The Navigator, College Summit’s curriculum is the students’ planning workbook, organizer, and information resource. It includes all of the important information, dates, and deadlines that high-school seniors need. It is designed to help them complete the necessary steps of the college application process – connecting career goals to education, matching colleges to their needs, registering for tests, learning about aid, filing financial aid forms, applying for scholarships, submitting applications, getting teacher recommendations, writing a personal statement, and much more. It also includes information and guidance on career preparation – applying for jobs and internships, writing résumés and cover letters, interviewing, job shadowing, etc. All participating seniors are provided with a personal copy of the College Summit Navigator. It serves as an excellent resource for parents, as well, in that it provides valuable information regarding each aspect of the college application process.

The Advisor’s Edition provides a page-by-page view of all the 36 weeks in the students’ Navigator as well as talking points, prompting questions, in-class and extension activity options, and background information. It is particularly relevant because it has been built with teachers. Each year we add innovative lessons, and classroom management tips shared by our teacher partners. In addition, it is updated annually to reflect new learnings, insights and college admissions developments.

The first two pages of each lesson offer the teacher goals, objectives, and computer access needs for the lesson, as well as material needs, homework and deadline reminders, titles of suggested activities, and space for notes. Each lesson overview synthesizes the critical information that students need to have in order to complete necessary tasks, meet deadlines, and understand important concepts. Another section, “Essential Information,” provides the teacher with talking points to deliver to students when running short on time, or to recap the lesson’s main points.

In the margins of each lesson are “deliver points” – questions to ask, discussions to lead, and information to relate to students. Deliver points are intended to give the teacher a synthesis of main messages and concepts, as well as talking points for leading the lesson. Suggested in-class and extension activities that will help students grasp important concepts and encourage them to share their thoughts are also provided (teachers are encouraged to adapt, as they see fit). Many lessons also include a “Peer Leader Perspective” that highlights where and how Peer Leaders can share their experiences and offer advice.