Southern Edition | Northeast Edition | MidWest Edition | Archive | Sponsoring |      December 19, 2013
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This weekly email searches main media outlets finding stories that may be of interest to high school counselors, college admission officers and related organizations, with links to the original stories. It is published by de facto, inc., publishers of other e-newsletters.
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ARCHIVES Something New - Something Old  

We have been asked more than once to have access to the archives. It sounds easy, but it required some thought on how to make it really useful. We are still working on it but here's what we have so far. Archives you will also see at the end of some of the topic sections a link to the archive for that topic. Let us know what you think. Thanks.

Editor's Note

There will be no HSCW published next week due to Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

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Big Picture

The False Promise of 'Holistic' College Admissions
The Atlantic  - Dec 17, 2013
Many institutions claim to evaluate applicants based on who they are as people rather than simply looking at test scores and grades—an approach that incites anxiety in students and parents alike....
Fiscal Strains Push Community Colleges To Look Hard At Their Mission
NPR.org - Dec 16, 2013
City College of San Francisco is one of the biggest community colleges in the country, and it may be about to close. The fault was not the quality of City College's education, problems cited were fiscal and administrative...
Top Students at Community Colleges to Have Chance to Raise Ambitions
New York Times - Dec 13, 2013
A disparate group of colleges from across the country — public and private, two-year and four-year — plans to announce a novel alliance on Friday aimed at producing high-achieving community college graduates and making it easier for them to transfer into bachelor’s programs....
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College Admissions Process/Strategies

How to Handle Complications With the Common App
US News - Dec 18, 2013
Many students who tried to apply to colleges early this fall hit a snag with The Common Application. Major technical glitches tied to the rollout of the platform's latest edition in August, used by more than 500 universities, were widely reported. ....
When Choosing a College: How close to home is too close?
True Admissions Blog - Dec 16, 2013
How close is too close when it comes to choosing a college -- for students and parents? My husband drove our son, Pete—a second-year University of Virginia (UVa) student—back to college Sunday evening after Thanksgiving. ...
Debunking the myth of college rejection rates
Financial Advisor Magazine - Dec 17, 2013
Getting into college is easier than your clients may think — and debunking the myths about college selectivity could be the key to a better deal on their children's education....
Jump-Start a Stalled College Search
US News - Dec 16, 2013
Some students know exactly which college they want to attend. It could be Dad's alma mater, a top vocal performance school or one with an amazing surfing spot right outside the dorms.....
Aligning Your Interests With Your College List
Huffington Post - Dec 17, 2013
As a dean of admissions for a selective Ivy League university, every December I give the same advice to high school seniors approaching deadlines and receiving Early Application results: Now is the time to revisit and remind yourself why a college is on your list and why it has and should remain on your list...
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Creative Admissions

Get creative! 5 unique admissions tactics that actually worked
USA Today  - Dec 8, 2013
Imagine you’re a college admissions officer at a state university. You’ve spent the morning reading essays from high school students about the ways your school’s mascot, the Sleeping Goat, means something very personal to their lives.. ..
The 6 Craziest Things High-Schoolers Did To Get Into College
Her Campus  - Dec 11, 2013
College applications are a daunting task. You’ve packed countless hours of homework, volunteering and activities into your schedule, and now you have to explain to someone why that means you deserve a spot at their school. ..
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Rejection/Deferment

How to handle a deferral
DC College Admissions Examiner  - Dec 16, 2013
Harvard deferred 3197 applicants to regular decision out of 4692 students who applied “single-choice” early action this fall. Brown deferred 71% of its 3088 binding early decision candidates, while MIT deferred 4538 of its 6820 early action applicants ..
Surviving Early Decision Blues
Huffington Post  - Dec 13, 2013
What a day. I've seen the highs, mediums and lows of college admissions as high school seniors found out all day whether they had been admitted to their dream colleges. ...
College Admissions: Handling Early Admission Rejection
GoLocalProv College Admissions  - Dec 16, 2013
For many seniors around the country, early admission returns have begun to roll in. For some, it is a time of exuberance because they have been accepted to their first choice college. ...
Deferred? What Now?
About.com  - Dec 14, 2013
It's that time of year when students are hearing decisions from their Early Action and Early Decision college applications. For a large number of students, the decision will not be as clear cut as a simple acceptance or rejection....
Archives - Rejection/Deferment
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College Essays

Getting into college: Your essay may help more than you realize
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - Dec 12, 2013
Maggie Anderson had a successful career in marketing communications, producing video and writing. She is the author of “Do You Stand Out Enough?" She also coaches executives and entrepreneurs how to use their communications more powerfully....
Tips To Handle The Dreaded College Essay
NY1 - Dec 12, 2013
Applying to college can be a stressful but exciting experience, and a key part of the experience is the dreaded college essay. Rob Franek, a senior vice president and publisher with the Princeton Review, offered some college essay tips....
Archives - College Essays

