Ready, Willing, and Able: A Developmental Approach to College Access and Success

by Mandy Savitz-Romer, Suzanne M. Bouffard

How can an understanding of adolescent development inform strategies and practices for supporting first-generation college-goers? In Ready, Willing, and Able, Mandy Savitz-Romer and Suzanne M. Bouffard focus on the developmental tasks and competencies that young people need to master in order to plan for and succeed in higher education. These include identity development, articulating aspirations and expectations, forming and maintaining strong peer and adult relationships, motivation and goal-setting, and self-regulatory skills, such as planning.
The authors challenge the predominant approach of giving young people information and leaving it to them to figure out how to apply it. They call for a new approach that integrates the key developmental tasks and processes of adolescence into existing college access practices in meaningful ways. Rather than treating young people as passive recipients of services, the authors argue that adults can engage them as active agents in the construction of their own futures.

Genres: Education, Counselling, Nonfiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Andrew Van Horn]

From the get-go, the authors explain that this text should augment the content of any classroom or educational setting, so this book will not require an overhaul of existing practices. Without the looming threat of an epiphany that we are doing everything wrong, we see how the adolescent mind works at different stages and are introduced to bite-sized additions that emphasize helping youth to—and equally important, through—college. Supported by anecdotes to replicate or start from, READY, WILLING, AND ABLE reads like a list of solutions at the end of a career with the in-depth theoretical background omitted.

[Jordan Shields]

I read this as part of work-related research, and it was really well done. The developmental theory woven throughout provided a unique lens to view postsecondary access through, and I thought the practice strategies related to supporting motivation and self-regulatory skills were very helpful.

[Megan]

As a college adviser who has training on a lot of the content in this book, it was a nice refresher that built strategies into my work. For the content itself, I rate this highly, but it is highly repetitive, and it spent many pages saying the same things that could have made a book half its size. There are many sources and plenty compelling research has been done to support their points, but I had a hard time focusing on their points while wading through everything else. Still, this is a good introduction to the ways that college access can evolve and include all students rather than students who are already ahead developmentally. Worth a strategic read.

[Christine Ko]

Helpful and it had it had tangible strategies to use with students.

[Silvia Campagna]

Like its good but i read it for work so rly just putting it here cuz im behind on my reading challenge. But yesssss we must change the approach we use w youth for college access!

[Michelle]

Highly recommend to all the educators in my life. I was very happy as I was reading to be able to consider all the things my organization is doing very right in terms of developmental scaffolding and identity development, as well as opposing deficit thinking about first-generation college students or those from underrepresented backgrounds. It articulates both an overall philosophy and concrete suggestions, all backed by research.

[Christopher]

A methodical and approachable discussion of how young adults develop and the impacts for decisions associated with college. Outlines a developmental approach that includes: identity, belief, goal setting, organization, and connections. Only when we dive into how students think and allow them to follow the same journey will we de-mystify their actions.

[Kai]

This was a very interesting book to read. Its theory and suggestions are sound, and seem to align very much with approaches many of us who work with at-risk youth have applied. It was reaffirming in that way, but also in presenting a challenge to broaden those practices amongst all youth and to seek to better prepare them holistically.

[Lesley Horrall]

Amazing book for anyone who works with students really, not just college counselors. You'll think more deeply about how to prepare someone to be college-ready every step along the way. I made notes all the way through and copied quotes onto my wall. Really important read.

[Colleen Broderick]

A great reminder of Erikson's pyschosocial development work and the role it plays in supporting learners in owning their path. Highlights how in the shift to high stakes testing how attention to identity, agency/initiative, self-regulation has fallen to the side.

[Sen Foo]

really inspiring book. recommend for all that wish to devote their career to education. also recommend for parents, both high-school and college students. I am especially absorbed by the part which talks about interest and motivation.

[Susan Chenelle]

Teachers, counselors, anyone who works with adolescents and is concerned about increasing equity in college access and success should read this very readable, very practical, research-based book.

[Lizzie]

Given to me by Sonia.