High School Counselor Week

A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn’t) do
NPR – February 4, 2025
Efforts to dissolve the U.S. Education Department reached a new level this week, as the president began exploring dramatic cuts to programs and staff at the department, including an executive action shuttering programs that are not protected by law and calling on Congress to close the department entirely. Which raises the question: What, exactly, does the Education Department do? Here’s a look at what the Education Department does and doesn’t do – and how much of it is protected by acts of Congress:

How Online Classes Work: 6 Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. News & World Report – February 7, 2025
The rush to put in-person classes and content online at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic led to some negative perceptions of online learning, some experts say. But many online students are encountering a different reality. ‘What we see now is when you have intentionally designed online courses, they can rival in-person courses for level of engagement, level of student outcomes, level of mastery of skill, all those elements,’ says Ryan Lufkin, vice president of global academic strategy at Instructure. The number of choices in online learning can be overwhelming. So before enrolling, here’s what to expect in terms of workload, course length, peer-to-peer interaction and other aspects of the experience.

‘Alarming’ National Data: Teens Use Cellphones for Quarter of School Day
The 74 – February 10, 2025
As districts and government officials nationwide consider curbing smartphones’ reach, new research has revealed teens miss at least one and a half hours of school because they are on their phones. A quarter of the 13-18 year olds in the study used devices for two hours each school day, which lasts around seven hours. The averages outnumber minutes allotted for lunch and period breaks combined, showing youth are distracted by phones throughout huge chunks of class time.

If High School Seniors Don’t Have a Dream
Let Your Dreams Work – February 6, 2025
I was talking to several high school seniors over the weekend. Two told me that they had been accepted to all of the colleges to which they submitted applications. One young man explained that he had not applied to any colleges because he didn’t know what he wanted to do professionally long-term. His post-graduation plan currently involved spending a year or more in a Peace Corp. kind of service. Other than that he had no clue what we would do. Too many high school graduates share the same uncertainty. In order to help students select a path which they think will last the rest of their working life, it’s important to avoid the ‘college for all’ mentality and understand that many students require more time and life experiences before deciding on a direction.

The College Admissions Obsession: How Parental Pressure Is Fueling A Youth Mental Health Crisis
Forbes – February 11, 2025
In the race to secure a spot at a top-tier university, parents are pushing their children to excel in academics, sports, and extracurriculars at an unprecedented pace. But at what cost? The pressure to achieve is taking a devastating toll on young minds, contributing to a surge in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among teens. It’s time to ask: Are we sacrificing our children’s well-being for the sake of a prestigious college acceptance letter?

How to Write a College Essay
U.S. News & World Report – February 7, 2025
College application essays are where you can demonstrate your writing skills and let your unique voice shine. They give admissions officers a chance to go beyond the numbers and see your true personality. Here’s what you need to know about crafting a strong college application essay, including how to choose a topic and some tips for writing and editing.

Legacy Admissions Hit Historic Low as More States Ban Practice at U.S. Colleges
Diverse – February 10, 2025
Legacy preferences in college admissions have plummeted to their lowest recorded level, with just 24% of four-year colleges still considering family alumni status in admissions decisions, according to a comprehensive new report from Education Reform Now. The dramatic decline signals a potential end to a controversial practice that critics have long condemned as perpetuating inequality in higher education.

Common App Welcomes Community Colleges
Inside Higher Ed – February 12, 2025
The Common App allows students to submit applications to more than 1,100 higher ed institutions. But until now, none of its members were community colleges focused on granting associate degrees. Starting this year, the Common App is partnering with the Illinois Board of Higher Education to support its direct admissions program to eight public universities in the state. Further reform of the platform is likely needed to serve community colleges at a larger nationwide scale, but the move to support 2-year colleges nonetheless stands to expand the Common App’s ‘footprint,’ given applicants to community colleges are disproportionately low-income and first-generation students.

12 ways to attend college for free
Bankrate – February 10, 2025
The average cost of college has more than doubled in the twenty-first century. Luckily, prospective students have options for saving on higher education. A creative combination of scholarships, grant funding, work-study programs, and tuition-free degree programs may even equate to a low-cost or ‘free’ option. If you can’t afford to pay for college, here are 12 ways to cast a wide net and keep your costs as low as possible.

Why You Should Fill Out The FAFSA Even If You Don’t Think You’ll Receive Aid
The College Investor – February 12, 2025
According to Sallie Mae’s How America Pays for College report, 74% of students and families completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA for the 2023-2024 school year. So why are over 25% of students deciding not to apply? They may believe their parents make too much or that they won’t qualify for another reason and don’t want to waste their time. But skipping the FAFSA can leave free money, access to student loans, and other opportunities on the table. Even if you don’t think you need it now you might wish you had later on. Here’s why you should fill out the FAFSA even if you don’t think you’ll receive aid.

‘Golden ticket to job security’: Trade union partnerships hold promise for high school students
The Hechinger Report – February 11, 2025
For decades, many vocational school students have been held back by a lack of meaningful partnerships with both unions and employers at their schools, often leaving them without relevant training or clear pathways into jobs. In recent years, however, trade union leaders in some states have forged groundbreaking partnerships with high school CTE programs, ponying up their own resources for the efforts. While it’s too early to tell whether isolated partnerships across the country will translate into widespread change, it provides hope to students burdened by the perception that a four-year college degree was the only path to a stable, rewarding career.

Career-Connected Learning: Engaging Students by Teaching Real-World Skills
The 74 – February 11, 2025
The average American student spends roughly 15,000 hours in school between kindergarten and 12th grade, far more than the 10,000 hours needed to master almost anything. Imagine a school that reimagines these 15,000 hours to give graduates not only the foundational knowledge necessary to navigate life, but also the skills to pursue a career. Such a school could expose students to a multitude of career fields, allow students to choose learning opportunities that reflect their passions, and facilitate credential-building experiences that support students in launching careers they care about – all before entering college or the workforce. This type of learning isn’t hypothetical, as innovative communities across the country are already proving the power of career-connected learning by integrating real-world skills and experiences into curricula.