Learning Strategies
College Counseling
Advising:
In collaboration with our Grade Deans, our advisors are the primary link between student, school, and family. An advisor is an adult listener and guide whose main role in each student advisee's life is to understand and mentor them and to advocate for them when necessary. Over four years, an advisor develops a relationship with the advisee and their family, providing an anchor for the student in all aspects of their life at school.
Our vision for advising at Urban is the family dinner table. If you think about a family that gathers for dinner, it is a mixed experience. Regardless of participants' mental states or eagerness to be present, the ritual of showing up has a role in connecting the family members to each other over the years. And the table becomes a place of stability and relationship for the entire family. Alums often talk about their advising with nostalgia as they recall the group of students and the advisor with whom they traveled in their high school years.
Urban Bridge:
The UrbanBridge program is designed for students from public, charter, parochial or homeschool backgrounds. The program helps students identify and use their existing strengths, along with new skills, to achieve their personal and academic goals. UrbanBridge starts with a two-day orientation for incoming 9th graders that introduces students to Urban’s academics, community, and our many on-campus resources. During 9th and 10th grade, UrbanBridge students also have a dedicated tutorial period and a range of opt-in activities – faculty-led workshops, peer mentoring, study halls and social events – that help strengthen their prior experiences and skills to transition to Urban’s unique academics and culture, while forming a community that can make the most of Urban. In 11th and 12th grade, students have the opportunity to expand their leadership skills by mentoring and guiding younger UrbanBridge students.
On Campus Academic Support:
For students who need academic support beyond the classroom, Urban offers additional help such as tutorial periods and peer tutoring. Priority is given to students who do not have access to academic support outside of school.
Tutorial: The tutorial period is designed to provide students with an opportunity to seek support outside of the classroom. Staffed by department members, these 60 minute meetings occur twice a week throughout the school year. During a tutorial period, students may work in small groups or individually with a teacher to solidify their understanding of concepts and skills or to extend their knowledge beyond what is happening in the classroom. Tutorial gives students a chance to work with different faculty members, as well as with students in other sections of a course, building relationships within the Urban community.
Peer Tutoring Program: Peer tutors are trained to provide academic support to students who benefit from reviewing critical concepts, clarifying points of confusion and developing basic study strategies for upcoming exams.
