High School Counselor Week

Federal judge strikes down Biden administration’s Title IX rule nationwide
K-12 Dive – January 9, 2025
The rule, released last April, offered protections for the first time for LGBTQI+ students and employees at federally funded schools and colleges, including by prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. But the rule quickly drew legal challenges. Courts blocked the regulations in at least 26 states before Thursday’s decision vacated the rule altogether, the judge declaring that the regulations violated the Constitution.U.S. Secretary Miguel Cardona told K-12 Dive on Friday he was disappointed by the ruling. ‘We really pushed for better protection on college campuses for victims of sexual violence, and we have some judge out of Tennessee — who’s probably looking to make a name for themselves — blocking it for the whole country,’ Cardona said. The rule ‘was going to make sure that all students were respected and honored. I think we’re taking steps backwards when we are lessening protections for students.’

Freshmen college enrollment did not fall, it rose — education research group corrects data error
CNBC – January 14, 2025
Freshmen college enrollment increased in fall 2024, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center said — contrary to its previous report that the enrollment declined. A ‘methodological error’ in the preliminary enrollment report, released in October, caused the miscalculation, Executive Director Doug Shapiro said in a statement Monday. Revised data shows a 3% rise in overall undergraduate enrollment in the fall compared with that period in 2023, according to the center’s updated analysis. Enrollment was also higher at four-year colleges where large shares of students receive Pell Grants.

Social Media Issues for Kids Shaping Up to Be ‘Unpredictable’ in 2025
Education Week – January 8, 2025
There has been a swift buildup of lawsuits and legislation targeting social media companies and how they design their platforms for young users—and that momentum doesn’t show signs of slowing in 2025. Hundreds of school districts have sued the major social media companies—ByteDance, Google, Meta, and Snap—claiming that their products are eroding students’ mental health and forcing schools to devote significant resources to managing the behavioral and academic fallout. 2025 is shaping up to be even more consequential—and unpredictable—partly because of the current political climate.

Real College Counseling
Post – January 15, 2025
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.

Why did I get wait-listed or deferred?
Post – December 19, 2024
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Gen Z Takes on Mental Health
Psychology Today – January 11, 2025
High school can be an emotional roller coaster for teens, even under normal conditions. As such, mental health clinicians working with teens — like my colleagues and I — have wondered for a few years now how the post-pandemic high school years would unfold for the teens of Gen Z: a generation, I’ve argued, that resembles a Tesla, with its penchant for technological sophistication but also a sensitivity to the bumps on the road of life. Alyssa Soldinger, a 14-year-old freshman at a suburban NY high school, recently won an essay contest describing the mental health challenges of today’s Gen Z teens. Alyssa accepted my request for an interview to discuss these mental health challenges.

Students Need Human Relationships to Thrive. Why Bots May Stand in the Way
The 74 – January 14, 2025
As AI floods the market, technology companies and district leaders alike must start asking the hard question: If bots are increasingly built to emulate human relationships, are they also being designed to help connect students to actual humans? If not, AI tools run a big risk of displacing their human connections, and pose long-term risks to students’ well-being. In a new report, ‘Navigation and Guidance in the Age of AI’, we set out to analyze whether and how that question is being addressed in AI-enabled college and career guidance. Research suggests a mere 6% of high school counselors’ time is spent on career advising. This creates gaps where chatbots can help, offering students on-demand personalized advice about applying to college, graduating and launching careers. Are students over-relying on these bots? It’s too early to tell. But here are five examples of efforts to ensure that authentic human connection is an outcome, rather than a casualty, of AI products.

5 Ways to Help Kids Process Disturbing Events
Newport Academy – January 10, 2025
Any event that results in chaos, death, and the feeling that the world is unsafe and out of control can have both short- and long-term repercussions on a young person’s mental health. Whether it’s a natural disaster, like the wildfires in California, or an act of violence, like a school shooting, these events can shake children’s and teens’ sense of safety and stability. They may be left sitting with a mix of painful emotions—fear, confusion, anger, grief, hopelessness. But adults don’t have to have all the answers in order to support their kids in working through difficult and confusing feelings. Here are five steps for helping kids and teens process disturbing events.

My daughter is in the college search phase. I’m trying to balance helping her without being overbearing.
Yahoo! Life – January 14, 2025
As a parent, I want to help make my child’s senior year as stress-free as possible by assisting her during the process, but I also want to step back a bit as she begins the transition to adulthood. With this in mind, finding a way to be just the right amount of helpful is so important, etting her lead the way to finding the ideal school.

Can AI get you into college? Admissions expert says think again
Centre Daily Times (PA) – January 14, 2025
Writing a college essay has always been nerve-wracking, but now there’s a new twist: artificial intelligence. With AI tools like ChatGPT at your fingertips, letting a computer write your way into college might seem tempting. But is that really a good idea? Study.com sat down with Mark Clynes, a college admissions expert with 35 years of experience, to get the inside scoop on AI and college essays. Clynes has read thousands of students’ essays and knows exactly what admissions teams are looking for—and it’s definitely not a robot-generated response.

How To Align Your College Goals With The Fastest-Growing Careers
Forbes – January 15, 2025
As families grapple with the ever-changing landscape of college admissions, a new question is emerging: How can students prepare for jobs that don’t yet exist? The 2025 LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise report reveals a critical reality—many of the fastest-growing careers in the U.S. aren’t tied to traditional degree paths. Yet, most college-bound students are still pursuing majors that reflect yesterday’s economy, not tomorrow’s workforce. So, what does this mean for navigating the college admissions process? The key is flexibility.

How to Get Accepted Into College With a Low GPA
U.S. News & World Report – January 9, 2025
For students who struggle academically in high school, the college application process can be especially stressful. A low GPA can rule out top universities and other highly selective institutions, but it doesn’t have to close the door to a degree. You can still gain admission with a low GPA, but admissions experts say you should find the root cause of your academic shortcomings – and spend the rest of senior year making your applications more appealing. Discuss all your options with a counselor, and consider these five strategies to strengthen your college applications:

How To Find Grants To Pay For College
The College Investor – January 14, 2025
Unlike scholarships, grants are aid that is offered from the government – usually the Federal government or your state government. While scholarships are awarded on merit and need, grants are primarily awarded based on need. For most grants, grades are not a determining factor. It’s no wonder that grants are the most sought after form of financial aid – grants are like ‘free money’ that can be used for tuition and other college expenses. Below, we’ll show you where to look for grants and how to apply

Can A 529 Plan Be Used For Dual Enrollment?
The College Investor – January 2, 2025
Dual enrollment allows you to earn college credit while you’re still in high school. Doing so can help you save money on the total cost of your education while preparing you for a more rigorous course load once you start college. A 529 plan can be used for dual enrollment but there are some things you should be mindful of before you withdraw funds from your account.

FAFSA Deadlines to Know
U.S. News & World Report – January 14, 2025
The federal application remains open for nearly 18 months — for example, for the 2025-2026 academic year, the last day for students to submit the form is June 30, 2026. Students must submit the FAFSA to be eligible for federal financial aid like work-study, student loans and the Pell Grant, as well as a range of other college and state need-based aid. However, students must also juggle multiple independent FAFSA deadlines unique to their college and state. Each state has its own grant and scholarship programs – usually for residents only – that often have deadlines much earlier than the federal deadline. Deadlines can come as early as December or in the early spring months of the following year. And some states and colleges offer funding on a first-come, first-served basis. The difference between filing early, on time or late can amount to thousands of dollars in funding to pay for college.