Lesson
Admissions & Campus Research
Summary
A shiny campus website is basically a highlight reel. It won't tell you the real graduation rate or what students actually pay after aid. This lesson pushes students past brochures into hard data, then has them launch real fieldwork outreach.
Bellringer: Beyond the Brochure
- Display the prompt about a school's polished official stats
- Have students list two non-official sources for researching a school
- Call on 2-3 students to share before moving to discussion
Instruction
- Walk through admissions requirements, application decision types, and general vs. direct admission
- Cover application costs and fee waiver eligibility
- Introduce standard vs. "real talk" research data points
Discussion: Low Graduation Rate vs. High Job Placement
- Present the Option B scenario (low completion, high placement in target field)
- Ask why a technical program might have lower completion rates
- Push students to weigh general graduation rate against major-specific job placement
Activity: Research Quick Check & Fieldwork Outreach
- Students complete the Fit Test research (reach, match, safety schools) using the College and Career Workbook page 8
- Students identify a target contact and draft a fieldwork outreach email with 1-2 specific questions
- Circulate to help students spot real gaps in their research
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- What is the federal College Scorecard tool used for?
- Why shouldn't you rely ONLY on an official school brochure or website when researching?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Beyond the Brochure |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 8 min | Discussion: Low Graduation Rate vs. High Job Placement |
|
| 17 min | Activity: Research Quick Check & Fieldwork Outreach |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
College and Careers Workbook
Complete page 8 of this workbook.
Class Presentation
Includes a 17-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 3: Post-Secondary Pathways & Funding
Savings Vehicles
A tuition gift card isn't just generous—it's a tax-advantaged savings vehicle in disguise. Explore how 529 and 529A accounts turn education savings into a smarter, tax-free strategy.
Admissions & Campus Research
A shiny campus website is basically a highlight reel. It won't tell you the real graduation rate or what students actually pay after aid. This lesson pushes students past brochures into hard data, then has them launch real fieldwork outreach.
FAFSA
Billions in free college aid go unclaimed every year over a 12-minute form. This lesson demystifies the FAFSA and helps students build a realistic plan to fund education beyond high school.
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