadlines, and college costs.
All students in the 10-12 division at Albuquerque Academy are required to enroll in a College Knowledge seminar each year. College Knowledge is an exploration of the college search and application process taught by the Academy’s college advisers. Students will be introduced to concepts and tools that will be critical to their own college application process.
The Plan for 2021-2022
College Knowledge has been offered at different times and using different formats over the last few years. In 2021-22, the seminar will be offered on a trimester basis, with students enrolled in a section that will meet according to what grade they are in. Seniors will have College Knowledge approximately once every four days August 19 – November 10. This matches with the time when most will be applying to college. Juniors will be enrolled in a section that will meet every four days during the second trimester of the year, November 11 – February 17. This is the time when juniors start meeting individually with the assigned college counselor. Sophomores will have their College Knowledge class at the end of the year, meeting every four days February 22 – May 25, allowing them to get settled into the 10-12 division before focusing their attention on the college work that takes place in the junior and senior years
Sophomores: College Explorations
College Explorations is the first year of the College Knowledge program for 10th-grade students. This course is designed to dispel some common myths about colleges and college admissions, to introduce some basic vocabulary and different types of colleges, and to explore the different parts of a college application. The course will include a basic overview of standardized testing and test prep strategies and will also present a basic interest inventory to introduce different career paths that can be explored. This course will help students get to know the College Guidance staff and their particular areas of expertise. For more details, please see the College Explorations canvas page.
Juniors: College Planning
College Planning is the College Knowledge course for juniors. The second year will place more emphasis on the tools that students will use for their college searches and, eventually, their applications. The primary tool that students will utilize is the online search and processing platform, Scoir. Introduced in 10th grade, juniors will get more advanced instructions on the features of Scoir. There will also be more in-depth discussion of testing and test prep, financing college, as well as the college essay and other required pieces of college applications. For more details, please see the College Planning canvas page.
Seniors: College Transitions
The final year of the College Knowledge program will focus on application work time for seniors. The year will begin with all seniors applying to University of New Mexico. Other class times will be devoted to filling out the Common Application, the Coalition Application, and applications to other state systems. The college advisers will assist seniors with revising college essays and finalizing their college application lists. The course will also focus on financial aid application instruction and scholarship searches. For more details, please see the College Transitions canvas page.
If there are any questions regarding the College Knowledge program, please email the College Guidance Office.
