Program Model

Program Model

Advise NC at Appalachian State places well-trained, recent college graduates to serve as full-time Next Step Advisers in high schools throughout western North Carolina. Advisers work to ensure that all seniors are empowered to make informed decisions about their lives after high school. They collaborate with administrators, support staff, and teachers to support students as they develop their Next Step Plans and prepare to complete one of the three Es – Enrollment, Employment, or Enlistment – following graduation.

Building Postsecondary Plans

Advise NC envisions a North Carolina where every student has the guidance and resources necessary to pursue postsecondary opportunities driving social mobility, economic growth, and a more prosperous future for all. Next Step Advisers empower students to create their Next Step Plans, assist them with developing action items, and support them with making progress toward their goals

Next Step Adviser Services

  • Meet with all seniors one-on-one at least once during the fall semester and once during the spring semester

  • Engage with all senior families at least once during the school year

  • Assist all seniors with Next Steps Plan creation

  • Support seniors with Next Steps Plan progress, including:

    • College applications

    • Scholarship Applications

    • FAFSA Assistance

    • Military enlistment

    • Workforce entry

  • Facilitate 9-12th grade group interactions

Near-Peer Model

Next Step Advisers connect with the students they serve through their own lived experiences. Advisers are recent college graduates and are closer in age, or "near-peer," to the students they serve. Many Next Step Advisers return to their home communities to serve, often within the high schools or districts they attended as students. .  Because they recently embarked on their own post-high school journeys, they can serve as trusted mentors and provide first-hand knowledge of the postsecondary planning process to their students.

Where we serve

Our work is built on strong partnerships, including those with Appalachian State University, Advise NC, AmeriCorps and VolunteerNC, and the schools and communities where our advisers serve.

School Partners

  • Alexander County, Alexander Central High School

  • Alleghany County, Alleghany High School

  • Ashe County, Ashe County High School and Ashe Early College

  • Avery County, Avery County High School and Marjorie Williams Academy

  • Buncombe County, Erwin High School

  • Burke County, Freedom High School

  • Catawba County, St. Stephens High School

  • Cherokee County, Andrews High School and Hiwassee Dam High School

  • Clay County, Hayesville High School

  • Cleveland County, TBD

  • Graham County, Robbinsville High School

  • Henderson County, North Henderson High School

  • Jackson County, Smoky Mountain High School and Jackson County Early College

  • Macon County, Franklin High School

  • Madison County, Madison High School

  • McDowell County, McDowell High School

  • Mitchell County, Mitchell High School

  • Rutherford County, R-S Central High School

  • Swain County, Swain County High School

  • Transylvania County, Brevard High School

  • Wilkes County, Wilkes Central High School

  • Watauga County, Watauga High School

  • Yancey County, Mountain Heritage High School