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SATs & ACTs

College Board’s effort to have ‘fun’ by sending cow stickers to schools falls flat
Washington Post  - Dec 12, 2013
The College Board just tried to have a little fun with high schools but some college admissions counselors are less than amused.....
Archives - SATs & ACTs
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Visits/Interview

What is the best interview advice for students?
True Admissions Blog - Dec 16, 2013
Informational, evaluative, alumni, admission office, scholarship— there are several different types of interviews. Students may be talking with an admission officer on the college campus, an alumnus at the local Starbucks, or with a scholarship committee over Skype....
Archives - Campus Visits & Interviews
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Social Media

Applying to college? Think before you post
Charlotte Observer - Dec 16, 2013
Can a student’s social media presence influence their chances in the college admissions process? Hundreds of articles have been written to alert students that colleges are researching applicants online as part of the application process....
Archives - Socail Media & Interviews
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Counselors

HSCW Counselors' Corners
Post - Dec 19, 2013
The Year in Review, and a Look at What’s New
2013 was filled with consistent change, the kind of contradiction school counselors have to get used to in order to make long-term commitments to their schools and their profession..... More

6 Questions to Ask Your HS Counselor Before Graduation
Her Campus  - Dec 5, 2013
High school and the college application process often send pre-collegiettes searching far and wide for information and advice, but many don't think to visit one unassuming place right on campus for help: the counselor’s office....
College Tips: Admissions counselors pay attention to bouts of 'senioritis'
The Star-Ledger - Dec 13, 2013
Senioritis — an often chronic malady that strikes 12th graders with bouts of laziness and apathy — can be a problem for college applications....

CounselorToolbox
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FinAid/Scholarships

Schools That Award Lots of Merit Scholarships
The College Solution - Dec 16, 2013
I recently wrote a post that shared the colleges and universities that say that they meet 100% of financial need for the majority of their families. If you missed it, here it is:...
Add Applying for Financial Aid to Your Holiday To-Do List
Huffington Post - Dec 16, 2013
While you are making your holiday list and checking it twice, don't forget to add a reminder to apply for financial aid. ...
College bound? Get ready for puzzle of federal financial aid
Charlotte Observer - Dec 16, 2013
It’s the other headed-for-college headache. Not holiday-time finals, but the dreaded FAFSA...
Archives - FinAid/Scholarships
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Parents

15 ways for students - and parents - to deal with college application stress
Boston.com - Dec 15, 2013
There is no way to completely eliminate stress during the college admissions process, but those who work with students say there are ways to help make it bearable for students and parents. The following is a list of some of those suggestions....
Teenagers don't need padded resumes to get into top universities
The Guardian - Dec 16, 2013
'Tis the season for holidays, snow … and college applications. If you have a teenager or know one, you are probably aware that millions of young adults are finalizing their resumes, ....
Tips for stress-free winter breaks with college kids
WOWK - Dec 13, 2013
(HealthDay News) -- That initial warm welcome from parents when college students return home for the holidays can turn frosty with unexpected tension and conflict, an expert warns....
Archives - Parents
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CTE/Vocational Education

Vocational Education Isn't What You Think Anymore
Fusion  - Dec 16, 2013
What used to be Dalton High School's wood shop is now free of dust. Instead, it's filled with welding stations, a 3-D printer, and a computer-controlled plasma cutter....
Archives - CTE/Vocational Education
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West

Reprieve for California Accreditor
Inside Higher Ed - Dec 16, 2013
WASHINGTON -- A federal advisory committee on Friday recommended that the U.S. Education Department extend for one year its recognition of California’s community college accreditor and require the agency show that it is complying with federal standards. .....
Valley schools prepare for new California transgender law
ABC30.com - Dec 18, 2013
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- When students return from winter break, a new state transgender law is scheduled go into effect and school leaders are training teachers on how to comply.....
Utah’s high school graduation rate on the rise
The Salt Lake Tribune - Dec 17, 2013
Utah’s high school graduation rate continued to soar in 2013, according to state data released Tuesday. Last school year, 81 percent of Utah seniors graduated, compared with 78 percent the year before. ....
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Teen Drinking

College Friends Home From Break? Drink This In
Huffington Post - Dec 17, 2013
Note: In 30 years as a college counselor, I've never talked with a student or former student about this issue. I guess that's why I wanted to write this column....
THE HOLIDAY SEASON MEANS TEENS AND DRINKING
Sky Valley Chronicle - Dec 17, 2013
(OLYMPIA, WA) -- This holiday season, when party planning goes into high gear for many people, parents are being encouraged to discuss the risks of alcohol use with their teens.....
 
 
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Contents

Big Pic
Proces/Strat
Creative
Defer
Essays
SATs & ACTs
Visits
Social Media
Counsel
FinAid
Parents<
CTS/Voc
West
Teen Drinking

Sponsors

CPA
U_Montana
Hollins</a
Richmond_London</a
U_Saskatchewan
Univ_Alberta
AllCollege_Essays
WIT
Colorado_College
philographica

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