High School Counselor Week

Weekly stories, facts, trends, and other information from around the country

 

September 13, 2018

Big Picture

Why Is College in America So Expensive?
The Atlantic – Sep 11, 2018
The outrageous price of a U.S. degree is unique in the world.

If ‘Free College’ Sounds Too Good To Be True, That’s Because It Often Is
NPR.org – Sep 12, 2018 (LISTEN)
To millions of parents and students, they’re magical words: free college. But is the idea pure fantasy?

At Private Colleges, Students Pay for Prestige
The Atlantic – Sep 11, 2018

OPINION: ‘Our student loan policy has been corrupted by the powerful companies that profit from it’
The Hechinger Report – September, 2018
We need rules to stop businesses from buying their way into the driver’s seat in federal agencies

States’ decision to reduce support for higher education comes at a cost
Washington Post – Sep 8, 2018

College students predicted to fall by more than 15% after the year 2025
The Hechinger Report – September, 2018

Columns and Blogs

A Life Beyond Us Versus Them
Post – Sep 12, 2018
Counselors’ Corner with Patrick O’Connor Ph.D

Make the essay memorable and avoid cringe-worthy essay mistakes
Tribune News Service – Sep 12, 2018
College Admissions Strategies with Lee Bierer

5 Extracurricular Tips to Boost College Admissions
The College Solution Blog – Sep 5, 2018
The College Solution Blog with Lynn O’Shaughnessy

Résumés provide ‘value added’ in the application process
College Explorations – Sep 10, 2018
College Explorations with Nancy Griesemer

Counselors

New York State struggling to find school counselors
WETM – Sep 6, 2018

School counselors trying to lessen stigmas through proactive approach
The Sheridan Press – Sep 7, 2018
Shortly before the 2018-19 school year began, Sheridan County School District 2 counselors took part in suicide awareness and prevention training. The main tenet of the training was the QPR method, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer.

College Essay Advice Gone Wrong
Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools – September, 2018
Recently the New York Times published an article titled “How to Write a Good College Application Essay.” The article would have been better titled “Confusing, Out-of-Context Tips for Writing a Disjointed and Inauthentic College Essay.”

Parents

Don’t let paying for your kid’s college cripple your retirement
Newsday – Sep 7, 2018
I recently heard from the parents of yet another high school senior who turned down a huge scholarship from a good college to attend her “dream school,” which of course has lousy financial aid. Now her parents are scrambling, trying to figure out how to pay for it. This madness must end.

5 tips for college freshmen — and their parents
The Seattle Times – Sep 6, 2018

Want to know what your kid is up to in college? Make sure they sign this form
Los Angeles Times-Sep 10, 2018

Video

How Betsy DeVos wants to defang rules for-profit colleges and reduce relief for borrowers
PBS NewsHour – Sep 11, 2018
For years the for-profit college sector boomed, but consumer complaints about fraud led the Obama administration to crack down: Two major for-profit chains were closed, and new regulations provided more forgiveness for student debt.

Admissions Process & Strategy

When applying to college, this character trait may mean more than grades
The Mercury News – Sep 10, 2018

6 Tips From College Admissions Pros on Standing Out
US News & World Report – Sep 12, 2018

How Your Hometown Could Affect Your College Admissions Chances
US News & World Report – Sep 10, 2018
While in-state applicants tend to have an admissions advantage at public colleges and universities, the opposite is often true at private schools that typically value geographic diversity…

Do You Know These National Honor Society Requirements?
TeenLife Blog – Sep 12, 2018

Career & Technical Education

The Tangled Web: The High School Diploma, College and Career Readiness Standards and Career and Technical Education
Education Week (requires registration) – Sep 6, 2018

Less Standardized Tests, Emphasis On Vocational Training Part Of DeWine’s Education Plan For Ohio
WVXU – Sep 6, 2018 (LISTEN)
Republican Gubernatorial Nominee Mike DeWine wants to reduce the amount of standardized testing in Ohio. That’s one of several goals DeWine laid out in his new education plan.

This Old House’s Richard Trethewey talks worker shortage
Chattanooga Times Free Press-Sep 6, 2018

College Essays

Colleges Drop SAT, ACT Essay: What Students Should Know
US News – Sep 10, 2018
Some prospective college students may now have one less thing to worry about: completing the essay component of a standardized admissions test.

It’s college essay season. Here’s why they’re miserable.
Chicago Tribune – Sep 5, 2018

5 Essay Topics You Should Never Write About
University Magazine- Sep 10, 2018

Financial Aid/Scholarships

How a Grandparent’s Help With College Tuition Affects Financial Aid
Kiplinger – Sep 7, 2018
Yes, paying your grandchild’s tuition could have a big impact on financial aid in future years.

How to Get the Most Financial Aid for College
Wall Street Journal (subscription required)- Sep 9, 2018
Readers continue to write in with queries about the best way to pay for college. We asked experts to help us answer readers’ questions…

Filing Your FAFSA Just Got Easier
Consumer Reports-Sep 6, 2018

7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the 2019–20 FAFSA® Form
U.S. Department of Education (press release) (blog) -Sep 6, 2018

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Teen Health

Can Teen Drivers Be Scared Into Safe Driving?
HealthDay – Sep 10, 2018
Is it possible that showing teenagers the real-life consequences of risky driving might make them safer drivers? Maybe, a small study suggests.

App developers are using artificial intelligence to advise teens about their health
The Globe and MailSep 10, 2018

SAT, ACT & AP

Ethical College Admissions: Test Recycling
Inside Higher Ed – Sep 10, 2018
The greatest threat to the SAT is test security, writes Jim Jump

How High School Juniors Can Set ACT, SAT Goals
US News & World Report – Sep 10, 2018

Here’s What You Need to Know About the Latest SAT Controversy
Education Week – Sep 5, 2018

Disabilities

Students with special needs find a place in college
Goerie–Sep 9, 2018
Advanced education is a possibility. Here are some of the ways to make that happen.

The Best College for Students With Learning Disabilities in America 2018
University Magazine-Sep 7, 2018

College Rankings

How Much Attention Should You Pay To U.S. News’ College Rankings?
Forbes – Sep 10, 2018
It’s that time of year again when U.S. News rattles the higher education market with yet another ranking. The release of today’s “2019 Best Colleges” will send many eyeballs to the publication’s website.

U.S. News changed the way it ranks colleges. It’s still ridiculous.
Washington Post – Sep 12, 2018
U.S. News & World Report has made some changes in the formula for the latest version of its famous annual college rankings…But, alas, the problems that made these influential rankings questionable in the past are not gone.