Today’s episode brings back Tracy Baynes to share her best tips and advice for getting your student involved in their education earlier rather than later. She gives practical steps middle school students can take to prepare for college success, even if they are low-income students. Join us to learn more!

Tracy Baynes is the founder, president, and CEO of STEP, the Student Expedition Program. As an instructor in the oceanography field, Tracy noticed the persistent achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. She created the STEP college access and leadership program for low-income high school students, guiding students from their sophomore year through every step of the college application process. STEP includes summer leadership experiences as part of its comprehensive program to prepare students for college.

Show Highlights:

• Advice for parents of middle school students about early algebra exposure, challenging courses, extracurricular activities, college applications, living on campus/off campus, choosing a major, and taking on new challenges in life
• Why doing the hard work in high school really does pay off.
• Quality extracurricular involvement extends beyond school to church and community organizations.
• “How many college applications should my student fill out?”
• Misconceptions about liberal arts colleges
• The benefits of living on campus—at least for the first year
• Tracy’s take on choosing a college major in high school
• Challenging experiences set you up for new successes and more confidence!
• Success stories for 2025 in Tracy’s work with students

Links/Resources:

Connect with Tracy Baynes and STEP: Website and Email

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org  

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