High School Counselor Week
Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country
September 19, 2024
The 74 – September 11, 2024
A new report has found a continuing trend of students leaving four-year colleges compared to two-year programs — with experts pointing to a successful advising model in helping to increase community college retention.
Navient banned from federal student loan servicing, will pay borrowers $100 million in compensation.
CBS News – September 13, 2024
Navient is barred from federal student loan servicing and has to pay $120 million in fines and compensation to the borrowers harmed by its practices, according to a proposed settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The loan-servicing giant allegedly mismanaged payment processing, hurting the credit of disabled borrowers whose loans had been discharged, the agency contended.
The impact of the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action, explained in one chart
Vox – September 12, 2024
New college admissions data suggests that the decision has had a negative impact on Black enrollment at some universities. Some colleges have seen major fluctuations in the enrollment of students of color in the class of 2028. Many universities have yet to release their data, however, so a more clear picture may emerge throughout the fall.
Testing: The Patience of The Classes of 2025 and 26Post – September 18, 2024
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D.
How one college counselor navigated the year FAFSA broke
WBEZ Chicago – September 17, 2024
Last year was an exceedingly difficult one for navigating college admissions. A monumental breakdown in the financial aid process ground down students, parents — and even the most dedicated high school counselors. I had a front row seat to last year’s FAFSA debacle, sitting in the office of Lavon Robinson, who was in his eighth — and it turns out final — year as a counselor at Downers Grove South High School in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. What I saw and heard drove home just how much counselors do to help students figure out where to go and what to do after graduation. And just how much last year’s financial aid complications discouraged students from pursuing higher education.
Why students need to understand opportunity cost
Times Higher Education – September 4, 2024
During high school, students face decisions that balance academic and extracurricular activities. When choosing universities and majors, they need to prioritise between their preferences and their future goals. Finally, career choices involve considering the trade-offs between different aspects of their lives.In simple terms, opportunity cost is the hidden cost of choosing one opportunity over another. Understanding that a perfectly Instagram-able life is not real and that everyone has to choose priorities is highly beneficial for students, especially at times when many struggle with self-esteem issues, anxiety disorders and overstimulation. Opportunity cost can significantly affect students’ decision-making processes throughout their lives. Understanding and applying this concept can help students to make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals. As counselors, our role is to guide them through these trade-offs, helping them to balance their priorities and achieve well-rounded and fulfilling lives.
How Rising Higher Ed Costs Change Student Attitudes About College
EdSurge – September 17, 2024
A new book lays out the changing forces shaping what students are choosing after high school, and argues for a change in the popular narrative around higher education. Among other things, the author calls for an end to ‘degree inflation,’ where jobs require a college degree even if someone without a degree could do the job just as well.
Parents push back on school cellphone bans
K-12 Dive – September 12, 2024
As more school districts and states across the country move to limit or ban cellphone use during school hours, they face an undercurrent of resistance from parents who cite the need for quick communication in emergencies and concerns about discipline measures for those not in compliance.
The College Investor – September 15, 2024
Most colleges charge application fees of around $50 per application, but they can sometimes be as high as $90. This can really add up if you’re applying to 4-7 colleges. However, there are also plenty of free college applications as well – you just have to know where to look.
How to Defer College Admission
U.S. News & World Report – September 13, 2024
Choosing whether to defer your college admission can take some careful planning and consideration. Here’s what to know about the admission deferral process and the factors students should weigh when considering a deferral.
Why Applying To All Eight Ivy League Schools Could Hurt Your Chances Of Admission
Forbes – September 17, 2024
Many students who read about the unbelievable successes of those accepted to all eight Ivies assume that they can improve their own odds by simply applying to all of the Ivy League schools. However, this is not the case, and devoting time and energy to completing eight Ivy League applications is actually a detrimental strategy for most students—here’s why:
19 Questions College Financial Aid Officers Wish Parents Would Ask
U.S. News & World Report – September 13, 2024
Applying to college can be a lengthy and complicated process, and applying for financial aid to help pay for school can add to confusion and stress. While students are the applicants, parents typically must be part of the process of figuring out the full cost of a college education and how it will be paid. Here are 19 important financial aid questions parents should ask a school’s financial aid department during the college admissions process.
How to handle the delay in the release of the FAFSA form
The Seattle Times – September 14, 2024
Applying for college financial aid was never easy. But the botched rollout of the federal financial aid form last year added to the headaches. And now, the Education Department has announced that the form for the 2025-26 school year will be delayed by two months. What can students and their parents do in the meantime?
How To Protect Against Predatory Lending
The College Investor – September 16, 2024
What exactly is predatory lending? How can borrowers protect themselves from predatory loans? We’ll answer those questions and more in this quick guide.
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Avoiding Scholarship Displacement
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How Scholarship Displacement Undermines a Student’s Hard Work and What They Can Do
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You’ve Got This, Juniors!
Tufts University Undergraduate Admissions – September 12, 2024
Hey Juniors—Congratulations! It may seem like passing the half-way point of your high school career isn’t that big of a deal when your school is probably focused on getting freshmen acquainted with campus and helping the seniors apply to college, but make no mistake—this is your big year, and you should treat it as such! To help you navigate it, we’ve got some Jumbo words of wisdom for you!
How to curate a college list
University of California Davis Undergraduate Admissions – August 22, 2024
As we kick off a new school year and admissions cycle, Undergraduate Admissions Executive Director Robert Penman shares his thoughts on how to create a college application list. Here are his three key tips:
Can Instagram’s new ‘Teen Accounts’ help improve youth mental health? Experts weigh in
CNBC – September 18, 2024
On Tuesday, Instagram announced it will implement a suite of changes for its teen users: accounts for kids ages 16 and younger will become private, restricted settings will need parent approval to be lifted, and notifications will be silenced from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The feature, called Teen Accounts, is meant to address the harm social media can do to young peoples’ mental health. Experts expressed mixed feelings.
Youth Suicides Are Up in Connecticut, and Officials Are Broadening Response
The 74 – September 15, 2024
In Connecticut, 11 children have died by suicide so far this year, nine of those in the past few months. Sarah Eagan, Connecticut’s child advocate, says ‘We have work to do…and that work is not done until no child is bereft and alone, not knowing where to call, and there is no parent who … can’t sleep not knowing if they’re doing the right thing for their child.’