Supporting Students’ Postsecondary Journey

As educators, our primary goal is to prepare students academically to meet the objectives of their next grade. However, true success extends far beyond the classroom, and meaningful connections with students play an essential role in achieving this. Building these relationships is vital not only for students’ overall growth, but also for their postsecondary success, whether they pursue college, a career, or other postsecondary path.

Teachers spend an average of 30+ hours a week with their students, providing ample opportunity to understand their needs, strengths, and aspirations. By leveraging this time, educators, school staff, and leaders can better equip students for life beyond high school. This process should begin as early as freshman year, setting a strong foundation for college and career readiness. This blog explores strategies on how to guide every student toward success, emphasizing the importance of holistic preparation.

Key Takeaways

• Postsecondary success requires more than academic preparation; students need consistent guidance, strong relationships, and access to resources throughout high school.
• Financial barriers, limited access to counseling, and complex systems like the FAFSA disproportionately impact low-income and first-generation students.
• Postsecondary readiness should begin in early high school to give students time to explore options, build skills, and plan intentionally.
• Supporting students should be a responsibility shared among teachers, counselors, school leaders, and community partners.
• Social and emotional learning plays a critical role in helping students navigate transitions, advocate for themselves, and persist after high school.
• Programs like OneGoal help schools embed postsecondary planning into the core high school experience rather than treating it as optional.

Understanding Postsecondary Readiness

Preparing students for life after high school requires a collaborative effort—it truly takes a village. Whether students choose college, trade school, military service, or the workforce, school communities must prioritize equipping them with the academic, social, and practical skills needed to succeed in their chosen paths.

For students pursuing higher education, the goal is not just enrollment but persistence: successfully entering a program and staying committed to earning a degree or certification.

For those entering the workforce, the focus is on ensuring they possess the skills, knowledge, and confidence to transition seamlessly into a career where they can excel and thrive. This is where we come in!

Schools can take the following steps:

Scholarships not only ease the financial burden of college, but also play an important role in student persistence and success. Research shows that students who receive scholarships are more likely to stay enrolled and complete their degrees, as financial stress is a leading factor in college dropout rates. When students don’t have to worry about finances, they can focus more on their college experience and academics.

Support

• Prioritize having dedicated college counselors or training existing staff to provide tailored support for students.
• Offer workshops on topics like college applications, scholarships, financial aid, and career exploration to give students a clear understanding of their options at the start of freshman year.
• Collaborate with local colleges to arrange campus tours and informational sessions or have virtual college visits.
• Partner with community organizations to connect students with mentors who can guide them through the process.
• Use career exploration tools to help students identify interests and align them with potential college majors or vocational programs, possibly adding this to an English or humanities curriculum.

Typically, these suggestions would come from the counseling department, but with the overwhelming number of students assigned to each counselor, it can be daunting and exhausting for a counselor. This is why it should be a collaborative effort. Students should be able to count on the support and guidance of all the staff, teachers, and counselors.

Postsecondary programs like OneGoal play a crucial role in helping school districts support all students throughout their high school journey and ensure access to postsecondary opportunities. The OneGoal program is a comprehensive three-year initiative that begins in high school and extends support into the first year of postsecondary education. By partnering with districts and high schools, OneGoal ensures that postsecondary planning, preparation, and support are not treated as optional extracurricular activities, but as integral components of the high school experience for every student.

As a program director for OneGoal for the past ten years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the growth, determination, and success of students who have benefited from this program. With the guidance and resources provided by OneGoal, along with specialized training to become an effective postsecondary advisor, I am deeply committed to sharing this knowledge and support with all of my students.

Financial Barriers

Finances are a major hurdle for many students, especially those who live in low-income areas. Typically, schools in these neighborhoods lack sufficient financial resources to assist all deserving students. This is why it is important to involve all staff in helping navigate these hurdles whether a student chooses the career path or college.

Schools can take the following steps:

• Integrate financial literacy into the curriculum to help students understand budgeting, loans, and scholarships. This can include lessons on saving money and understanding loans to empower students with lifelong skills.
• Educate students on how to find and apply for scholarships and grants, emphasizing local opportunities.
• Promote affordable options like community colleges, which often have lower tuition rates and articulation agreements with four-year institutions.
• Highlight alternative career pathways that offer certifications, apprenticeships, and high-earning potential with minimal upfront costs.

First-Generation Students

All students deserve the opportunity to choose their postsecondary path regardless of income, culture, and status. Unfortunately, first-generation students face more roadblocks than other students whose parents have attended college. Our First-Generation College Students – Unique Barriers blog post lists common barriers for these students. Understanding these disadvantages can help with the type of guidance and support a school community can offer. As a school, we need to be transparent about the cost of college as well as the cost of living expenses should a student decide to jump into the workforce after high school.

