B-CC seniors whose parents are from outside the United States face the college application process with limited family guidance on essays, deadlines and financial aid.
That's the picture painted by a feature in The Tattler, B-CC's student newspaper, published Oct. 28. Reporter Olivia Raucher profiled first-generation students and the school resources stepping in to help.
Kate Heald, B-CC's College and Career Navigator, told The Tattler that admissions systems abroad often focus solely on academics. "In other countries, it's really just about your academics, so it's hard for parents to get used to that," Heald said. She added that cultural barriers can make it difficult for some families to seek help.
Not every family starts with the same knowledge. Princess Badasu, a B-CC senior whose family is originally from Ghana, told The Tattler the process felt like she was starting from scratch. Badasu said she and her parents are learning together, and that family expectations add pressure. Another senior, Ava Lakso, described the sticker shock international parents experience when they learn U.S. tuition can run tens of thousands of dollars a year.
CollegeTracks offers hands-on help at B-CC
One resource highlighted in the feature is CollegeTracks, a nonprofit college-completion program. According to B-CC's College and Career Center website, CollegeTracks staff work full time at four Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools: B-CC, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill and Wheaton. The program serves juniors and seniors, typically first-generation college students.
Help goes beyond advice. Heald told The Tattler that CollegeTracks advisers walk students through applications step by step. Badasu credited the program with giving her a head start on financial aid.
Heald's office in B-CC's counseling suite is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students and parents can schedule appointments to discuss college searches, financial aid and scholarships.
