High School Counselor Week

Here’s What Voters Want the Next President to Do for Higher Ed
The Chronicle of Higher Education – October 8, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent shoutout to apprenticeships and other alternatives to four-year college degrees may have surprised those who are accustomed to the Democratic Party’s longstanding promotion of ‘college for all.’ It likely drew more grimaces than cheers from higher-education leaders…but probably resonated with registered voters who responded to a survey commissioned last month by Jobs for the Future. 84 percent of respondents said it was somewhat or very important for the next president, in their first 100 days, to expand apprenticeship programs and facilitate hiring based on skills rather than degrees. By similar margins, they wanted the next president to provide better guidance on education and training options that lead to jobs with wages that can support a family.

Take Cellphones Out of the Classroom, Educators Say
NEA Today – October 3, 2024
Across the country, a ‘teacher-led movement’ is demanding new cellphone policies to curb the constant distractions and disruptions to learning. A 2024 NEA poll found that 90 percent of teachers support prohibiting student cellphone use during instructional hours. Seventy-five percent favor extending restrictions to the entire school day. A rapidly growing number of districts across the country that have enacted some form of cellphone ban in schools.

Top US colleges hit with new antitrust lawsuit over financial aid
Reuters – October 8, 2024
Forty elite private U.S. universities conspired to overcharge for tuition by including the assets of noncustodial parents in determining financial aid, students alleged in a new lawsuit. The nonprofit College Board, which developed the financial aid methodology that the schools allegedly use, was also named as a defendant. The antitrust case was the second filed in Illinois federal court over financial aid at prominent U.S. colleges.

Five things I learned in my first year as a university counsellor
Times Higher Education – October 8, 2024
While the concept of university guidance wasn’t entirely new to me, I quickly realised that it was a lot more multifaceted and dynamic than I had initially perceived. In less than a year, this role has transformed my perspective on the true purpose and impact of university guidance. It’s not just about numbers and rankings; it’s about empowering young minds to explore, discover, and cultivate their full potential. Here are the main lessons I’ve learned in my first year of university counselling:

These 6 steps are key for responding to anonymous school threats
K-12 Dive – October 3, 2024
With a flood of threats reported nationwide against schools in September, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently released guidance to help district leaders navigate the critical challenges that come with anonymous threats against K-12 schools. Anonymous threats can cripple a school’s daily operations, sometimes forcing closures and lockdowns. Beyond losing instructional time, such threats can traumatize entire school communities, CISA wrote in its report. CISA recommends six key strategies for addressing anonymous threats…

A look inside college admissions offices
WGN Chicago – October 8, 2024
Award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo was embedded in three different admissions offices—a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers.

5 Red Flags That Admissions Officers Look For
Forbes – October 8, 2024
Whether you’re vying for Ivy League admission or seeking to join the bustling community at a state school, here are five ‘red flags’ that admissions officers will notice on your application—and how to avoid them:

What ‘Demonstrated Interest’ Means in College Admissions
U.S. News & World Report – September 30, 2024
College applications often undergo a holistic review, in which many factors – such as high school GPA, extracurricular activities and test scores – are used in the decision-making process. One less-common factor that some colleges consider is demonstrated interest. For some schools, it is important that a student show interests by applying early, attending college fairs and communicating with admissions counselors.

To Submit or Not To Submit Your Test Scores?
La Morinda Weekly (CA) – October 9, 2024
In the post-pandemic era of college admissions, changes in standardized testing requirements have incited many questions about how to best approach applications. So how should you, an undergraduate applicant, decide whether to submit test scores?

When Should High School Students Start Their Scholarship Search?
U.S. News & World Report – October 3, 2024
Many high school students begin applying for college scholarships during the early part of their senior year, when in reality the search process should start much earlier. Experts say you should spend junior year taking inventory of your credentials, such as leadership or involvement in extracurricular activities, impact in your school and community, academic achievements and potential college majors.

U.S. Department of Education Begins Testing of New FAFSA Form
The 74 – October 3, 2024
The U.S. Department of Education is launching the first testing period for its phased rollout of the 2025-26 form to apply for federal financial student aid on Tuesday, with more students set to partake in this beginning testing stage than initially expected. The phased rollout makes the form fully available two months later than usual and comes as the 2024-25 form faced a series of highly publicized hiccups that the department has worked to fix.

See the Average College Tuition in 2024-2025
U.S. News & World Report – September 26, 2024
The cost of earning a college degree remains a significant financial challenge for many families. The average college sticker price increased in the 2024-2025 academic year over the prior year across both public and private schools, according to U.S. News data based on an annual survey.

10 Biggest FAFSA Mistakes That Could Cost You Financial Aid
The College Investor – October 4, 2024
Filling out the FAFSA correctly is important if you’re expecting to receive financial aid to help pay for college. Small errors can impact how much you receive or whether or not you receive financial aid at all. These are the 10 biggest FAFSA mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

How My HS Helped Me Find My Career Path When I Realized College Wasn’t for Me
The 74 – October 2, 2024
Like me, the majority of high school graduates in 2023 did not choose to pursue a four-year college degree. But many do not have access to the sorts of programs and resources I had that helped set me up for success — about two-thirds said they would have gained from more career exploration in middle or high school. That needs to change. Every student deserves the opportunity to thrive and thrive, regardless of the path they choose.

To build a more robust talent pipeline, invest in career education
Fortune – October 8, 2024
Consider this paradox: Many industries are struggling to hire the workers they need with major labor shortages in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, AI, and other industries. At the same time, our nation’s public schools are struggling to expose students to the in-demand jobs that will set them up for career success, financial security, and well-being. When business communities and public education systems partner to offer more accessible work-based learning opportunities, everyone wins.