High School Counselor Week

Over A Third Of Students Are Ruling Out Colleges Because Of State Politics
Forbes – October 14, 2026
Based on surveys from the 2025-26 college admissions cycle by the Art & Science Group, political geography increasingly influences where high school seniors apply. The poll found that 34 percent of respondents completely ruled out prospective colleges solely because of state politics. This figure has climbed by 10 percentage points in just the past 3 years. While politics is not the dominant factor for most students, it now serves as a key lens for assessing institutional appeal.

Federal scholarship for private school and homeschooling opening to most kids in at least 30 states
WBAL-TV (MD) – October 1, 2026
Nearly all schoolchildren in at least 30 states can apply for a new federal scholarship next year to help pay for private school, homeschooling and other educational expenses, according to regulations proposed Thursday. The first national school choice scholarship program, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, will launch Jan. 1, establishing a taxpayer-funded incentive for families to choose private or homeschooling in participating states. Taxpayers who donate to an organization passing out the scholarships will receive a federal tax credit, a perk expected to further fuel the conservative school choice movement.

The Essence of College Counseling
Post – October 14, 2026
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.

Don’t make these applications mistakes
Post – October 8, 2026
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

As Students Explore Alternatives to College, Are Counselors Ready to Help Them?
Education Week – October 12, 2026
Fewer high school students are taking the traditional four-year college route, but how are school counselors deciding which students are career-ready? A new survey by the The American School Counselor Association and Britebound shows the answer is complicated. While a strong majority (90%) of counselors reported increased student interest in non-degree pathways, only 47% say student awareness of those pathways is a part of how their school measures career readiness. Overall, there’s no clear consensus among counselors on how to define and measure success. What support do counselors need to help students’ career readiness? Their answers are outlined here.

Missing Assignment Recovery Plan: A 7-Day Reset for Overwhelmed High-School Students
Guidance Game Plan – September 20, 2026
When a high-school student has a long list of missing assignments, The immediate goal is to reduce uncertainty, identify what can still earn credit, and give the student one clear next action. Planning, focusing attention, switching between tasks, and holding information in mind are all part of executive function. When several assignments, portals, deadlines, and teacher policies compete for attention, a student may freeze before the work even begins. This seven-day missing-assignment recovery plan is designed for families, school counselors, and educators who want a calm, practical reset. It does not require a perfect planner or an all-night catch-up session. It creates one trusted list, a realistic priority order, and a repeatable weekly routine.

Will AI change the Common App essay? What students should know
Yahoo! News – October 11, 2026
In the last college application cycle, close to 1.5 million students used the Common App to submit more than 9 million college applications., However, interview with Common App’s CEO raised several issues, including the future of the Common App essay, often referred to as the personal statement. With the rise of AI, the CEO was asked whether it would remain an ongoing part of the application.

ChatGPT’s new College Planner will help teens track applications, deadlines and financial aid
Ed Tech Innovation Hub – October 9, 2026
OpenAI is preparing a US rollout for students in grades 10–12, alongside flashcards, note-scanning tools and support for college advisers. They plan to add College Planner to ChatGPT for Teens, bringing application requirements, deadlines and financial-aid tasks.

Aging Untold: Teens are the hidden generation juggling school and elder care
WOWT-6 (NE) – October 12, 2026
Millions of teens and young adults in the United States are caregivers, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. On this episodewe explore the hidden weight carried by millions of teens and young adults stepping into caregiving roles for aging family, and organizations they can turn to for help. (includes transcript and links to organizations mentioned)
 
 

A Student Aid Expert Peels Back the Curtain on College Financing
Inside Higher Ed – October 13, 2026
After over a decade studying how much students pay for college, Phil Levine has turned his expertise into a practical guide for prospective students and their families. He hope the book will help them understand how to pay for college, as well as some of the mechanics of how the financial aid system works. In this interview, he discusses various facets of education pricing and navigating the system.

‘Ghost Students’ Are Stealing Financial Aid. How To Navigate New Identity Checks Designed to Stop Them
Investopedia – October 13, 2026
The Department of Education is screening the latest applications for federal financial aid to verify that applicants are who they say they are, and experts worry some real students will get caught in the net. Students with applications deemed “high-risk” or “highest-risk” are now required to prove they’re not a ghost student. Here’s how to verify your identity quickly so your aid isn’t delayed.

Campus Safety: A Parent’s Guide to Finding a Safe College
Collegewise – October 9, 2026
When families build a college list, the conversation usually starts with majors, college costs, location, and admissions odds. Campus safety tends to come up much later, often during move-in weekend or well into a student’s time on campus. That order, we’re afraid, is backwards. This guide walks you through why campus safety belongs early in the process, which schools rank among the safest colleges in America, how to evaluate campus security yourself, and exactly what to ask on a campus visit.

The surprising reason nearly half of American parents are steering their kids away from college
Penn Live – October 5, 2026
Driven by rising student loan debt and an uncertain job market, 48% of parents and guardians now recommend vocational or trade school for their children. In a labor market increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, trade schools are proving uniquely resilient. Studies have noted a 1.3 million annual talent deficit in trade jobs, with three openings for every technical program graduate. When asked about the primary advantages of trade careers, respondents highlighted long-term job security (30.4%) and avoiding student loan debt (25.7%).

1 in 3 ACT test-takers retook the exam — and raised their scores
K-12 Dive – October 14, 2026
On the three ACT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks, students retaking the exam rose 7 percentage points on their most recent test compared to their first attempt. Many states, districts and schools fund retesting, eliminating the need for students to pay out of pocket, according to ACT. Doing so can both help students get into colleges and help districts meet state accountability goals.

Here is what you need to know about preparing for standardized exams without burning out
WFTV-9 (FL) – October 12, 2026
You’ve once again spent a Saturday afternoon doing a practice SAT, only to discover that your score has hardly improved at all. As the exam draws near, you find yourself considering canceling your weekend activities so as to study for every spare hour. However, spending more time studying doesn’t necessarily indicate that you are studying more effectively. A practical study plan can help you raise your score without compromising your well-being.