High School Counselor Week

Communication with parents is key to addressing chronic absenteeism, panel says
EdSource – August 29, 2024
Students who are missing too much school might be facing mental health issues, poverty and housing insecurity — issues that might seem daunting if not impossible for the school system to tackle by itself. But relatively simple strategies, such as improved communication with parents via phone calls, emails or postcards, can be effective while costing little, according to a panel convened by EdSource on Wednesday called ‘Getting students back to school: Addressing chronic absenteeism.’ Communication alone can motivate parents to improve their children’s attendance — and it can also help schools understand the causes of chronic absenteeism.

Teens are losing interest in school, and say they hear about college ‘a lot’
NPR – August 29, 2024
This is not your standard back-to-school story, about school supplies or first-day butterflies. It’s about how school-aged members of Gen Z — that’s 12- to 18-year-olds — are feeling about school and the future. And according to a new national survey, those feelings are a little worrying. School engagement is down. The middle- and high-schoolers surveyed find school less interesting than they did just last year, and only about half believe they’re being challenged ‘in a good way.’ The problem is especially acute for teens who say they don’t want to go to college right out of high school. Here are five takeaways from the new survey…

Today’s school children practice running for their lives – but there are better ways to keep students safe from shooters
The Conversation – August 29, 2024
As a researcher in developmental and educational psychology – and as a faculty member who trains future teachers – I understand the need for schools to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s 55 million school-age youth. But might there be a better way to protect children in the post-Columbine era? I’m not the only one raising this question. A new initiative by the National Academies has been initiated to assess the effects of active shooter drills on student health and well-being and to determine best practices in preparing schools to respond to threats of violence.

Find the Free Money — Merit Scholarship Money Makes Cents!
Post – August 28, 2024
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

Helping a School Community Heal after Suicide
Counseling Today – September 1, 2024
One August morning during my second year as a school counselor, I walked into my office to find the assistant principal waiting for me. He informed me that one of our students died by suicide earlier that morning. I was shocked. Although I was accustomed to conducting suicide assessments and providing suicide prevention programming, I never expected a student would actually die by suicide. In the coming days, I would experience firsthand how my lack of preparedness would affect me both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, more school counselors are sharing these types of experiences as youth suicide worsens in the U.S. According to the CDC, suicide rates for people ages 10 to 24 rose over 60% between 2007 and 2021, and nearly a quarter of high school students reported they had seriously considered suicide. The reality of youth suicide in schools is no longer a matter of if but when. Consequently, school counselors must be prepared for suicide postvention, an organized response to a death by suicide that aims to promote healing, alleviate the negative impact of suicide exposure and prevent additional suicides.

Debunking the Gen Z myth: a guide for school counselors
Times Higher Education – September 3, 2024
OK, we know the drill when it comes to defining Generation Z – they’re addicted to social media, hate emails, can’t be bothered to read, misuse AI tools when doing homework and only think about themselves. Right? Well, according to a new report from the Duolingo English Test, those generalities may hinder your ability to truly engage with this increasingly influential generation. In Voices from the Field: Debunking the Gen Z Myth, international students studying at universities in the US, UK and Australia share perspectives on what it’s like to be part of the first globally connected generation, one that can determine the direction of elections, social justice issues and higher education. So, let’s take a closer look at five popular Gen Z myths currently in the public discourse, and what students had to say about them…

How to Manage Senior Year Stress, According to Teens and Experts
Parents – August 13, 2024
Senior year is like no other time during high school—everything from college plans to extracurriculars is in flux. Heading back to school can often bring up a mix of emotions for parents and students alike, but for teens headed into their senior year, the anticipation of the last months of high school can be especially emotional––and for many, quite stressful. Here’s how to make it easier.

States consider banning legacy admissions at universities, sparking debate
NBC News – August 29, 2024
States across the country are considering banning legacy admissions at universities. This comes after the major Supreme Court decision to overturn affirmative action in admissions decisions last year. NBC News’ Rehema Ellis speaks to students on both sides of the argument. 

