Should high schoolers need to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate?
CEOs from two college access organizations — uAspire and CollegeSpring — think so.
Should the FAFSA be mandatory?
Report Shines Light on Rural Students
Nearly one in five US students — a total of 9.3 million — attend rural schools. But far too often, the needs of these students are overlooked in national discussions.
The leaders at the Rural School and Community Trust hope to change that. The group released its annual Why Rural Matters report today to shed light on the scope and status of rural education.
Closing the STEM Gender Gap
Boys and girls enroll in advanced math and sciences classes at equal rates as they move into high school. But a gender gap appears as they get closer to college, with boys enrolling in more advanced STEM courses than girls, according to a recent Edutopia article.
“This gap widens the longer girls are in school and is often compounded by issues of race and class,” according to Carly Berwick, a journalist and English teacher at a STEM magnet school in New Jersey.
The good news? Educators can help close the gap.
Now Available: Podcast Episode Featuring Jabari Sellars at #nacac19
The latest episode of College Admissions Decoded is now available! Listen on NACAC’s website or Apple Podcasts.
This special episode features Jabari Sellars, the closing keynote speaker at NACAC’s national conference. He received a warm and enthusiastic standing ovation for his presentation called “Fight for What Doesn’t Fit: Celebrating Students’ Identities, Interests, and Unique Qualities.”
Continue reading Now Available: Podcast Episode Featuring Jabari Sellars at #nacac19
Exercise Your Right to Vote on Election Day
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, citizens across the country will head to the polls to make their voices heard.
This off-year election includes gubernatorial contests in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi as well as some local, state, and special federal elections.
Continue reading Exercise Your Right to Vote on Election Day
Imagine Grant Funds Awareness Campaign
An estimated one out of every 14 children under age 18 has experienced the death of a parent or sibling, but the unique needs of grieving students are often overlooked in the college admission process.
Pamela Roth Appleton, associate director of college counseling at Phillips Exeter Academy (NH), is working to change that. Using funds from a NACAC Imagine Grant, Appleton has launched an awareness campaign designed to educate admission counseling professionals about the effects of childhood grief and the challenges affected students may face in the transition to college. Along with Christina Breen, a fellow Exeter educator, Appleton recently produced a four-page brochure. The publication highlights potential pain points in the admission process and includes best practices and further resources.
High School Performance Matters Most in College Admission Decisions
New survey data from NACAC shows that a student’s high school record remains the primary consideration of colleges when reviewing applications.
The finding, included in the association’s recently released 2019 State of College Admission report, has been consistent over the past three decades.
Specifically, the top four factors in freshmen college admission decisions are: (1) grades in all high school courses; (2) grades in college prep courses; (3) strength of a student’s high school curriculum; and (4) admission test scores (ACT/SAT). Meanwhile, only 1 percent of colleges indicated that a student’s alumni connections or ability to pay had considerable influence during the application review process.
Continue reading High School Performance Matters Most in College Admission Decisions
NACAC Urges Flexibility for Students Impacted by Disasters and Disruptions
NACAC is asking colleges to exercise flexibility for applicants affected by disasters and disruptions.
Continue reading NACAC Urges Flexibility for Students Impacted by Disasters and Disruptions
Study: In-Class Use of Cell Phones, Laptops Lowers Test Scores
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on Admitted in August 2018. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series.
In the age of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, we’ve mastered the art of multitasking — right?
Unfortunately, a new study suggests otherwise and includes some sobering findings for students.
According to research published in Educational Psychology, students who use electronic devices during class lectures have a harder time recalling what they learned in the long-term.
Continue reading Study: In-Class Use of Cell Phones, Laptops Lowers Test Scores
New Podcast Episode Now Available
The fourth episode of NACAC’s College Admissions Decoded podcast is now available!
Tune in to hear NACAC Board Director Jacques Steinberg and Rafael Figueroa, dean of college guidance at Albuquerque Academy (NM), discuss what educators and college admission professionals can do to help to help all students and their families explore postsecondary options.