High School Counselor Week

Education Department outsourcing is unlawful, amended lawsuit alleges
Higher Ed Dive – December 2, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education’s plans to move core programming to other agencies is illegal and harmful to K-12 and higher education students, educators and families, according to an amended lawsuit filed last week. Brought forth by a broad coalition of school districts, employee unions and a disability rights organization, the amended complaint seeks to halt the outsourcing of Education Department programs.

Poll: In a dramatic shift, Americans no longer see four-year college degrees as worth the cost
NBC News – November 28, 2025
Almost two-thirds of registered voters say that a four-year college degree isn’t worth the cost, according to a new NBC News poll, a dramatic decline over the last decade. The eye-popping shift over the last 12 years comes against the backdrop of several major trends shaping the job market and the education world, from exploding college tuition prices to rapid changes in the modern economy

Students—Clean Up Your Social Media Presence
Post – December 3, 2025
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.

What happens when they’re homesick?
Post – November 11, 2025
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Navigating social media use in students
Times Higher Education – December 2, 2025
As a secondary school counsellor, the most significant recurring issue I deal with is the erosion of student attention spans caused by social media and other digital distractions. Not only does it impact academic performance, but it also erodes students’ ability to pursue authentic and fulfilling hobbies, passions and interpersonal connections. What I am observing is shocking but common: students are unable to sleep because of night-time scrolling, they are anxious from social media comparison, and they cannot sit still with their thoughts or pursue a single task. Here are some ways to encourage students to put their phones down that are simple to incorporate into practice.

Planning life after high school isn’t easy – 4 tips to help students and families navigate the process
The Conversation – December 2, 2025
Many high school seniors are now focusing on what they will do once they graduate – or how they don’t at all know what is to come. Families trying to guide and support these students at the juncture of a major life transition likely also feel nervous about the open-ended possibilities, from starting at a standard four-year college to not attending college at all. I am a mental health counselor and psychology professor. Here are four tips to help make deciding what comes after high school a little easier for everyone involved:

Teens, ADHD and college planning: Five things to know
Stanford Medicine News Center – November 13, 2025
For students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who are applying to college, planning ahead can ensure they receive the mental health care and academic support they need. Jennifer Derenne, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, shares the advice she offers teens and families as they prepare for the transition to college with ADHD.

Life Beyond the Classroom Matters, Too
U.S. News & World Report – November 25, 2025
We’ve talked before about finding the best college “fit” for your child – Big school? Small school? Urban? Rural? More or less selective? But there’s another crucial component to the hunt for the best institution of higher education for them: What sort of social life do they want? It may sound trivial, but if your young adult is off to a four-year residential school, they’re going to want to find a place where what happens away from the books and study groups is to their liking.

More 4-year colleges offer 2-year degrees to reach new groups of students
PBS News Hour – December 2, 2025
About one in four college students is both first-generation and from low-income backgrounds, making the path to a college degree especially challenging. At one college, a new, two-year, fully residential associates degree program with a wide range of support is helping change that.

 

 

Federal funding cuts are only one problem facing America’s colleges and universities
The Conversation – December 3, 2025
While there’s been a lot of public attention to the federal government’s financial pressure on universities, universities have been experiencing financial pressure from other sources. College applicants need to understand this economic landscape to make smart choices about making such a major investment. Here are four key things to know.

AI may be scoring your college essay. Welcome to the new era of admissions
AP News – December 2, 2025
Students applying to college know they can’t — or at least shouldn’t — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. So it might come as a surprise that some schools are now using artificial intelligence to read them. Colleges stress they are not relying on AI to make admissions decisions, using it primarily to review transcripts and eliminate data-entry tasks. But artificial intelligence also is playing a role in evaluating students.

How To Read A Financial Aid Award Letter And Package
The College Investor – December 1, 2025
You’ve been accepted to your school of choice and have been awarded a financial aid package. But once you open the financial aid award and begin reading, your excitement turns to confusion and frustration. This guide will walk you through exactly how to read, compare, and evaluate your financial aid award letter, no matter how confusing it looks. We’ll also show you how to spot red flags, determine your real costs, and decide whether you should appeal for more aid.

‘No-Loan’ Colleges: What to Know
U.S. News & World Report – November 25, 2025
To ease the financial burden on students and their families, a small percentage of U.S. colleges have “no-loan” policies, eliminating federal loans from financial aid packages in lieu of scholarships, grants and work-study. The idea is that students will graduate without owing money. But the details on eligibility vary by college, so it’s important that prospective students look at the fine print. Here’s what families should know.

Nine Common CSS Profile Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
National College Attainment Network – November 14, 2025
The CSS Profile is an institutional aid application used primarily by highly selective private and public colleges and universities to determine a student’s institutional aid eligibility. Consistently more than 300 higher education institutions and scholarship programs utilize the CSS Profile. Students and families commonly make mistakes on this form that can cause a delay in their application being processed and negatively impact a student’s ability to fund their college education. Here are nine common mistakes and how to help your students avoid them.