Schools can take the following steps:

• Educate students and their families about postsecondary pathways, college terminology, and what to expect in higher education.
• Pair students with mentors who have navigated similar financial challenges and succeeded in higher education.
• Establish clubs or support groups where first-generation students can connect, share experiences, and find encouragement from peers facing similar challenges.
• Advocate for application fee waivers for college admissions and standardized tests like the SAT/ACT.

The Complexity of Financial Aid

FAFSA recently launched a new financial aid process. The goal was to limit the amount of questions and simplify the process. However, since the launch, it has only caused challenges such as technical errors and longer wait times for submissions and financial award letters. Students whose parents do not have a social security number were especially challenged, which we refer to in our 6 Main FAFSA Challenges blog post. This is why it is essential that school communities invest time in educating our students and families about this rigorous process.

Schools can take the following steps:

• Host financial aid nights where students and families can get one-on-one help completing the FAFSA and scholarship applications.
• Offer financial aid guidance in multiple languages to reach families from diverse backgrounds.
• Partner and collaborate with local colleges or nonprofit organizations to provide additional FAFSA support and resources.
• Ask educators to implement lessons in their classrooms that can help students understand the process and complexity of financial aid.

By offering these resources, schools can help students and their families feel more confident to not only complete the FAFSA, but understand its challenges. This will increase students’ chances of receiving financial aid for college and feeling prepared to complete it every year they attend college.

Socio-Emotional Challenges

In recent years, social and emotional learning (SEL) has been integrated in the classroom so teachers can support students’ mental well-being and, in turn, create a foundation for lifelong learners. SEL is especially crucial for the transition to college because it helps students develop the skills they need to navigate new challenges. This will be a new realm for students, so educators and counselors both play a key role in instilling this foundation.

Teachers can take the following steps:

• Share personal stories and experiences to encourage a growth mindset.
• ​​Help students set personal and professional goals.
  Teach professionalism through communication, including email etiquette and networking.
• Teach time management, organization, and decision-making skills for college or job success.

Counselors can take the following steps:

• Promote self-advocacy so students can seek help, whether from professors, supervisors, or mentors.
• Bring in alumni to speak with current students about how they navigated the transition from high school to college on a personal and academic level, as well as students who are in the workforce.
• Offer internships, college visits, and mentorship programs to give students real-world experience.
• Guide students through college applications, FAFSA, and job search processes, preferably through one-on-one advising.

School communities must understand that SEL goes beyond the classroom. By integrating SEL throughout a student’s high school career, schools can prepare students not just for academic success, but for thriving in college, career, and beyond.

Beyond the Classroom

A strong postsecondary culture increases student motivation and confidence for life after high school. It helps them see a clear path to success, reduces anxiety about the future, and improves long-term career and financial stability. This culture goes beyond the classroom. As educators, counselors, school leaders, and community members, it is our responsibility to serve as dedicated guides, mentors, and advocates. Together, we can empower our students to achieve their full potential and confidently navigate their postsecondary journeys.

Q&A

Why should postsecondary planning begin as early as freshman year?

Starting early gives students the time to explore diverse career interests and academic paths without the pressure of immediate deadlines. By introducing college and career concepts in the ninth grade, schools help students build the foundational skills and financial literacy needed to make informed decisions long before graduation day.

How can schools support students when the counseling department is overstretched?

Postsecondary readiness should be a collaborative, “all-hands-on-deck” effort. While counselors provide specialized expertise, teachers can integrate college and career exploration into their daily curriculum—such as practicing professional email etiquette or discussing financial literacy.

What specific challenges do first-generation students face?

These students often navigate “hidden” barriers, such as a lack of familiarity with complex college terminology, limited access to professional networks, and significant financial hurdles. Beyond just tuition, the costs of applications and daily living can be prohibitive. Schools can bridge this gap by offering transparent financial guidance and fostering peer support groups.

How does social and emotional learning (SEL) impact a student’s success after graduation?

Academic preparation gets a student into their next phase, but SEL skills help them persist. By focusing on self-advocacy, time management, and resilience, educators equip students to handle the independence of college or the workforce. Developing a growth mindset ensures that when students encounter the inevitable challenges of transition, they have the emotional tools to seek help and keep moving forward.

Monica Selagea grew up in Chicago and attended Columbia College in Chicago and DePaul University. She is currently a high school teacher in Chicago and a Program Director for OneGoal. She also teaches at the City Colleges of Chicago.

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