College Readiness and Life Skills: Moving Beyond Academics

Getting a college degree takes more than academic skill. Yet the push for college readiness in high school often revolves around taking rigorous courses and maintaining good grades. Successful students in college must also be able to live independently, manage their schedules, advocate for themselves, and bounce back from failure. Many students today lack these life skills, and that translates into lower college completion rates on many campuses.

To address those concerns, some schools are taking a broader approach to college readiness. They are working to help students develop softer, noncognitive skills of resilience, problem solving, and communication.

This discussion will include the perspective of a Harvard researcher who advocates an approach to college readiness that includes work on identity development, motivation, and self-regulation. A high school counselor who has crafted programs that encourage student responsibility will also share her experience integrating life skills into college-readiness efforts.

Guests:

• Mandy Romer-Savitz, professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education, co-author of Ready, Willing, and Able: A Developmental Approach to College Access and Success
• Susan Strickland, counselor, Harrison High School, Kennesaw, Ga.

This webinar will be moderated by Caralee Adams, contributing writer for Education Week.

Underwriting for the content of this webinar has been provided by The Lumina Foundation.

Register now for this free live webinar.

Webinar Date: Thursday January 31, 1 – 2 p.m. ET

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