INTERACTIVE USC WEB SITE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS IS TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE RESOURCE CENTER HELPS MORE FAMILIES BECOME PART OF THE ADMISSIONS/PREPARATORY PROCESS

(PRWEB) December 29, 2003 --The University of Southern California (USC) has translated its popular "Preparing for College" Web site into Spanish.

The site - launched last year in English - helps college-bound students keep track of test scores, grades, extracurricular activities and financial-aid deadlines.

"Preparing for College," at http://preparingforcollege.usc.edu, also contains practical information and step-by-step guidelines on how to prepare for and finance a college education.

By clicking a field designed especially for them, English- and Spanish-speaking parents can learn about important deadlines and milestones facing their college-bound children.

"Many Spanish-speaking parents feel left out of the process when their children start applying for college," said Michael Thompson, USC's vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid. "They want to support their children, but, due to language barriers, might not have access to important college preparatory information."

Because "Preparing for College" helps all students - not only those interested in attending USC - some have called the site an electronic guidance counselor.

Providing a "one-stop center" for information, advice and state-of-the-art tools, the interactive site was created by the USC staff after much experimentation.

"We came up with the idea to help kids who had trouble getting detailed information about college," Thompson said.

"Some students just get lost in the shuffle and by the time they begin to think about applying for college, it's too late," he said. "I thought there had to be something universities could do to help on the front end."

To begin using the "Preparing for College" site, students input basic personal information such as grade level, grade-point average and the courses they're taking. As the student progresses semester by semester, the site offers checklists, suggesting a timetable for which courses to take.

With a few more clicks, students can compare colleges, find links to hundreds of university Web sites, access financial aid information and link to career pages such as Monster.com.

The site covers college-prep course schedules, homework requirements, standardized testing, college research and selection, financial aid, teacher recommendations and interview tips. It even advises students on how to spend their summer vacations.

"Preparing for College" reminds registered users about application and financial-aid deadlines, homework requirements and course schedules. The site also offers tips on interviews and essays.

The Igneous Group Inc., experts in Web strategy and technology, built the English- and Spanish-language sites for USC. The company eventually may help USC translate the site into multiple languages.

"USC is a shining example of a forward-thinking organization using the Web strategically to grow business and build community," said Geoff Caras, CEO of Igneous.

"By offering 'Preparing for College' in Spanish, USC is reaching families who previously didn't have access to college-planning information because English is their second language," Caras said.

Igneous designed the site to allow visitors to set their language preference, which is remembered between visits. Igneous also provides support for content management, navigation and site searches.

"Unlike other Web firms that prefer to work from specifications, Igneous joined with us in understanding our vision," Thompson said. "They provided a strategic roadmap, from concept to implementation, that helped us achieve our goal."

With more than 100 pages and thousands of registered users, the English version of "Preparing for College" has been well-received by parents, as well as educators, school counselors and students, Thompson said. The Los Angeles Unified School District is recommending the site to all incoming ninth graders.

"Investing in this process is another indication that USC is committed to helping all students acquire information about attending college," Thompson said.

About The Igneous Group, Inc.
Igneous is an Internet consulting and technology firm dedicated infusing the Web into business strategy. Founded in 1990, Igneous works closely with clients to develop Web solutions that support business processes and facilitate growth. Utilizing a three-step process consisting of Strategy, Implementation and Control, Igneous helps organizations in all industries implement successful eBusiness initiatives, operate closer to real time, achieve operational excellence, improve customer intimacy, and build community. In 2001, Igneous earned an IBM Best Practices Award in Student Services for the UC Gateways portal. Igneous is based in Santa Cruz, California. Visit Igneous on the Web at www.igneous.com.
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