All posts by Mary Stegmeir

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

Report: Net Price Continues to Grow for College Students

Despite only modest increases to tuition and fees, the cost of a college education continues to outpace growth in financial aid, family incomes, and the average prices of other goods and services.

The findings are included in two reports — Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing — released this morning by The College Board.

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3 Things Your College Should Know about Fisher II

What does the future hold for colleges seeking to build diverse student bodies?

This summer’s 4-3 US Supreme Court decision in Fisher II provides insight into how the courts may evaluate future cases involving race-conscious admission policies.

The ruling affects public institutions of higher education as well as private institutions receiving federal funding, including student financial aid.

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Survey: Hiring on the Rise for College Grads

Good news is on the horizon: US employers plan to amp up their hiring in the coming months, and they’re looking for college grads.

Hiring of degree holders is expected to increase by 23 percent in 2016-17, according to a recruiting trends study conducted by Michigan State University.

“Our report shows that the hiring of college graduates has been moving at warp speed for the past two years,” Phil Gardner, survey author and director of the university’s Collegiate Employment Research Institution, said in a press release. “And signs in the early fall of 2016 point again to another explosive year of hiring.”

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New Report Explores Preservice Training Available to Counselors, Access Professionals

councilreportWhat sort of preservice training is available to prospective school counselors and college access professionals?

A report released today explores that very question. The publication, which offers an overview of coursework, was developed by the Council of National School Counseling and College Access Organizations.
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Infographic Helps Students Determine Parental Contributions on FAFSA

Editor’s note: A version of this postwas originally published on Admitted in December 2015.

Families are complicated.

Many children split their time between two or more homes. Others live with grandparents.

So it’s no surprise that questions abound each year as students determine how to record parental tax information on the FAFSA.

An infographic from the US Department of Education — Who’s My Parent When I Fill Out the FAFSA — can help students (and counselors) through the application process.

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Study: For-Profit Colleges are Costly for African American Students

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In recent years, a growing number of low-income and minority students have enrolled in for-profit colleges.

A new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University and State University of New York at Buffalo highlights just how harmful that decision can be for students of color.

Researchers who followed 150 low-income black students from Baltimore discovered that those who attended for-profit colleges ended up with more debt and with fewer job prospects than their peers who attended nonprofit institutions.

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FAFSA Videos from NACAC’s National Conference Available Now

Still have questions about prior-prior year (PPY) and the 2017-18 FAFSA?

Videos of two educational sessions presented at NACAC’s recent national conference can provide answers as you work to help students and families apply for federal financial aid.

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#NACACreads Author: Career Exploration Crucial to Post-College Success

thereislifeaftercollegeGood grades are no longer enough to secure post-graduation employment for a growing number of young Americans.

And as the job market evolves, the country’s high schools and colleges must adapt to ensure students are prepared to navigate the increasingly complex world of work, according to participants in Tuesday’s #NACACreads discussion.

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Report: Guided Pathways Beneficial for Veterans

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Community colleges that offer guided pathways may be better prepared to serve military veterans, according to a new report.

The approach maps out the sequence of courses students must take to complete a degree, and provides academic counseling and support services to help them stay on track. It also represents a departure from the “cafeteria-style” method of course selection, which allows students to choose from an abundance of often unrelated courses.

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#NACACreads Author: Overparenting Hinders College-Readiness

how-to-raise-an-adult_300With thousands of quality colleges spread throughout the US, parents shouldn’t stress over getting their child into the “right school,” according to #NACACreads author Julie Lythcott-Haims.

Their challenge instead? Helping their child develop habits early on that will allow them to thrive wherever they go.

Lythcott-Haims made those comments during a Tuesday night #NACACreads discussion focused on her bestselling book, How to Raise an Adult. Counselors and admission professionals from across the country participated in the hour-long Twitter chat and shared tips to help students build the skills and experiences they need to succeed in college and beyond.

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