BetterGrads Week(s) in Review #2
With many exciting recent developments to share, it’s time for another update on BetterGrads.
- We held the first (inter)national BetterGrads team meeting on October 28. Members of our national team called in from the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., and Paris. During the special two hour session, the National Team discussed the GHS presentations (see #4), strategic plans, and a major revision of the website. We will be unveiling some very exciting new features in the near-future.
- Presented to the Rotary Club of Pleasanton North. The discussion went very well, and we were delighted to be invited to speak to the club. Rotary has been and continues to be an incredibly important partner for BetterGrads. Service Above Self, that quintessential value espoused by each and every Rotarian, is one of our own fundamental truths. The businesswomen, educators, nonprofit leaders, lawyers, and accountants who extended their hand to us first were all Rotarians. And so, as we grow, we hope to build greater partnerships with Rotary at all levels: clubs, districts, and Rotary International.
- We will be at Oakland Technical High School next month! If you are a college student or young professional, and are interested in sharing your insights and experiences on college with Oakland Tech students as a panelist through an open Q&A discussion on “College 101,” please email me at kevin.adler [at] bettergrads [dot] org. We already have quite a list of potential panelists, but will make as many visits as possible based on the number of people who volunteer. Feel free to email me by WEDNESDAY at 9am PST if you are interested in getting involved and making a big difference in the lives of high school students at Oakland Tech. More information available via email.
- The feedback from Granada High School is starting to roll-in. Last month, five college peer advisors led “College 101” presentations and discussions to over 600 students and parents at GHS in Livermore, CA. We collected hundreds of feedback surveys from the students, and are in the process of analyzing our impact. Already, we have learned a lot by listening to students, and have implemented many of their ideas into our programs (e.g., more of a focus on Q&A, more background and personal experiences from presenters). While there is much more to come, I’d like to share an initial sampling of what students had to say about BetterGrads:
- “You gave me a lot more options.” – Female, Grade 9
- “What I enjoyed most of this presentation was how graduates presented and shared their experiences of college.” – Male, Grade 9
- “I’m speechless … I just loved everything about it.” – Male, Grade 11
- “Excellent presentation! I liked the honest, diverse experiences your panel could share. I wish we had more time.” – Female, Grade 11
- “I learned that it’s not only the academic part of college that changes your life. I learned that it’s ok to be undecided about what you want to do.” – Female, Grade 11
- “I really liked your enthusiasm and the many answers in different perspectives. I learned a lot: keep an open mind to things, strive for what you want, and have fun. :-) Thank you for all your recommendations … it really helped!” – Female, Grade 11
