High School Counselor Week

The Power of Perception: A Tale of Two Different Educational Experiences
EdTrust – February 26, 2025
In the winter of 1997, a 16-year-old teen mom gave birth to two biracial, Black and white, boys, three months premature. Although they were twins, they had differing health issues that would foreshadow two very different sets of challenges and trajectories their lives would take through early adulthood. Twins A and B aren’t hypothetical characters; they’re my brother and me. As a result of the negative experiences and lack of supports, my brother attempted to attend community college but dropped out after a semester — while I attended a four-year university, graduated with honors, and am currently finishing my dissertation for my doctoral program. There are thousands of students like us across the country who are subject to inequities within student discipline. Schools can help by adopting discipline models that are proactive, culturally responsive, and emphasize teaching student expectations.

Satisfaction With U.S. Public Education Reaches Record Low in New Gallup Survey
The 74 – February 20, 2025
Satisfaction with America’s public education system reached a record low in the latest iteration of a Gallup poll that measures opinions on U.S. society and policy. The poll, which has been published since 2001, found that 73% of 1,005 respondents were dissatisfied with the public schools. In 2001, it was 57%. Moreover, the survey’s respondents weighed in on 31 topics, with only the nation’s moral and ethical climate and its efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness ranking lower than the quality of public education.

DOGE blocked from accessing Education Department’s sensitive student data until March 10
K-12 Dive – February 24, 2025
A federal judge on Monday blocked the U.S. Department of Education from allowing workers affiliated with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, from accessing the agency’s sensitive student data through 8 a.m. on March 10. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Teachers, a handful of other unions and membership organizations, and several veterans who have taken out federal student loans.

How to support neurodivergent students with university applications
Times Higher Education – February 19, 2025
It is now known – and generally accepted – that a neurodivergent student’s world looks and feels different from a neurotypical student’s world. Neurodivergent students can struggle with areas such as organisation, anxiety, low self-esteem, meeting deadlines or focus. What can seem a simple task to a neurotypical student can feel like a monumental exercise for a student who is neurodiverse. Given this fact, how can we, as future-pathways advisers and counsellors, support neurodivergent students as they prepare for higher education?

The Secret That Colleges Should Stop Keeping
The Atlantic – February 20, 2025
It is a basic fact of American life, so widely known that it hardly needs to be said: College is getting ever more unaffordable. In survey after survey, Americans say that the cost of getting a degree just keeps rising. But this basic fact of life is not a fact at all. In reality, Americans are paying less for college, on average, than they were a decade ago. Since the 2014–15 school year, the cost of attending a public four-year university has fallen by 21 percent, before adjusting for inflation, according to College Board data. The confusion comes from the idiosyncratic way in which college is priced. Schools set a staggering official price that only a subset of the wealthiest students pay in full. But, as sticker prices have soared, so has the gap between them and the amount that people actually pay. Only students whose families make more than about $300,000 a year and who attend private institutions with very large endowments pay more than they did a decade ago. Higher education might not be cheap—but it is clearly getting cheaper.

Is College Worth the Cost? Factors to Consider
Parents – February 20, 2025
As costs rise and national student loan debt approaches $1.8 trillion, many families and students wonder whether college is still a beneficial investment – or the best one. Americans are divided about how they feel about higher education, and overall confidence in the value of education has declined. While earning a bachelor’s degree is not the best choice for everyone, having a degree often still has economic and community benefits. For most students, experts say, it remains financially worthwhile to go to college, despite rising tuition.

How Teens Are Healing Through Hip-Hop Therapy
NBCU Academy – February 25, 2025
High school programs across the country are helping students embrace vulnerability through a mental health awareness workshop that turns their feelings into flow.

College Application Essay Ideas: Tips on Picking a Great Topic
U.S. News & World Report – February 20, 2025
For many prospective students, applying to college is an exciting time filled with the promise of new possibilities. However, with the excitement often comes the pressure of application deadlines and selecting the perfect essay topic. Finding a way to stand out from your peers is imperative, so here are eight expert strategies and college essay ideas to gain a competitive edge.

Want To Go To Law School? 5 Things High School Students Should Be Doing Now
Forbes – February 26, 2025
Applicants to law school come from a wide array of academic and professional backgrounds. Though the application process may be years away, high school students who dream of attending a top law school can begin preparing long before they even begin their undergraduate studies. If you’re a high school student interested in law, here’s what you can be doing now to stand out:

5 Myths About Parent Information on the FAFSA
U.S. News & World Report – February 24, 2025
Here are five common myths filers should know about parent information on the FAFSA. Don’t let these common misconceptions prevent you from filing the FAFSA.

A Scan of State Universal FAFSA Policies
EdTrust – February 26, 2025
Recent concerns over data privacy and political uncertainty have added new barriers to accessing financial aid. This has raised alarms for lawmakers and is prompting more discussions about universal, or mandatory, FAFSA completion policies and the need for additional state support. Twelve states now require students to fill out a FAFSA to graduate, while others are planning to adopt similar policies, hoping to spur more students to seek financial aid and attend college. This report analyzes the policies of 14 states that have had, currently have, or will soon implement universal FAFSA policies. It also examines the subsequent impact of these policies on FAFSA submission and completion rates.