School Districts Can Help Students Adopt New Attitudes About Admission Process

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Editor’s note:  A version of this post was originally published on Admitted in December 2016. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series. 

School districts may be able to boost college-going rates by changing the way they introduce students to the application process, according to an article 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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Parenting Your College Student: Navigating New Terrain Over Winter Break

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Editor’s note:  A version of this post was originally published on Admitted in January 2019. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series. 

The Class of 2023 will soon be home from college for their first winter break and many parents are seeing a new dynamic in their relationship with their children.

These college freshmen have just had their first taste of independence and striking the right balance can be tough for families.

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Join Us Wednesday for a #NACACreads Twitter Chat

Which self-care strategies and healthy habits can help students make the most of their journey to and through college?

Read When Likes Aren’t Enough: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness and join us on Wednesday (Dec. 11) for a special #NACACreads Twitter chat focused on student mental health and well-being.

The discussion, featuring author Tim Bono, will include opportunities for participants to share their own insights, tips, and more.

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New College Guide Available to Support Indigenous Students

A new college-going guide created for Native students by Native students is now available.

The 36-page Indigenous College Planning Guidebook was published by the College Board this fall and features advice and insights from Native college students regarding the admission process.

The free resource includes information about college prep programs, scholarships, and on-campus resources aimed specifically at Native students. It also offers step-by-step instructions to help students select challenging high school classes, apply for financial aid, and complete college applications.

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Gen Z Seeks Greater Flexibility in Higher Ed

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One in five.

That’s the number of Gen Z students who, according to a recent national survey, say they may choose not to attend college.

“They see a college degree as perhaps not necessary for future jobs, and they’re worried about racking up student debt,” Marvin Krislov, president of Pace University (NY), writes in a recent op-ed published by Forbes.

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The Counselor’s Holiday

Editor’s note: This essay was first published on Counselors’ Corner.

It’s not exactly a mix of students you can predict. Athletes have holiday practice, so are rarely represented; students from coastal colleges are typically overrepresented, and the valedictorian isn’t usually in sight. Yet, there they randomly gather, about a dozen of them, starting around 12:30, smart enough not to come for lunch, but eager to get caught in the milieu of lunch period changing into the next class period that feels like a hero’s welcome to them.

They are last year’s seniors, coming back to say hi at Thanksgiving.

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Study: Helicopter Parenting Harms Students

New research backs up what many college counselors and admission officers have witnessed firsthand: Overbearing parents can spur student distress.

According to a study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, “helicopter parenting behaviors may hinder the development of self-control skills among emerging adult college students,” leading to burnout. The finding was based on a survey of 427 college students.

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Now Available: New Podcast Episode

The latest episode of College Admissions Decoded is now available! Listen on NACAC’s website or Apple Podcasts.

“Avoiding the Parent Trap: A Common-Sense Approach to College Admission,” features NACAC members sharing tips for parents on how to be effective and supportive throughout the admission process.

Tune in and share with the students and families you serve!

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Funding Will Soon Expire for Programs Serving Students with Cognitive Disabilities

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College programs serving students with intellectual disabilities face an uncertain future, according to The Hechinger Report.

Across the nation, 281 colleges offer transition programs for young people with cognitive disabilities, such as Down syndrome. But federal funding that has helped finance many of the programs expires next year, forcing colleges to search for other options.

Some of the programs — which provide tailored academic and occupational training — “are looking to nonprofits or foundations for support, while others are considering scaling back staffing or raising fees,” Cate Weir told The Hechinger Report.

Continue reading Funding Will Soon Expire for Programs Serving Students with Cognitive Disabilities

Regular updates on NACAC and the world of college admission counseling. For more information about NACAC, visit nacacnet.org.