High School Counselor Week
Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country
December 6, 2018
Senators urge U.S. News & World Report to overhaul college ranking formula
Washington Post – Dec 3, 2018
Six Senate Democrats urged U.S. News & World Report on Monday to overhaul how it ranks colleges by giving more credit to those that do the most for underrepresented and disadvantaged students “instead of the privileged few.”
The Impact of Holistic Admissions
Inside Higher Ed – Dec 3, 2018
The holistic approach to admissions — in which students are evaluated based on a review of their entire background, not on a formula based on grades and test scores — has been in the news lately.
Disturbing Tale of Fraud and Abuse at a Prep School Rattles College Admissions
The Chronicle of Higher Education-Nov 30, 2018
Marie Bigham woke up Friday morning to an email inbox already filled with with messages from people forwarding her the same article. Bigham, the founder and co-leader of an organization called Admissions Community Cultivating Equity and Peace Today,
How colleges are adapting to the decline in liberal arts majors
PBS NewsHour – Nov 30, 2018
Educating Americans in the liberal arts – teaching them to write, understand history, and philosophize – was traditionally the main purpose of college.
Of Course It Matters Where You Go to College
Post – Dec 5, 2018
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor Ph.D
Figuring out how much college is going to cost
Tribune News Service – Dec 4, 2018
College Admissions Strategies with Lee Bierer
Getting Help with the FAFSA and CSS Profile
The College Solution Blog – Oct 17, 2018
The College Solution Blog with Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Judge refuses to dismiss case against Common App
College Explorations Blog – Dec 1, 2018
The Explorations Blog with Nancy Griesemer
‘Not the guidance counselor of yesterday’
Atlanta Journal Constitution-Nov 30, 2018
Want to feel a bit better about your to-do list? Hang out for a day with a school counselor. Maybe you think you know what they do because you remember meeting them in their office, surrounded by SAT and ACT test prep books and helping with class schedules.
Does School Counselor Proposal Fix Only Half the Problem?
WVTF.org – Nov 30, 2018 (LISTEN)
Lawmakers are about to consider a proposal to realign the role of school counselors to make sure they don’t spend all their time administering tests. But critics say the proposal falls short of addressing the real issue.
Suicides Are on the Rise. Here’s How Schools Can Help
Education Week (blog) – Dec 4, 2018
“Extremely discouraging.” That’s how the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention describes the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC found in 2017, more than 47,000 people died by suicide in the United States.
School-Based Counselors Help Kids Cope With Fallout From Drug Addiction
NPR.org – Dec 5, 2018
When Maddy Nadeau was a toddler, her mother wasn’t able to care for her. “I remember Mom was always locking herself in her room and she didn’t take care of me. My mom just wasn’t around at the time,” she says.
Parents Struggling to Repay College Loans, Report Finds
NerdWallet (blog)- Dec 4, 2018
Parents are increasingly shouldering the student loan burden and risking their financial health to do it, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization.
Parents, do you steal your retirement money to pay for college?
Philly.com – Nov 29, 2018
IYou can borrow for college. You can’t borrow for retirement. That’s what financial planners advise parents who pay for kids’ tuition and fees — by stealing from retirement accounts
Scammers targeting high school parents
Cleburne Times-Review – Nov 30, 2018
From opening a spam email to answering a phone number you don’t recognize, there are many avenues for residents to be scammed out of money or personal information.
School behind viral college acceptance videos reportedly faked applications
CBS News – Nov 30, 2018
A Louisiana school that made headlines for sending working-class black kids to elite colleges is accused of cutting corners and doctoring college applications, the New York Times reports.
12 of the biggest differences between attending a university in the US and in Canada
Insider – Nov 30, 2018
From government structure to healthcare, there are some key differences between the US and Canada — and education is no exception. If you or someone you know is considering attending college in the Great White North or the US of A.
