Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC 📆 Event Recap

We recently hosted the event: Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC. This blog post provides a recap of what we covered during the event. 

Hey, I'm Liz McGonigal 👋 Scoir Managed Engagement Strategist for colleges!

I was thrilled to be joined by two exceptional guests for our Why Counselors Give Us Hugs at NACAC: Chris White, Executive Director of College Counseling at High Tech High, and Sebastian Brown, Regional Admissions Counselor from the University of Oregon.

Together, we explored how Scoir connects students, parents, guardians, counselors, and colleges to enhance the admissions process, and helps solve shared challenges.

• What is Scoir?
• Visits
• My Matches
• Parent/Guardian Outreach

What is Scoir?

Scoir is a college and career discovery network designed to connect students, parents and guardians, counselors, and college admissions staff. Our mission is to expand access to higher education and improve outcomes by providing free tools for students to make informed decisions. Initially, Scoir started as a guidance system for high schools, but it has now evolved into a comprehensive network that supports over 10,000 counselors and 1 million students.

During the event, we covered the top three features that bridge the gap between high schools and colleges and help students find a good college fit: Visits, My Matches, and Parent/Guardian Outreach.

What You Need to Know About Scoir:

✅ Scoir is a platform students love to use to explore and find colleges that fit their needs. About 1 in 10 high schools utilize Scoir as their college guidance tool

✅ Parents and guardians can also create a Scoir account to stay informed about their student’s college search

✅ Colleges use Scoir to attract and engage students and their supporters on the platform they know and love, making the admissions process more efficient

1. Visits

Timestamp: 10:00

One of Scoir's key features is facilitating visits between colleges and high schools. This tool allows colleges to schedule visits efficiently, streamlining the process for both parties. Chris emphasized the value of visits on the high school side: “The personal connection that these students need more than ever is made real through these visits.”

In the past, high school visits had dwindled due to the pandemic, but now schools are seeing a resurgence in engagement. Chris shared that his school, High Tech High Mesa, has already scheduled 41 visits for the fall, a significant increase from previous years. Sebastian echoed this sentiment, saying, “It’s those opportunities to sit down and talk to a student that fills our cup as admissions counselors.”

Key Takeaways from the Visits Discussion:

✅ Visits create invaluable personal connections between students and admissions representatives

✅ Colleges can effectively manage their schedules using Scoir’s map feature

✅ Engaging students earlier in the process through visits helps them better understand college admissions at a younger age

2. My Matches

Timestamp: 25:23

Scoir's My Matches feature is another powerful tool designed to help students find colleges that align with their interests and preferences. This feature allows students to complete a short quiz, which generates a list of colleges that would be a good fit for them. As Chris explained, “It’s a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”

Both Chris and Sebastian noted that this tool helps students see beyond the surface of college marketing. Sebastian shared that they are always thinking about how they can “authentically share more of that sense of the campus aura than just what your psychology program is like.” 

Key Takeaways from the My Matches Discussion:

✅ My Matches helps students identify colleges that fit their academic and personal interests

✅ This feature empowers students to find new right-fit schools and take ownership of their college search process

✅ Partner colleges can message these "matched" students, enabling greater reach at no additional cost

3. Parent and Guardian Outreach

Timestamp: 44:21

Parents and guardians play a critical role in a student's college search. Scoir recognizes this and provides tools to keep them informed and engaged without overshadowing the student's autonomy. Chris noted that with Scoir, “Parents are more informed but less involved. They can support their child while keeping them in the driver’s seat.” 

Through Scoir, supporters can suggest colleges to their students and stay updated on their college search process. Sebastian added, “We want parents to understand that they can support their students while allowing them to make their own decisions.”

Colleges can also message a student’s parent/guardian right in Scoir, a great way for colleges to reach the influencers. 

Key Takeaways from the Parents and Guardians Discussion:

✅ Scoir provides a platform for parents and guardians to stay informed without taking over the process

✅ Effective communication with parents and guardians can alleviate stress during the admissions process

✅ Engaging parents and guardians early helps foster a supportive environment for students

✅ Partner colleges are able to nurture parents and guardians with relevant information

Reaching Across the Desk

Scoir is transforming the college admissions landscape by fostering connections between students, parents and guardians, counselors, and colleges. By providing tools like Visits, My Matches, and Parent and Guardian Outreach, Scoir is increasing efficiency in higher education and empowering students to take charge of their futures. As Chris said, “It’s about building relationships and leveraging technology to improve student outcomes.”

Thank you for reading this far. We wish you a wonderful school year!

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