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Marlborough High outlines new college-planning supports: workshops, video library and expanded SAT access
Summary
Guidance counselors described a multi-year college-planning program for juniors and seniors, including PSAT/SAT school-day testing, a free Kaplan SAT prep funded by a Quest grant, rotating workshops, and plans to build a translated video library for families.
Guidance counselors at Marlborough High School laid out a multi-year approach to college planning for juniors and seniors at the Feb. 10 school committee meeting, describing classroom (Panther period/core) lessons, individual counselor appointments, testing supports and new outreach plans.
Liz de Horatius and Amy Weman said juniors receive grade-level core lessons on labor-market trends and career exploration, PSAT testing paid by the district with accommodations and translated directions, and a free nine-week Kaplan SAT-prep course supported by a Quest grant. Counselors said they also run an SAT school day in April and offer fee waivers where needed.
The counselors described senior-year programming that includes scholarship workshops, campus visits by admissions representatives, instant-decision days with local colleges, and individual counselor support (the department writes recommendation letters for all seniors who request them). To reach more families and students, counselors said they will pilot rotating two-day workshops broken into focused rooms (essay, financial aid, Common App help) and create a short video library with translated segments that families can re-watch on demand.
Why it matters: Counselors and committee members said breaking large presentations into smaller, repeatable components and providing translated videos will make information more accessible, reduce anxiety for families and increase take-up of scholarship and testing opportunities.
Discussion points: Committee members urged earlier outreach (freshman year), timelines for applications, and more parent-facing training; counselors said the district will pilot smaller workshops, lunchtime help sessions and video content produced with the high-school media program.
What’s next: Counselors will pilot the rotating workshops and develop the video library; they also said a needs assessment for seniors will guide lunchtime work sessions and other hands-on supports before June.
