Category Archives: College Admission

Report: Counselors Positively Impact College Access

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Students who meet one-on-one with a school counselor are significantly more likely to attend college and apply for federal financial aid, according to a new study released today by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

The findings, culled from nationally representative data, are the first to demonstrate that school counselors have a positive impact on student outcomes that is both quantifiable and statistically significant.

NACAC’s latest research report — How Can High School Counseling Shape Students’ Postsecondary Attendance? — shows that 12th graders who talked about their future plans with a school counselor were:

  • 6.8 times more likely to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • 3.2 times more likely to attend college.
  • Two times more likely to attend a bachelor’s degree program.

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Report: Demographic Changes Ahead for Higher Ed

wicheAfter steady growth over the last three decades, the overall number of US high school graduates is leveling off.

However, trends vary by geographic region, according to a new report from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). States in the South and West are poised for growth, while those in the Midwest and Northeast continue to see declines.

In addition, the racial and ethnic makeup of students is becoming more diverse, data show.

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School Districts Can Help Students Adopt New Attitudes About Admission Process

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School districts may be able to boost college-going rates by changing the way they introduce students to the application process, according to a recent piece published by the Harvard Business Review.

Too often, the conversation is focused on ensuring students submit an application to at least one college, writes researcher Lindsay Page. But when teens apply to a range of institutions “they are more likely to get accepted to an institution that is a good fit,” she notes.

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#NACACreads: Gen Z Students Take New Approach to College Selection

generationzThe first wave of Generation Z students had just entered kindergarten on 9/11.

They lived through the Great Recession and came of age in an era defined by new technologies that changed the way we learn and connect with others.

And today, as students born between 1995 and 2010 begin to search for and select colleges, those formative experiences loom large, author Meghan Grace said Tuesday during a #NACACreads Twitter discussion of Generation Z Goes to College.

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New Report Highlights Access and Inclusion Strategies

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Low-income and minority students continue to face barriers to higher education and the resulting gaps have contributed to diminished social mobility in the US, data show.

A new report — Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education — highlights strategies institutions can use to help reverse that trend. The 89-page publication uses federal statistics to demonstrate the scale of the problem and highlights strategies colleges and universities can use to help more underrepresented students get to (and through) college.

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#NACACreads: Join Tuesday’s Discussion of ‘Generation Z Goes to College’

generationzHow will the next generation of students approach the college search and selection process?

Share your insights and ask questions during Tuesday’s #NACACreads discussion of Generation Z Goes to College. Special guest Meghan Grace, one of the book’s authors, will take part in the Twitter chat and address how this new cohort of students views higher education.

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Member View: Counseling While White

Author note: This piece was written in the days before the Presidential election. The issues discussed here are only more pressing as a wave of bias incidents occur on our campuses and impact our diverse communities.

Can I speak to my white colleagues for a moment? Over the past several years, we Americans have been struggling to confront our racial history — frequent cases of police brutality, racist incidents on college campuses, and a controversial presidential election have dominated the national news cycle. As college admission counselors we may find ourselves engaged in these conversations as well (wittingly or not), given the ways in which racism affects a rapidly diversifying student population. For white counselors in particular, these conversations can feel like uncharted territory.

Continue reading Member View: Counseling While White

ACT to Offer Testing Accommodations for English Language Learners

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English Language Learners (ELL) taking the ACT will soon be able to apply for testing accommodations.

Starting next fall, students who receive ELL services can ask for additional time on the test and other supports, including the use of a word-to-word bilingual glossary.

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NACAC Guide Highlights Options for US Students Seeking Degrees Abroad

studentguideCollege counselors looking to help their students explore international higher education options have an easy-to-use new resource.

NACAC’s Guide to International University Admission — released today — features country profiles and admission how-tos for nine destinations that have proven popular among US students seeking full degrees outside their home country. The publication is being released in conjunction with International Education Week, a joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education that runs through Friday.

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150 Colleges Now Offer Sober Living for Students in Recovery

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As opioid abuse rises to epidemic levels, a growing number of US colleges have started to provide sober living options.

According to an article published by Stateline this summer, roughly 150 universities in 49 states now offer housing for students in recovery. As recently as 2012, there were only 35 such programs.

Continue reading 150 Colleges Now Offer Sober Living for Students in Recovery