High School Counselor Week

How College Leaders are Navigating Federal Pressures
TIME Magazine – November 11, 2025
After the passage of the National Defense Education Act in 1958, several administrations invested nearly $12 billion in academic institutions, viewing higher education as critical to the U.S. standing in the global economy and vital to America’s national defense. The Trump administration however, has moved the country in the opposite direction, freezing over $6 billion in federal grants to universities and colleges—funds which were to be used to advance cutting-edge research in cancer therapies, quantum computing, and precision agriculture, among many other national initiatives that significantly contribute to the U.S.’s economic growth. When we surveyed 103 higher education presidents and chancellors, we heard genuine concern for the human, intellectual, and financial toll on their institutions exists. And we received a wide spectrum of responses…

Undergraduate enrollment on track to increase for third straight year
Higher Ed Dive – November 11, 2025
A preliminary National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report found strong growth at community colleges and among trade programs. Enrollment increased in both shorter-term programs and those that prepare students to work in the trades. And enrollment rose 6.6% in undergraduate certificates and 3.1% in associate programs. Bachelor’s degrees, in comparison, saw a smaller year-over-year enrollment increase of 1.2%.

The broken narrative of higher education bears little resemblance to students’ real lives
Fortune – November 8, 2025
Public confidence in higher education is showing signs of recovery. According to a recent Gallup–Lumina survey, 42% of Americans now say they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in colleges and universities, up from 36% just a year earlier. But you wouldn’t know that from reading the headlines. National news remains fixated on controversies at elite campuses, skewing the public’s perception of the institutions that serve the majority of students. This mismatch between perception and reality has real consequences, fueling the notion that higher education as a whole is elitist and out of touch, hiding the work of the colleges that educate millions of working- and middle-class families. It’s time to reframe the narrative of higher education to spotlight a wider array of institutions and students and build a more accurate and productive national conversation.

Perfect on paper: The weight of college applications
Scot Scoop (Carlmont High, CA) – November 9, 2025
With lower acceptance rates and growing competition, high school seniors feel a heavy weight on their shoulders during the rigorous college application season, as they strive to create “the perfect application.” For many seniors, college applications aren’t just about the future — they’ve become a testament to self-worth. The emphasis on perfection often overshadows authenticity. Even before the first application is submitted, or a student knows where they want to apply or what they want to major in, they are already caught in a cycle of comparison, one that reflects a deeper issue within today’s competitive admissions process. Many educators worry that the system’s flaws are pushing students to exhaustion rather than growth.

Why students need to find their inner CEO
Times Higher Education – November 6, 2025
A company has a CEO who oversees its operations and delineates its strategies and direction, ensuring that it sets and achieves its goals. What if we had someone – or something – to perform the same function for our thought processes? In fact, there is one. The executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that are involved when an individual manages essential tasks such as making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations. The executive functions are also involved when one plans, monitors and successfully executes one’s goals. And adolescence is a time when individuals develop these essential skills. Understanding what they do and how students are harnessing them when applying to university can be helpful for a college counselor.

Parents Face New Federal Loan Limits: What Families Need to Know Before Paying for College
Investopedia – November 11, 2025
The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” lowers the amount of federal student loans many families will be able to take out for their undergraduate students starting in the next academic year. Personal loans, such as home equity loans, bank loans, or 401(k) loans, may offer better terms than some private student loans—but they are typically not recommended to cover educational costs.

How to Support Your Teen’s Struggle with Phone Addiction
Parents – November 5, 2025
Teens use their phones to stay connected, and it can affect their mental health. Taking away phones as a punishment can lead to negative mental health impacts for teens. Parents can help by setting clear, early boundaries around phone use.

AI Mistakes a Doritos Bag for Gun at Baltimore High School
The 74 – November 6, 2025
Baltimore police drew guns on, then handcuffed, a high school student when an AI-powered surveillance system mistook his bag of Doritos for a gun.

I’m a high school senior applying to over 20 colleges. I’m ignoring classic advice and don’t care about appearing well-rounded.
Business Insider – November 11, 2025
When I started high school, I fell into what my college counselor calls the “impressiveness trap.” I was trying to do everything to look perfect on college applications. I joined clubs I didn’t enjoy to pursue leadership roles, volunteered wherever I could, and took classes that weren’t my interest. I was spreading myself thin trying to be the stereotypical perfect applicant, only to realize that I was making no significant progress in my activities and feeling more drained than ever. My counselor’s first piece of advice shocked me: “Drop all the unnecessary clubs and prioritize your sleep.” The advice was life-changing.

When College Planning Becomes ‘Toxic Grit’
Forbes – November 11, 2025
In today’s era of hyper-competitive college admissions, parents aren’t just cheering from the sidelines. They’re in the game, headset on, calling the plays. I see this dynamic every day in my work with parents who love their kids deeply and want to get it right. What begins as devotion can quietly morph into over-functioning. Entrepreneur and author Amanda Goetz names this cultural moment for what it is: an addiction to perseverance without pause. “When rest feels like failure,” Goetz writes, “grit becomes poison.”

Ask Us Anything: Does Calling the Admissions Office Help?
U.S. News & World Report – November 6, 2025
What kind of questions are appropriate to ask admissions offices? What kind of information can they provide? And will they know who’s calling or is it anonymous?

Direct student loans explained with pros and cons
MSN – November 10, 2025
Direct student loans, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, are a cornerstone of federal financial aid, offering students a way to fund their education without the need for private lenders. These loans are designed to make higher education more accessible by providing various options tailored to different needs, such as consolidation and refinancing. As education costs continue to rise, understanding the nuances of direct student loans becomes increasingly important for students and families navigating the financial landscape.

What’s Changing For Student Loans In 2026?
The College Investor – November 9, 2025
Starting July 1, 2026, the federal student loan system will enter a new era. A sweeping set of federal policy changes, passed this summer, eliminates some long-standing loan programs and replaces them with new caps and repayment plans. While the reforms aim to contain debt growth and improve accountability for colleges, they also mark a clear shift away from the flexible borrowing model that has defined federal student aid for years. Here’s what’s changing for borrowers…

How Much Does It Cost to Apply to College?
BestCollege.com – November 7, 2025
As tuition increases, even applying to college comes at a cost. How much are college applications? Find out in our report.

The Punishment For Lying On The FAFSA
The College Investor – November 5, 2025
According to the Higher Education Act of 1965, the distinction between an honest mistake and fraud comes down to intent. A mistyped figure or misunderstanding of a question can be corrected, but intentionally providing false or misleading information (such as understating income, hiding assets, or misrepresenting family size) crosses into fraud. Penalties can include up to $20,000 in fines, five years in prison, and repayment of aid received. Beyond the federal penalties, students risk losing future aid eligibility and facing disciplinary action from their schools.