While Willow recommends quality programs likely to be a good fit for students, don’t overlook the importance of the "Program Review" conversation and phase! It's where students evaluate and select the most interesting programs. Your expertise and guidance are critical to students to help them understand their motivations, assess quality programs, and decide where to apply.
This guide is designed to help counselors effectively facilitate this stage, ensuring that students make well-informed decisions.
Understanding the Program Review Phase
During this phase, students are required to:
♥️Heart at least 3 programs on Willow that align with their interests and goals. Remember, all programs have been vetted for quality, and it may take a little time for a student to click into the details of each program. Encourage students to “trash” programs that don’t resonate.
This pivotal stage sets the foundation for the subsequent application process.
Counselor Facilitation Guide for Program Review (5-15 min checkin meeting)
Connect:
Start with the “why”: Start by explaining the importance of this phase in the broader context of their education journey. Connect with your students’ why making a quality next step is important. Emphasize the need for thoughtful consideration in selecting programs to heart.
Review the student's personality profile: What was most helpful for the student? What wasn’t helpful? Anything surprising? How does what they’re good at naturally help guide their career & program interests?
Assess:
Which programs were interesting or not interesting, why?: Encourage students to explore the details of the programs recommended by Willow. Discuss aspects like academic fit, financial fit, cultural/social fit, location, and career opportunities. Try to identify patterns for them. Help students assess how each program aligns with their long-term educational and career objectives.
(Re)Explain ROI: Guide students to analyze each program critically. Discuss pros and cons, considering academic, personal, and financial factors. The ROI helps us understand: is this program likely to be “worth it?”
Heart 3 programs (if not complete): Motivate students to heart at least three programs. This action should be based on careful consideration.
Reflect: Encourage students to state their reasons for selecting these programs. This reflection helps solidify their choices and provides a basis for future discussions.
Act:
Move forward into the Application Phase: Brief students on the upcoming Application Process stage, highlighting the importance of staying organized and meeting deadlines.
Clear next steps: Schedule follow-up meetings to review their selections, discuss any changes in their thoughts or preferences, and address any concerns.
Tips for Effective Facilitation
Have students read some of the descriptions to you. There is a lot of tricky concepts in many of these programs that may be easy for you to understand (or not!), but not the student.
Talk Less: Listen to the student’s interests and concerns. Try to talk less than 20% of the time!
Open-Ended Questions: Encourage students to think deeply about their choices.
Resource Sharing: Provide additional resources for research, like provider websites or virtual tours.
Emotional Support: Acknowledge the stress of decision-making and offer reassurance.
Conclusion
The Program Review phase in Willow is more than just a step in the process; it’s a critical moment for students to align their educational aspirations with concrete quality next steps. Your role as a counselor in facilitating this phase is invaluable. By guiding students through a thoughtful review and selection process, you lay the groundwork for their success in the subsequent stages of their education journey.
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