Survive the College Application Waiting Game with Tried-and-True Tips
US News & World Report – Dec 3, 2018
For many high school seniors, the winter months mark the conclusion of a hectic season of applying to college and the beginning of an equally nerve-wracking waiting game
It’s Location, Location And Location
Forbes – Dec 3, 2018
In evaluating real estate, it is often claimed it’s all “location, location, location.” The folks at CollegeVine have come up with an interesting list of America’s 10 most underrated universities and if they are to be believed…
What Students Should Know About the GPA Scale
US News & World Report – Nov 30, 2018
For high school students, grade point average is often a major focal point – a barometer of their academic success.
Not Your Parents’ Career and Technical Education
PASO Magazine – Dec 1, 2018
Career Technical Education (CTE) in each of our school districts provides North County students of all ages with the training, academic skills, and technical knowledge necessary to succeed in future careers
These six figure jobs don’t require a college degree
Fox Business – Nov 29, 2018
College degrees were once a guaranteed ticket to a successful and high-paying career, and there was a time when degree requirements often excluded those .
15 Fast Facts about the Swiss Apprenticeship Program
U.S. Department of Education (press release) (blog)-Dec 3, 2018
Finding, Earning And Debunking Myths Of The Coveted College Scholarship
Forbes – Nov 29, 2018
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday…if you are like millions of other Americans, you have likely spent the past week in bargain mode (ideally with a break for “Giving Tuesday”).
What Student Loan Borrowers Can Expect From Financial Aid Mobile App
U.S. News & World Report – Dec 4, 2018
Last fall, as part of its efforts to modernize the financial aid process from application through repayment, the U.S. Department of Education announced a blueprint for its Next Generation Financial Services Environment.
College Admissions Expert Elizabeth Levine: Financial Aid Picture
The Chronicle – Dec 2, 2018
Last week’s Tuesday Talks With Liz spoke to defining your financial boundaries as the 1st leg to the 3 legged stool. This weeks Tuesday Talks With Liz defines the second leg
3 biggest myths about the FAFSA that can cost you money
Cincinnati Business Courier- Dec 1, 2018
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Does smoking marijuana cause teen behavior problems or vice versa?
Philly.com – Dec 5, 2018
As dozens of states move toward legalizing marijuana — for both medical and recreational purposes — scientists and parents have asked what the impact might be on children. Will more teens use pot?
Health Talk: Talk to your teen about alcohol
Rutland Herald – Nov 30, 2018
More teens try alcohol for the first time in June, July and December than during the rest of the year. That makes December a great time to talk to your teen not just about the dangers of drinking
SAT and ACT Comparison: What’s the Difference Between the SAT and the ACT?
Azusa Pacific University – Dec 4, 2018
One of the most important parts of the college admissions process is the college admissions test. With two different—yet similar—exams to choose from, which college entrance exam should you take?
Why Asian-Americans score so highly in the SAT & ACT
Study International News-Nov 29, 2018
When ACT released its latest test scores this October, the results showed that average scores took a dip for every racial group in the United States except one – Asian-Americans.
ADHD And Immaturity: Parents Shouldn’t Have To Game The Educational System
WBUR.org – Dec 4, 2018
Social psychologists, like me, have long been maligned with the criticism that we investigate and conclude the obvious. When research findings match people’s intuitions, they often dismiss our work as “common sense.”
Making the Most of Your College Visit
HamletHub – Dec 3, 2018
It’s that time of year when high school students, especially juniors, are busy talking to their peers about visiting colleges. As college counselors, we advise the families we work with to take some deep breaths and consider these suggestions
Campus tour guides express concern that lack of compensation limits financial diversity
Tufts Daily – Dec 5, 2018
For many prospective college students, a positive campus tour experience is the deciding factor for whether they ultimately choose to apply.
What To Do If You Haven’t Started College Essays
Teen Life Blog – Dec 3, 2018
Have you, like thousands of students all over the country, waited a bit too long to start your college essay? Did you procrastinate? Did wishful thinking assure you that a brilliant perfect essay would just appear
6 Tips for Writing a Good College Admissions Essay
Study Breaks- Dec 5, 2018
In high school, many students are very good essay writers, so never in a million years do they think that a time will come when essay-writing will become hard to tackle.