Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-234) and index.

Understanding the challenge -- Counseling for college and career readiness in the 21st century : the challenges of a changing world -- School college collaborations : why they are important to college and career readiness and to the challenge -- Addressing the challenge : overview of the counseling curriculum for grades 9-12 -- Making the college and career advising process optimal : the curriculum -- The move to high school : successful transitioning to 9th grade successful -- Using technology in the college and career advising process -- Motivation and testing : learning about standardized testing and using it to get motivated about the college process (10th-11th grades) -- Assisting students in career exploration -- Advising students in college research (11th grade) -- Empowering students in their essay writing (11th-12th grades) -- Assisting students in constructing the final list of colleges (12th grade) -- Helping seniors make the transition to college (12th grade) -- The counselor as creator and manager -- The advising office : more than just good organization -- Writing the secondary school report -- Working with parents -- Financial aid and merit-based scholarships -- Advising students with learning disabilities about college -- Future directions.

In order for students to compete in today's global economy, our schools need to help them develop better cognitive and technological skills. School counselors have an enormous impact on students' achievement and their success in their post-secondary education, yet initiatives to improve student outcomes often overlook them. Fitzpatrick and Costantini present their own action-based curriculum for high school counselors that will meet the needs of 21st century students, helping to foster their growth and ambition and actively engage them in learning what they need to succeed beyond high school. Important steps covered in this curriculum include