Majoring in video games? A new wave of degrees underscores the pressures on colleges
USA Today – September 1, 2024
From degrees in AI to social media influencing, colleges are adapting to economic trends with new majors that emphasize the debate about getting students their money’s worth. The trend underscores the distinct ways schools are responding to growing concerns over which degrees provide the best return on investment. As college costs soared to new heights in recent years, saddling many students with crippling loan debt, that discourse has only become increasingly fraught, raising the stakes for schools to prove their degrees leave students better prepared and employable.

Can AI Help a Student Get Into Stanford or Yale?
Inside Higher Ed – September 4, 2024
Two entrepreneurial Stanford students fed hundreds of essays—both high and low quality—into an AI model to train it on what top-tier colleges look for in admissions essays.

3 Top Reasons To Apply Early Decision Or Early Action To College
Forbes – September 4, 2024
November 1 marks the deadline for most Early Action and Early Decision applications, two admissions pathways that offer students an alternative to the traditional Regular Decision. Strategically submitting applications in the early round can provide motivated students an advantage in the admissions process, often increasing their odds of getting into their dream school. However, before applying, it is essential to understand the differences between the various types of early applications, as well as the advantages they can confer.

Opinion: How students can address their backgrounds on college applications, even without affirmative action
Los Angeles Times – September 4, 2024
Without seeing racial checkboxes on applications, admissions committees are not able to know with certainty whether a student is coming from a background that’s underrepresented at their schools. But there are other ways to learn this, and a student’s race is not the only type of minority group that colleges are actively trying to recruit. While affirmative action is no longer used in its original form, a different type of action is being employed by colleges — one that is as nuanced as its predecessor.

2025-2026 FAFSA Form: Things To Know
The College Investor – August 30, 2024
The Good News: the new FAFSA form is not changing from last year’s major revision. The Bad News: it won’t widely be available until December. With that in mind, here’s what you should be doing now to prepare, why you should do an estimated SAI now, and what you can do to be ready to file the FAFSA when it is available.

Cuts to race-based scholarships block path to college, students say
The Washington Post – August 28, 2024
Flagship schools cut scholarships after the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, putting college access and lower debt at risk for some underrepresented students. Colleges have canceled race-conscious scholarships worth at least $60 million, according to data from public universities; the total is probably significantly higher. A leading opponent calls these scholarships discriminatory. But the schools that kept the scholarships interpreted the court’s ruling differently.

How To Find Grants To Pay For College
The College Investor – August 29, 2024
If you’re applying for college, you’ve probably heard students complain about grants and scholarships – everything from the application process to the stringent requirements. But it’s extremely possible to find grants to pay for college. While scholarships are awarded on merit and need, grants are primarily awarded based on need. For most grants, grades are not a determining factor. It’s no wonder that grants are the most sought after form of financial aid – grants are like ‘free money’ that can be used for tuition and other college expenses.

Strategies to Bridge the Gap Between Financial Aid and College Costs
U.S. News & World Report – August 29, 2024
When it comes to their child going to college, parents’ top three concerns are cost, receiving scholarships and amount of debt incurred, research indicates. Many families are eligible for financial aid to help cover those college expenses, including tuition and fees, housing, meal plans and textbooks. However, sometimes the cost of college exceeds the amount of financial aid a family receives. Here’s what to know about ways to close the gap between financial aid and the total cost of attendance.

Everything You Need to Know About the Digital SAT
The Teen Magazine – September 1, 2024
As high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors prepare for college applications, the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a great way to demonstrate academic ability to top colleges and universities. This article will explain the major changes that has happened to the SAT, studying resources, as well as tips and tricks to get you started!

The ACT Is Changing: Here’s What to Know
U.S. News & World Report – August 16, 2024
Another college admissions test is getting a revamp. Like the SAT – for which a new format was launched in March 2024 – the ACT is undergoing some adjustments, including a shortened format, optional science section and ability for students to choose between the paper and digital versions.

Will AI Make Standardized Tests Obsolete?
EdSource – August 29, 2024
The SAT is to standardized testing what the floppy disk is to data storage. Providers of some of the most popular standardized tests are rethinking their offerings as new AI tools are challenging traditional techniques for finding out what students know — and allowing new ways to give and score tests. For instance, ETS is moving away from traditional college entrance exams like the SAT to focus on new approaches to measure the skills and persistence of students. Other test providers are experimenting with using AI to create new kinds of test questions.