
The Colleges Your Students Don’t Know, But Should
There are thousands of colleges across the country, but many students—and even counselors—tend to focus on the same small group of “name brand” schools. In this dynamic and practical webinar, we’ll spotlight a diverse range of lesser-known colleges and universities that offer outstanding value, distinctive academic programs, strong support systems, and life-changing opportunities for students—particularly those from historically underserved backgrounds.
Whether you're looking to expand your students’ college lists, provide them with more affordable options, or simply introduce them to new possibilities they may not have considered, this session will leave you with a fresh set of go-to schools to recommend. Walk away with ready-to-use resources and renewed inspiration to help your students discover colleges that may not be on their radar—but should be.

Does the Early Bird Really Get The Worm?
Growing up in a Latine immigrant household, the strategy to success was the same: “just work hard, and you will accomplish the goal.” This translated to late nights, early mornings, and weekends spent getting ahead. I enrolled in the most rigorous courses, took on leadership roles on campus, and earned high grades. As a first-gen student, I believed this alone would carry me through college admissions.
So, when I first heard about early strategies in college admissions, I dismissed them. They felt like shortcuts I didn’t need. If I was good enough, they'd accept me, I thought.
Years later, as a college advisor, I realized just how wrong I was. Early strategies weren’t shortcuts, they were tools to unlock powerful opportunities. For students like me, they can make a huge difference in admissions decisions.

Tips for Running Efficient Advising Caseloads
In this webinar, counselors will explore methods of managing advising caseloads through foundational advising practices, opportunities for differentiated structures, and quick-tips to integrate into caseload management with the biggest impact.

Guiding Students Toward Service
I’ve been an educator for the past 23 years and have had the privilege of working with a wide range of students, each with their own unique post–high school aspirations. While many of my students considered the traditional path to college, not all were best suited for a continuation of the conventional classroom experience. Some students thrived when given the opportunity to learn in more hands-on, experiential ways that broke away from traditional academic models. These students were often driven by a desire to find meaningful, purpose-filled paths that aligned with their strengths, interests, and values. And for many, including one particular student we will call Patrick, that desire led them to inquiring about military service. Patrick was a student who struggled with traditional classroom learning. He preferred hands-on work and gravitated toward learning practical skills he could apply immediately, rather than focusing on theory or subjects he viewed as 'irrelevant.' I helped Patrick through his last two years of high school, and with his preparation for the military placement tests he needed in order to enlist upon receiving his diploma(which was, at times, a struggle for sure!). This experience helped me to see that there are so many other opportunities for our students outside of the traditional college pathway. With the correct information, so many more of our students can find the success they desire.

How GPA, Credits & Coursework Choices Impact Future College Options
The importance of academic performance in college admissions is agreed upon nearly unanimously by professionals, whether in secondary schools, undergraduate admissions offices, or other experts in the field. A high school student’s academic profile is the most important consideration in a college application. Serving as the foundation of any college application, an academic profile is the narrative built during a student’s time in high school through selected courses, performance in those courses, test scores, and related academic activities or interests. A high school transcript, as the primary representation of a student’s academic profile, has the power to tell the story of their academic journey throughout high school.

Looking Back to Leap Ahead
As we close out another academic year, our team at Contigo Ed is reflecting on what has made this one so special. Across functions—from professional learning to analytics, strategic consulting to operations—we’ve deepened our impact with district partners, launched new resources and services, and grown as individuals and as a team. Below, we’ve captured some of the milestones and moments that made 2024–2025 such a meaningful year.

Who Am I?
In high school, students often wrestle with a defining question: “Who am I?”
It may seem like a simple question to some, but for teenagers standing on the brink of adulthood, this question is the gateway to purpose, passion, and a pathway forward. At Contigo Ed, we believe that helping students uncover their strengths, values, and interests is about more than college and career readiness; it’s about developing self-aware individuals who make empowered choices.

How You Can Use College Outcomes Data to Better Advise Students and Families
While a big focus of college access is supporting students with enrolling in college, where students enroll plays a larger role than you might think in how likely students are to graduate from college.
A lot of our district partners focus heavily on college applications and FAFSA completion. These steps are absolutely crucial in helping students navigate the many hurdles that exist in enrolling in college in the Fall. However, we hope that this blog post helps you appreciate the opportunity that exists in using college attainment data to guide and advise students and families in making an informed and empowered decision.

Activating CCMR Success in Texas
Join us for an exclusive webinar as we unveil a powerful new tool designed to support Texas school districts in improving College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes. Hear about the features and benefits of this new website from Contigo Ed - led by our esteemed panel: Donald Kamentz, CEO and Founder of Contigo Ed, Dr. Autumn Boyd, Executive Director for Postsecondary Outcomes, Aldine ISD, and Dr. Sandra Clement, Deputy Superintendent, Corpus Christi ISD.
You’ll see how this CCMR resources website is a one-stop hub offering comprehensive guidance, best practices, and case studies tailored specifically for educators and administrators focused on student post-secondary success. The panel will provide a guided tour of key features and share how to leverage the site for effective post-secondary programming in your district. Register today to take full advantage of this CCMR guidance resource available now!

