The Six Words About College That Disappoint Parents Most

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

I had a chance to discuss the bigger world of college admission with some local counselors at a recent college breakfast, where admission officers from five colleges gave us brief updates on life at their campuses.  They opened up their presentation to questions at the end, and it’s my habit to ask them about advice for parents—if colleges could give one recommendation to the parents who have to watch their children apply to college, what would it be?

I’ve asked this question of many college admission officers over the years, and the response is always the same: Let the child drive the bus.

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NACAC Launches Podcast Series

NACAC today launched its College Admissions Decoded podcast series to help students, families, and the professionals who support them better understand the admission process.

The first episode, “College Admission After Operation Varsity Blues,” features insights from:

  • Stefanie Niles, NACAC president and vice president for enrollment and communications at Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Angel Pérez, vice president for enrollment and student success at Trinity College (CT)
  • Jim Rawlins, director of admissions/assistant vice president of enrollment management at the University of Oregon

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Gender Inclusivity Slowly Improving on Campuses

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Colleges and universities are making strides in gender inclusivity, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

Ten years ago, the University of Vermont became the first school in the US to allow students to self-identify their pronouns and to include it in their student data.

Now, according to the Campus Pride Trans Policy Clearinghouse, 255 colleges enable students to use a chosen first name, instead of their legal name, on campus records and documents; 60 colleges enable students to change the gender on their campus records without evidence of medical intervention; and 19 colleges enable students to indicate the pronouns they use for themselves on course rosters.

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American Indian College Fund Releases College-Going Guidebook

A new resource is available to help American Indian students navigate the college admission process.

Native Pathways: A College-Going Guidebook was released this spring by the American Indian College Fund. The organization is asking counselors and others for help getting the free publication into the hands of students.

The 57-page booklet—developed through the College Fund’s successful Native Pathways to College Program—includes information on preparing for higher education, applying to schools, and paying for college. It also includes tips to help students get their college career off to the right start.

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ICYMI: American Dream and Promise Act Clears First Hurdle

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The US House of Representatives passed legislation last week that would allow undocumented students to remain in the country legally.

The American Dream and Promise Act would provide permanent legal protections and a path to citizenship for those commonly referred to as Dreamers. This legislation, which still needs to clear the Senate, would allow qualified undocumented students and others to remain in the US and pursue their education and careers without the threat of deportation.

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Imagine Grant Pairs Up Graduate Students and School Counselors for College Readiness Event

Courtesy of Julie Cerrito

School counselors face large caseloads and an ever-growing list of demands as they work to serve the social, emotional, and academic needs of their students. But could a small part of this workload be shared by counseling graduate students?

This is the idea behind Postsecondary Readiness Night, a program that pairs the school counseling program at the University of Scranton (PA) with local school districts in Pennsylvania.

The most recent event, funded by a NACAC Imagine Fund grant, was geared toward high school juniors, seniors, and their parents and offered stations focused on topics such as financial aid and college visits.

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