Will the FAFSA’s earlier filing date result in increased access to higher education?
New federal data is promising.
After a four-year decline, FAFSA completions are up for the high school class of 2017, the first cohort of students who were able to file for aid starting on Oct. 1 — a full three months earlier than previously allowed.
It’s hard to avoid conversations about politics these days. This new reality has trickled down to the college admission process where counselors on both sides of the desk are now commonly asked to field tricky questions about political reputations and perceived leanings of a college campus.
Inside Higher Ed recently reported on a group of counselors at the annual meeting of the Higher Education Consultants Association who said that parents were rejecting their children’s college choices based on the schools’ politics.
But while parents might be hesitant about the political climate on campus, it seems to be something students want out of their college experience. UCLA’s 50th annual CIRP Freshman Survey, which surveyed 141,189 full-time, first-year students from around the US, found that student interest in political and civic activity had reached its highest level in the history of the survey.
Continue reading For Many Families, College Search Now Includes Questions about Campus Politics
Mobile matters when it comes to college recruitment.
Data from a national survey show that handheld devices, such as phones or tablets, are the primary college search tool for roughly one-third of high school students.
In addition, roughly 40 percent of students surveyed said they plan to use social media when deciding where to enroll.
Continue reading Study: Students Rely on Mobile Devices to Scout Schools
A new law prohibits scholarship displacement at Maryland’s public colleges and universities.
The state is the first in the nation to pass legislation limiting the practice, which can spur financial aid reductions for students who are awarded private scholarships.
Continue reading Maryland Outlaws Scholarship Displacement at Public Colleges
Students in Chicago will soon need more than passing grades to graduate from high school.
Starting in 2020, seniors won’t receive a diploma until they can show they’ve secured a job, been accepted to college, enrolled in an apprentice program, enlisted in the military, or have made other plans for their future.
“We are going to help kids have a plan, because they’re going to need it to succeed,” Chicago Major Rahm Emanuel told The Washington Post. “You cannot have kids think that 12th grade is done.”
Continue reading Chicago to Make Postsecondary Plans a Graduation Requirement
Looking for a new way to help your students navigate the college admission process?
Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room initiative is getting ready to launch Up Next 2.0, an updated version of its text messaging service for college-bound students.
The program, introduced last summer, reminds students to complete important tasks, such as signing up for a college admission test or filing their FAFSA.
Nearly 100,000 people registered for Up Next text messages in 2016-17. Better Make Room is preparing to expand the program’s reach in 2017-18 and will offer customized messages via partnerships with high schools, colleges, community organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Louisiana became the first US state to ban the box on college admission applications in June.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 688 into law on June 16, The Louisiana Weekly reported. The new law prohibits all public postsecondary education institutions in the state from asking about a prospective student’s criminal history during the admission process. In other words, the state banned the check box that asks applicants whether they have ever been convicted of a crime.
Continue reading New Louisiana Law Prohibits Criminal History Questions on College Apps
NACAC members have a lot to say.
Keep tabs on the latest developments using the association’s new directory of member blogs.
Searching for news and commentary about the profession? Check out the page’s “For Professionals” section. Want articles about the college admission process to share with teens and their parents? You’ll find a wide array of options under the “For Students and Families” heading.
Continue reading Check Out NACAC’s Directory of Member Blogs
Late night study sessions may seem like a good idea to students looking to boost their grades, but new research suggests sticking with a consistent sleep schedule may be a better long-term strategy.
The study, published earlier this month by Scientific Reports, found that college students who did not go to bed and wake up at similar times each day were more likely to have lower GPAs.
Irregular sleep patterns upend students’ natural body clocks and can leave them feeling jet-lagged, a condition that ultimately undermines their performance in the classroom, Dr. Charles Czeisler, one of the study’s authors, told CNN.
Continue reading Study: Sleep Patterns Affect Academic Performance
Editor’s note: A version of this post originally appeared on Admitted in March 2016. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series.
The college search and application process continues this summer for rising seniors.
In a 2016 New York Times article, nine college admission officers offered a unique perspective on what lies ahead.
As parents themselves, the interviewees shared the advice they offer to their own college-bound children.
Continue reading Admission Officers Share Advice They Give Their Own College-Bound Kids