All posts by Mary Stegmeir

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.

Webinar: Explore NACAC’s State of College Admission Report

Want to learn more about the findings included in NACAC’s latest State of College Admission?

Melissa Clinedinst, NACAC’s associate director of research, will present report highlights Thursday during a free webinar.

The presentation kicks off at 2 p.m. ET. Tune in to learn about factors in the admission decision, the college acceptance rate, and student-to-counselor ratios.

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NACAC Survey: Colleges Report Transfer Students are Crucial to Enrollment Goals

More than two-thirds of US colleges view transfer students as considerably important in meeting enrollment goals, according to new survey results released today by NACAC.

The finding — included in the 14th annual edition of NACAC’s State of College Admission report — confirms that more colleges and universities are relying on transfer students to help fill their classes. National data show that more than one-third of all students switch schools sometime during their college career.

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#NACACreads: College Prep and the Price of Perfection

College-bound kids from across the globe are increasingly internalizing the same harmful message: Only excellence will do when it comes to grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and college admission.

But expecting across-the-board greatness is a “set-up,” clinical psychologist David Gleason told counselors and admission professionals on Tuesday.

“Trying to conform to these expectations, kids become depleted, feeling scared about their futures, and disillusioned by their inability to do it all,” Gleason tweeted during a #NACACreads discussion of his book, At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools.

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Web Resource: See How Colleges Are Supporting Students Affected by Natural Disasters

Have your students been impacted by recent natural disasters?

NACAC has created a digital resource to help US and international students affected by hurricaneswildfires, earthquakes, and floods make plans for higher education.

Since NACAC began surveying colleges and universities in October, more than 140 institutions have provided campus contacts and a direct link to information on their websites for students affected by the devastation.

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#NACACreads: Discuss Student Mental Health on Tuesday

How much pressure is too much for college-bound students?

Join us Tuesday for a #NACACreads discussion of At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools.

The hour-long Twitter chat, featuring author David L. Gleason, will kick off at 9 p.m. ET.

“Pressure to succeed, in and of itself, is not necessarily unhealthy,” Gleason notes in his book. “However, too much pressure — for anyone — but especially for still-developing children and adolescents — can be dangerous.”

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IIE Creates Emergency Fund for Caribbean Students Affected by Recent Hurricanes

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US colleges and universities have a new avenue to help Caribbean students facing major financial difficulty due to the recent devastating hurricanes.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has organized an emergency support program. US campuses may nominate up to five enrolled degree-seeking students who are citizens of Caribbean nations.

Applications must be submitted to IIE by an international adviser or similar university official by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 30. Students may not apply directly.

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Tell Us: Is Your Institution Supporting Students Affected by Natural Disasters?

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Is your college or university offering flexibility to students impacted by recent natural disasters? Let us know!

NACAC is creating a digital resource to assist counselors working with US students affected by hurricanes and wildfires, as well as international students impacted by earthquakes and floods. Colleges and universities are asked to add their information to the database by completing a short survey.

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Help Your Students Prepare for National College Fairs

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Editor’s note: A version of this post originally appeared on Admitted in April 2015. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series.

All hail the humble highlighter.

Neon markers are a vital part of Dana Lambert’s efforts to help students make the most of their National College Fair experience.

“I make them come in with a plan,” said Lambert, a counselor at West Milford Township High School in New Jersey. “Once the list of fair exhibitors comes out, we have them sit down and highlight the schools and the tables that they want to stop at.”

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Engagement Key to Retaining Non-Traditional College Students

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Determining which returning adult students are at risk of dropping out of college is a complex process, according to results from a recent national survey.

Common data points — such as demographics, choice of major, and hours devoted to studying — can’t reliably predict whether a nontraditional student will struggle to complete their degree.

As it turns out, the most dependable factor for identifying at-risk non-traditional students is the extent to which they make effective connections to their college, a factor that can be difficult to measure. After all, the very students who are most in danger of dropping out often have limited contact with professors, peers, and college staff, according to a recent report from Barnes & Noble College Insights — a division of the bookseller that produces quantitative and qualitative research related to higher education.

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New Advocacy Resources Available to Support Undocumented Students

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Campus leaders who want to support undocumented students have a new place to turn for information.

Earlier this month, the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition, of which NACAC is a member, created a new website highlighting facts about undocumented students and providing advocacy resources.

The coalition is encouraging colleges and universities to recognize Oct. 16-20 as Protect Dreamers Week. New resources created to help educators and others advocate on behalf of DREAMers include a fact sheet and talking points.

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