High School Counselor Week

By The Numbers: Analysis breaks down suspension rates over the decades
K-12 Dive – October 20, 2022
A review of decades of data on exclusionary discipline shows that racial disparities in out-of-school suspensions have persisted over the years and that students with disabilities are suspended at much higher rates than students without disabilities, according to a paper from the Learning Policy Institute.

Kids’ Mental Health is in Crisis. Schools Can Get Them Help Through a $1 Billion Fund.
EdSurge – October 19, 2022
he U.S. Department of Education is ready to give schools $280 million through two grant programs to help young people access mental health care. It’s the first wave of a total $1 billion—funded through the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—that the department will spend on youth mental health programs over the next five years.

The college enrollment drop is finally letting up. That’s the good news
NPR – October 20, 2022
Undergraduate college enrollment is continuing its years-long decline, though at a much less drastic rate than during the pandemic.

Find colleges that want you more than you want them
Post – October 26, 2022
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Applying Early Decision: Advantages and Disadvantages
Post – October 13, 2022
The College Solution with Lynn O’Shaughnessy

College Admission: One Factor Among Many
Forbes – October 24, 2022
As a high school counselor, my work with young people centers on critical questions about who they are, how they relate, and the ways in which they hope to grow. Our job as educators is to help them ask the questions, not demand definitive answers. Our larger culture, however, purports to assign them one identity, telling applicants that they gained admission because they’re Black, they fence, they’re Asian, male, rich, poor, test highly, play the hydraulophone (look it up), their parents went to the college, or didn’t go to college…the list goes on and on. Such a reductionist view of college admission is, at best, ridiculous. At worst, it is incredibly damaging…

The Doctor Is In (Your Classroom)
Edutopia – October 21, 2022
As student mental health issues reach crisis proportions, schools and teachers are playing a larger role than ever providing support. Is it too big an ask?

5 mistakes parents make in the college application process
My Central Jersey – October 23, 2022
Parents walk a fine line when it comes to their children and college applications. Getting too involved will earn the title of ‘helicopter parent’ and give your child the impression that you doubt their abilities. Leaving everything to the student and hoping for the best – well that’s quite risky! There are ways parents can help, as well as common mistakes they should seek to avoid.

The Twin Parent’s Guide to College Admissions
LandonBuford.com – October 18, 2022
Most developmental milestones seem a little different when you’re a parent of twins. When applying to a university, things are the same. When applying for colleges, parents of twins face additional challenges. In addition to having two sets of due dates, dual test results, and dual paperwork. We’ve compiled our five best pieces of advice for parents dealing with the college application process while also raising more than one child.

Do Online Degrees Lead to Jobs as Reliably as Traditional Ones?
EdSurge – October 19, 2022
There’s long been the concern that employers won’t take online degrees as seriously as campus-based ones, though these days online degrees are pretty mainstream. But there are other considerations as well. Studies show that the relationship between online learners and workers in industry or academic life in digital class discussions can be highly productive, generating strong career connections.

How to bust the ‘big lie’ around college applications
NPR – October 26, 2022
Choosing where to go to college is not an easy decision, often because it feels so important. Kids are told that where they go after high school will define how the rest of their life turns out. But writer Kelly Corrigan says that’s the big lie society must stop telling.

It’s college application time. Here’s how to help students make their picks.
Chalkbeat – October 20, 2022
This major life decision does not have to be overwhelming if students are prepared to select the right college. It’s important to remind students that academic programs are only one part of what schools offer. There are more criteria that separate colleges and universities. Have students list what’s important to them. Students should do virtual or in-person college tours, seek advice from school counselors, and attend college fairs to narrow their list.

Should you apply early to college? Here’s what the experts say about this ‘strategic game’
CNBC – October 22, 2022
Applying early may improve your odds of acceptance, but there are other factors to consider, especially when it comes to financial aid.

College-bank partnerships aim to help students—but the products can be costly
CNBC – October 24, 2022
Colleges and universities have, for a long time, partnered with banks and credit unions to provide financial services like checking accounts and credit cards to students. But regulators and consumer advocates have concerns about whether these services are actually helping students’ financial health.

Inflation-adjusted college costs decline for the second-straight year
CNBC – October 24, 2022
For the 2022-23 academic year, average tuition and fees rose by 1.6% to $3,860 for students at two-year schools, 1.8% for in-state students at four-year public colleges, reaching $10,940, and 3.5% for students at four-year private institutions, to $39,400. After adjusting for inflation, average tuition and fees declined across the board.