High School Counselor Week

When School Feels ‘Like Prison,’ Test Scores, College Attendance Drop
Johns Hopkins University – September 21, 2022
Students at high schools with prominent security measures have lower math scores, are less likely to attend college, and are suspended more compared to students in schools with less surveillance, finds a study. The drop in average test scores and college enrollment persists even for students who haven’t been suspended, suggesting the consequences of surveillance intended for students perceived as troublesome spills over into the educational experience of all students.

What Students Are Saying About the Growing Fight Over What Young People Can Read
The New York Times – September 22, 2022
In honor of Banned Books Week, we asked teenagers their opinions about the book challenges spreading across the country. Here is what they said.

Long days, long weekends: the four-day week takes off in US schools
The Guardian – US Edition – September 26, 2022
The shorter school week is increasingly popular for rural school districts trying to recruit teachers. But what does it mean for students and families?

Applying Early – What are the Options?
Post – September 28, 2022
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Check the Return on Investment (ROI) for Colleges and Academic Majors
Post – September 20, 2022
The College Solution with Lynn O’Shaughnessy

Schools Are Adding Counselors. But Can They Make the Gains Permanent?
EdSurge – September 23, 2022
For years now, there’s been a growing push to provide more and better counseling services to students at all levels of the public school system. But in the last two-and-a-half years, especially, the need for counseling professionals has been recognized like never before. While the latest counselor-to-student ratio is a move in the right direction, it’s still quite a way off from ASCA’s recommended ratio. Yet a growing number of school districts are working hard locally to get within that range on their own.

How a New York high school is trying to limit student cellphone use
K-12 Dive – September 26, 2022
Called ‘Off and Away for the Day,’ the initiative started this school year. It’s not an outright ban but a tiered approach that calls for different cellphone use depending on what activity the student is doing. Wellness committee members had noticed an increase in student anxiety and depression, and teachers said student focus was low. The director of counseling at Scarsdale High said support from administrators was key to helping the initiative move forward. So far, students, staff and parents have reacted positively to the new phone policy. Staff are noticing students engaging with each other more and using their cellphones less.

4 tips for counselors: How to prepare your high school students for college
University of Cincinnati – September 24, 2022
There’s a lot happening on your desk these days. Since preparing high school students for college is still one of your top priorities, here are a few must-do tips for helping your students set goals for after high school.

How to Start a Conversation About Suicide with Children and Teens, According to Experts
Seattle Children’s Hospital – September 22, 2022
Suicide has been the second leading cause of death in the U.S. for people between the ages of 10 and 34 since 2012. It’s key that family and friends know how to spot warning signs for suicide, learn what to do in a crisis and how to get help. Most youth suicides occur at home and the numbers continue to be staggering. Seattle Children’s Hospital, shares ways that parents and caretakers can support children and teens, and enable families to engage in meaningful and supportive discussions about suicide together.

Signs Your Child May Have Developed a Smartphone Addiction
Healthline – September 22, 2022
Some recent research has shed light on when smartphone use becomes addictive for early adolescents, or ‘tweens.’ Healthline spoke with experts about some of the warning signs that may signal that a young person is developing an addiction to their phone and how parents and guardians can help their kids relate to their screens in a healthier way.

5 College Admissions Officers on Their Best Tips for Applicants
Money – September 27, 2022
College application season is here, and you might be sweating about how to stand out to a stranger reviewing hundreds or even thousands of applications. To help ease your mind, we checked in with five admissions officers for their best advice. Here are 10 tips, touching on both the big picture and the nuts-and-bolts details.

Planning For College Starts Freshman Year Of High School
Moms.com – September 27, 2022
While applications cannot be filled out until senior year, there is a lot of pre-college planning that can be done as soon as high school begins.

FAFSA season starts: What you need to know for financial aid
AP News – September 27, 2022
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid filing season starts Oct. 1 for the 2023-2024 school year. If you plan to attend college next year, experts say you might want to fill out the FAFSA application as close to the opening date as possible. Whether this is your first or fifth time filling out the application, here are some recommendations and background for completing this process and getting financial aid for your college career.

What is the FAFSA dependency override?
Bankrate – September 23, 2022
When you fill out the FAFSA, you’ll be considered either a dependent student or an independent student, which determines whether your parents’ income and assets factor into your financial aid calculation. Students under the age of 24 are usually considered dependent — but there are some situations where students can request a dependency override to be considered an independent student. This may open up more opportunities for financial aid.

Scholarships, Savings and Student Loans: How 3 Families Are Paying for College
Money – September 26, 2022
Every year, families with college-bound students stare down the same tricky calculation: How do we cobble together enough money to pay for college? It’s a question that requires crunching numbers, navigating unfamiliar financial aid terms and, this year, managing the variables of high inflation and the possibility of a recession.

Here’s what happened when 3 colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania, went test optional
Higher Ed Dive – September 27, 2022
Over 1,800 four-year institutions are not requiring SAT and ACT for fall 2023, according to data presented at a NACAC conference last week. Presenters shared how, after establishing test-optional policies in recent years, their institutions experienced a rise in application numbers, including those from marginalized students.