College adviser provides extra support for Panther Valley students

Panther Valley senior Seth Yom’s preferred choice of college may be unique, but he’s in the same boat as millions of other seniors who are working on their college applications.

Luckily Yom and other Panther Valley seniors got to take time out of school this month to work on their college applications, thanks to the school’s new college adviser, Michelle Bailey. Yom used the time to fill out his application to Pennsylvania Gunsmith School.

“I probably would have been procrastinating. I probably would have done it last minute,” Yom admitted.

Bailey, an adviser with the Pennsylvania College Advising Corps, arrived at Panther Valley this fall thanks to an anonymous donor who agreed to fund her position for two years.

The college application day was one example of what she has brought to the district. It’s something that PCAC advisers around the state hold each year. In 2017, 23 high schools held college application days, and 1,827 students took part.

This was the first time that Panther Valley students had their own college application day.

Nine colleges sent representatives to meet with students. The school’s guidance counselor and two other PCAC advisers were on hand to support students as they filled out their applications online.

To encourage them to attend, the advisers served ice cream and other snacks.

“Between us, we can answer just about any questions that they might have. So they do get that extra support, which is helping with their applications,” Bailey said.

College applications have changed a lot in the digital age. All colleges now accept applications online, and many of them use the same common application.

At the college application day, six colleges were providing instant decisions for students on the spot — Bloomsburg, Kutztown, Kings, Lock Haven, Wilkes and Misericordia.

“Instant acceptance is exciting for the students and the advisers. I have a student who I was super happy about because she got into her dream school,” Bailey said.

The guidance counselor at Panther Valley Junior Senior High School, Lisa Ogozalek, said Bailey is providing additional support to students that they would not have without PCAC.

In the past, students would get one meeting with a counselor, and then it was up to them to follow up and schedule subsequent visits. Oftentimes, they were left completing applications and financial aid information at the last minute.

“This is the first time we are able to have someone meet with them on a regular basis, who knows what they are doing and is on them to get things done,” Ogozalek said.

Students like Autumn Coniglio say having Bailey in the school has helped them a lot. Autumn attended the college application day and worked on some of her applications. She hopes to study early childhood education, starting at LCCC, and eventually getting certified as an elementary school teacher.

“She helps you with everything you need to plan for the future,” Coniglio said. “And she’s giving us more options.”

Since Bailey arrived in the school district at the beginning of the year, she has met with every senior at least once, and given more than 20 classroom presentations. A total of 18 college representatives have visited the school, and 29 parents of seniors have visited with Bailey. She’s also held five after-school SAT prep sessions.

The result is that so far 48 seniors have gone on a college visit, and 18 have taken the SATs. Before college application day, five seniors had already been accepted to a college they applied to.

She’s earned the praise of administrators in the district. At the school board meeting earlier this month, board members and Superintendent Dennis Kergick thanked Bailey for her efforts to help students in the district.

“I think you’ve been a godsend to the area. I honestly do. I did my last FAFSA last year, and know how tedious it is. Also the fact that you have a college application day is fantastic,” Kergick said.