High School Counselor Week

Boys keep failing to do as well graduating high school as girls, baffling experts: ‘It’s not a structural racism issue’
Fortune – October 29, 2023
They attend the same classes with access to the same programs, and even come from the same families. But girls consistently are outperforming boys, graduating at higher rates at public high schools around the country. The gap between them is wide, often as wide as the achievement gap between students from affluent and low-income families. But the reasons why boys are falling short are not as clear.

Colleges need an overhaul to meet the future head on
Higher Ed Dive – October 30, 2023
Higher education faces an existential threat from forces like rapidly changing technology and generational shifts, one university leader argues.

Here’s what Biden’s AI executive order could mean for schools
K-12 Dive – October 31, 2023
The White House’s efforts to create guardrails around AI include calling for data privacy protections and providing resources to teachers.

College admissions officers reveal what bugs them most
Post – November 1, 2023
College Advice & Timely Tips with Lee Bierer

NYPD plans to launch a school hotline for safety and mental health issues. Advocates are wary.
Chalkbeat – October 26, 2023
New York City’s Police Department is launching a tip line that would allow all members of school communities to report concerns about safety and mental health, though the idea has raised concerns about how law enforcement officials will use the information. In addition to reports of potential threats against schools or other safety issues, the tip line ‘will also help support mental health concerns, bullying, cyberbullying, and self-harm concerns.’ Multiple advocates raised concerns about the Police Department soliciting information related to bullying and students’ mental health, and state law indicates discipline issues should be handled by school staff rather than law enforcement.

As NYC teens rethink college and career options, counselors are trying to adapt
Chalkbeat – October 30, 2023
The pandemic profoundly reshaped the college and career landscape for high school graduates in New York City and across the country. And the counselors who advise them have had to change their approach in response. The rate of city students enrolling in some form of higher education within six months of graduation fell from 81% in 2019 to 71% in 2021. Nationwide, 62% of recent high school graduates enrolled in college in 2022. That drop combined with the increasing interest in non-college options has spurred counselors who have historically focused primarily on pushing students toward college to spend more time and effort helping students navigate the world of work and trade school.

Safeguarding Your Teen’s Mental Health Through the College Admissions Process
TAPinto (NJ) – October 31, 2023
It’s October, and you know what that means – it’s spooky season! No, I am not referring to Hallowee; spookier still, for many high school seniors and their families, is the time period when college applications are being completed and submitted, and kids are grappling with major decisions about their futures while also completing academic requirements, preparing for college entrance exams, and keeping up with extracurricular activities. Eespecially in recent years, the college admissions process has taken on a life of its own, and many are finding themselves anxious and overwhelmed.

What Do Parents Think of AI? They See Its Value but Worry About What It Can Do
The 74 – October 27, 2023
Poll shows majority want government regulations to keep artificial intelligence from doing students’ work and replacing teachers.

How to Get Into College From a Nontraditional High School
U.S. News & World Report – October 31, 2023
There are ever more options for students to attend schools with unique approaches to learning, including homeschools, microschools and online schools. Applying to college with a nontraditional high school degree can come with unique challenges. But with planning and communication with their adult educators, students from nontraditional academic backgrounds can boost their chances of gaining admission to college.

Everything You Need to Know About College Rolling Admissions
U.S. News & World Report – October 31, 2023
While many schools offer early decision and early action in addition to regular admissions, some offer rolling admissions. This is where colleges evaluate applications as they receive them, then release admissions decisions accordingly as opposed to doing so all at once. As is generally the case in college admissions, experts say the earlier students apply, the better.

Top 10 National Universities With Rolling Admissions
U.S. News & World Report – October 25, 2023
Per U.S. News data, 143 ranked National Universities use rolling admissions.

Applying to College Early Decision? 6 Tips for the FAFSA Delay
NerdWallet – October 20, 2023
The delayed release of the 2024-25 FAFSA could make it more difficult for ‘early decision’ applicants to accurately gauge the cost of their college education. Early decision is a binding process. If you’re thinking about applying early decision this fall, here are six tips to help you navigate the FAFSA overhaul and your college financial aid prospects.

Wisconsin lawmakers seek to ban race-conscious scholarships
Higher Ed Dive – October 26, 2023
The bill’s authors cited the Supreme Court decision against race-conscious admissions in their memo, even though that ruling did not address college aid.

The Power of School Relationships: How Restoring Connections Will Help Accelerate Postsecondary Success
The 74 – October 27, 2023
In the pandemic, the huge learning losses were just one consequence. The connection losses were just as significant, if not more so. These losses were particularly severe for adolescents, for whom peer relationships are central to identity development. It’s time to reimagine what it means to be well-educated. Yes, understanding the enduring themes in Shakespeare’s plays will always lend insight into the human condition. But now, more than ever, we must help students connect those insights to the real world.