Understanding Test-Optional, Test-Blind, and Test-Flexible Admissions
College applications have had a serious glow-up—and standardized testing is no longer the main character. You’ve probably heard buzzwords like test-optional, test-blind, and test-flexible tossed around, but what do they actually mean? These evolving admissions policies give students more power to shape their own story, spotlighting strengths that go beyond the SAT or ACT. Whether you’re a testing pro, a classroom rockstar, or someone with a standout academic journey, there’s an admissions path that plays to your strengths. Let’s break down each option—and help you figure out which one makes the most sense for you.

Standing Out in the Selective Admissions Process
The college admissions landscape has changed. Gone are the days of the “spray and pray” approach, where students simply applied to as many schools as possible, hoping for the best. Today’s colleges—especially selective and highly selective ones—are more competitive than ever. As acceptance rates decline, it’s crucial for students to craft strategic applications that help them stand out.
In this session, we’ll explore what selective colleges are truly looking for. We’ll dive into three key student case studies with important components—such as academic profiles, leadership profiles,personal narratives, and recommendations—that make the difference in a highly competitive pool.
Through practical strategies and valuable resources, we hope that both students and counselors will feel more confident about approaching this process in the Fall.

Safety, Strategy, and Success
As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, I grew up in a mixed-status household. I was part of the 22 million people in the U.S. who navigate life with family members holding different immigration statuses, including being citizens, permanent residents, DACAmented, or undocumented individuals (fwd.us). Like millions of families across the U.S., we couldn’t abide by the adage to “never discuss politics or religion at the dinner table.” For us, politics wasn’t a choice—it was a daily reality. The people we loved and cared for lived in fear of deportation amidst political uncertainty. Yet, the only sentiment stronger than that fear was the unwavering belief that education could be the key to success for us and our families.

"What Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs Should Our District Offer?"
What new CTE programs should we launch? What programs should we consider sunsetting? These are the questions that many of our district partners are currently grappling with. Today, we wanted to share a few of the data-driven ways we are supporting our district partners in making decisions around program of study (POS) offerings.

Making Parents and Students Happy
This session will highlight two successful programs/initiatives that are done by the College Counseling Department at St. Agnes:
College Information Night: A virtual event that brings in college admission representatives from across the country to present on a variety of admission topics (Target Audience: Sophomore and Junior Students/Parents)
Letter of Recommendation Matching Process: A way in which teachers and students are best matched for letters of recommendation

Speaking to Your Students About Life After High School
Preparing students for life after high school is one of the most critical roles of a counselor or college advisor. While academics, applications, and financial aid are essential components of a student's postsecondary journey, the most impactful conversations go beyond logistics. We have the unique opportunity to help students navigate their motivations, values, and long-term goals—ensuring they make informed choices that truly align with their futures. By fostering deeper discussions, we can empower students to approach life after high school with confidence and clarity. So let’s get into it!

How You Go to College Matters More Than Where
Not long into my early years of working at St. Agnes, I saw a link to an article in Inside Higher Ed, one of my favorite news sources. In it was a link to the list of Rhodes Scholars for that particular year.
And the contents of that article changed everything for me.

“Don’t Just Take My Word For It”
When it comes to college enrollment tasks, graduates may find more relevance when the checklist comes straight from their post-secondary school of choice.

Beyond Traditional Pathways
As students explore postsecondary options, educators need strategies to present the full range of available pathways. This webinar will equip high school counselors and educators with practical knowledge about apprenticeship programs and how to integrate them into college and career conversations. Drawing from experience across Chicago's education system, we'll explore how to identify opportunities, connect with local resources, and effectively guide students and families in understanding apprenticeships as viable postsecondary options.

Beyond the Bell
This webinar will equip school counselors with actionable tools, strategies, and insights to effectively support high school students as they transition to life after graduation—whether that’s college, the military, or entering the workforce. Attendees will walk away with practical checklists, resources for building strong relationships with college staff, and tips on helping students navigate the financial aid process. Counselors will also gain valuable insights into fostering a seamless, organized transition for their students, ensuring they don’t miss essential steps along the way.

Bridging the Gap with Faculty & Staff
School had just ended and I found myself facing a classroom full of dedicated teachers who had volunteered to stay late, drawn by the promise of better preparing their students for life after high school. Their eager faces reminded me why I, as a high school counselor, had initiated this after-hours professional development series on the college admissions process – because equipping our students for their future is truly a team effort.
Engaging teachers, counselors, and administrators is essential for creating a cohesive support system that truly prepares students for life after high school.