All posts by Mary Stegmeir

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

Survey: Colleges Taking Longer to Meet Enrollment Targets

iStockl
iStock

Admission professionals who are diligently working to build a freshman class face increasing challenges, data suggests.

For the Fall 2016 cycle, only 37 percent of colleges reported meeting their enrollment goals by May 1, according to Inside Higher Ed’s annual Survey of College and University Admissions Directors.

The results stem from answers from 339 admission directors at both two- and four-year institutions, and suggest that it’s getting tougher for admission professionals to lock in their freshman class.

In the previous year, 41 percent of respondents had met their enrollment goals by May 1.

Continue reading Survey: Colleges Taking Longer to Meet Enrollment Targets →

Access, Importance of School Counselors

States Bolster School Counseling Programs

iStock
iStock

A growing number of states are using government and philanthropic funds to bring more counselors into public schools.

The trend is outlined in a recent Education Week article by reporter Catherine Gewertz.

“The counseling initiatives are far from the biggest-ticket items in states’ budgets,” she writes. “But they’re a significant sign of a renewed commitment to school counseling, which took particularly heavy hits in layoffs driven by the Great Recession eight years ago.”

Continue reading States Bolster School Counseling Programs →

College Admission, NACAC News

ICYMI: Learn More About NACAC’s State of College Admission Report

Want to learn about findings from NACAC’s annual State of College Admission report?

David Hawkins, the association’s executive director of educational content and policy, shared insights from the report and talked about trends in the college admission profession this week on Admissions Live.

 The hour-long episode is now available online.

Continue reading ICYMI: Learn More About NACAC’s State of College Admission Report →

Access, College Admission, Standardized Testing

College Board Streamlines Requests for Testing Accommodations

College boy and his fellow students taking a test
iStock

A new process will make it easier for students to receive accommodations on College Board exams.

Starting Jan. 1, students who are approved for testing accommodations through an Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan will automatically be cleared to have those same accommodations on College Board tests, including the SAT and Advanced Placement exams.

Officials say the move will reduce approval time and help students receive the support they need to do their best on the tests.

Continue reading College Board Streamlines Requests for Testing Accommodations →

Access, College Admission, College Completion, Financial Aid

New Alliance Formed to Address College Access

iStock photo
iStock photo

A group of 30 selective colleges has launched a new alliance aimed at expanding access to postsecondary education.

The American Talent Initiative (ATI) — whose founding members include several Ivy League and public flagship universities — seeks to bring a total of 50,000 low- and moderate-income students to universities with graduation rates of least 70 percent by 2025.

Continue reading New Alliance Formed to Address College Access →

College Admission, NACAC News

Learn More About NACAC’s State of College Admission Report

socaepisodeNACAC’s annual State of College Admission report features up-to-date information about the admission process for first-time freshmen, transfer, and international students in the US.

Delve into top findings Monday during a special Admissions Live episode. David Hawkins, NACAC’s executive director of educational content and policy, will share insights from the report and talk about trends in the college admission profession. The episode kicks off at 1 p.m. (ET).

Continue reading Learn More About NACAC’s State of College Admission Report →

Access, College Admission, Financial Aid, Importance of School Counselors, NACAC News

Report: Counselors Positively Impact College Access

iStock
iStock

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.

Continue reading Report: Counselors Positively Impact College Access →

Access, College Admission

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.

Continue reading Report: Demographic Changes Ahead for Higher Ed →