High School Counselor Week

For Teens Online, Conspiracy Theories Are Commonplace. Media Literacy Is Not.
EdSurge – November 7, 2024
If you’re a teen, you could be exposed to conspiracy theories and a host of other pieces of misinformation as frequently as every day while scrolling through your social media feeds. That’s according to a new study by the News Literacy Project, which found that teens in particular struggle with identifying false information online and could benefit from greater access to media literacy education.

Opinion: Our Schools Were Victims of Mass Shootings. We Know What Congress Needs to Do
The 74 – November 12, 2024
We never thought it would happen to our schools. No one does. But on our fateful days, our schools became statistics — part of the grim tally of campuses forever changed by gun violence. We are founding members of the NASSP Principal Recovery Network, a group of school leaders who have experienced gun violence in our buildings. After years of talking through tragedies affecting vastly different communities, we discuss which supports are critical to prevent and recover from shootings, and which fall short.

President-elect Donald Trump’s victory divides education community
K-12 Dive – November 8, 2024
Former President Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election is expected to usher in education policy changes and potentially revive old actions undone by the Biden administration. Much like the rest of the nation, education organizations and leaders are divided over Trump’s victory and its implications for K-12.

How to help students with special needs find the right university
Times Higher Education – November 12, 2024
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a counsellor is the increasing number of students with special needs (such as ADD, ASD or ADHD) and the inadequate support provided to them. While some schools offer student support or special education programmes, many do not. This leads to a significant gap in resources and in attention to these students’ needs. Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach – and is imperative. By the time they reach high school, many of these students may have lost a realistic understanding of their abilities, believing they are unworthy of attending good universities. Moreover, even when high school support is available, there is lingering concern about whether these students will receive the same level of assistance in university, how this support will be provided, and by which schools. In reality, counsellors can help students achieve their true potential and prepare for a bright future.

I grew up visiting my mom in prison. Here’s what schools should know about students like me.
Chalkbeat – November 11, 2024
One in 14 children and young teens in the United States have experienced the incarceration of a parent. When my mom was in prison, I was reluctant to talk about it with friends, let alone with teachers. Children of incarcerated parents often face judgment. In reality, we have no control over our situation. To combat this stigma, schools need to address this issue openly and create opportunities for sharing. We need support and community, yet one of the biggest challenges is that students often don’t know what resources are available or how to access them. For example, I didn’t find out about scholarships or mental health services for children of incarcerated parents until my senior year of high school, two years after my mom had been released from prison. And what I learned, I found out not from my school but by Googling. It’s important that the adults we interact with are aware and able to respond to our needs.

How To Handle Conflicting College Admissions Opinions
Forbes – November 13, 2024
College application season is overwhelming for both students and parents. Many parents initially assume that soliciting advice will be beneficial, only to discover that the multitude of differing opinions causes confusion, conflict, and a lack of overall clarity. Thus, it is critical to build a strategic support network to help you through the process. Here are some strategies for seeking expert advice and eliminating the noise that might throw you and your student off course:

Why Bother With College Admission Open Houses?
College Parent Central – November 11, 2024
With so many things to do within the college admissions process, why bother with Admission Open Houses? Why not just make a list, apply, wait to see whether you are accepted and then go visit those schools? Actually, that plan – apply first, wait, visit – works for many students. If that is your student’s plan, that’s fine. But they may be missing out on a step in the process that can matter more than your student realizes.

Authentic Voice in College Essays
College Confidential – October 26, 2024
It’s crucial for students to write essays in an authentic voice, as if they are speaking with the admissions reader. The essay should sound like the student because the student is the author. It should flow like a delightful conversation, free of fluffy words and phrases, which make the essay harder to get through and may even make the reader question who wrote it—or was it AI? Take a look at the table below for examples of forced, unnatural words and phrases versus natural sentences in authentic voice.

How Does A College Admissions Waitlist Work?
The College Investor – November 13, 2024
Being placed on a college admissions waitlist can be discouraging and frustrating. But understanding how a waitlist actually functions—and more importantly, what your odds of getting in might be—can help ease some of that uncertainty and inform your next steps. In this article, we’ll dig into how the college waitlist process works, factors that influence acceptance from a waitlist, and what you can do to improve your chances.

30 Most Expensive Colleges In 2024
The College Investor – November 9, 2024
Are you curious about the most expensive colleges to attend in 2024? Well, you’re not alone. The sticker price of some of these colleges is extreme. Here is the list of the top 30 most expensive colleges and universities in the United States based on their published tuition and fees for a single year:

Are Scholarships Taxable? Maybe… Here’s What To Know
The College Investor – November 11, 2024
You may be surprised to learn that not all scholarships are considered tax-free. Yes, that ‘free’ money to pay for college may be taxable according to the IRS. With taxation preventing students from making full use of their scholarships in some cases, it’s important to learn the distinctions between tax-free and taxable scholarships.

Military And VA Education Benefits To Pay For College
The College Investor – November 10, 2024
VA education benefits have long stood out as one of the key highlights amongst all military benefits. The challenge is sometimes navigating the various agencies and programs like Department of Veterans Affairs, different branches of the military, National Guard, Reserves, and each state’s separate education benefits. The information can be scattered across numerous websites creating a time-consuming and daunting process. Consider this a one-stop shop for your search for everything related to military education benefits and how best to take advantage of them!

There’s a ‘compressed timeline’ to submit a FAFSA form this year — Here’s how to prepare
CNBC – November 13, 2024
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be available for all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1. According to Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, there are five key moves that students and parents can make now to prepare for their application as soon as it becomes available. Here is her best advice: