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.

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Over 130 Colleges Now Offer Addiction Recovery Programs

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

According to a recent Inside Higher Ed article, over 130 colleges and universities in the US now offer drug and alcohol recovery services for students. As recently as 2012, only 35 colleges offered such programs.

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Despite Enrollment Dips, International Student Population Climbs

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The number of international students in the US hit an all-time high of 1.09 million in 2019, despite enrollment dips at the undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree levels, according to new data from the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The overall gain was primarily due to increased participation in the US Optional Practice Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to work in the country after completing their degree.

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#NACACreads: Listen to an Excerpt from Our Next Book

Our next #NACACreads Twitter chat is less than a month away!

On Dec. 11, author Tim Bono will join us for a discussion of his book, When Likes Aren’t Enough: A Crash Course in the Science of Happiness.

Listen to an excerpt from the book and make plans to join us for an important discussion focused on student mental health and well-being. Bono is an assistant dean and lecturer in psychology at Washington University in St. Louis (MO) where thousands of students have taken his popular courses on the Psychology of Young Adulthood and the Science of Happiness.

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DACA Case Goes Before US Supreme Court

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The US Supreme Court will hear arguments today about the legality of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and whether the Trump administration acted within the law two years ago when it moved to end the program.

The DACA program was created in June 2012 and provided protection from deportation for certain undocumented youth. In some cases, having DACA status allowed young people to qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid — increasing their access to higher education.

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