College Admission, NACAC National Conference, NACAC News

#NACAC19: Goal-Setting Can Help Counter Stress for College-Bound Students

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Gen Z students from across the globe are increasingly internalizing the same harmful messages when it comes to college admission, school counselor Dominie Wilhite told attendees Friday at NACAC’s 75th National Conference in Louisville.

To an even greater extent than past generations, today’s young people believe grades, test scores, and application materials must be perfect to achieve their college dreams, noted Wilhite, who serves students at Ghidotti Early College High School (CA).

“There can be a sense that it’s really hard to succeed,” Wilhite said during a panel discussion focused on mental health and wellness in the college admission process.

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NACAC National Conference

Make the Most Out of #nacac19 on Social Media

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NACAC’s 75th National Conference in Louisville is just around the corner. As the social media manager for NACAC I’m biased, but I think getting involved with the conference on social media is a great way to connect before, during, and even long after the event.

Check out my top five tips to get the most out of your national conference social media experience.

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College Admission, NACAC National Conference

Admission Survey: Debt Concerns Are Keeping Potential Applicants Away

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The majority of admission leaders believe their institutions are losing potential applicants due to concerns about student debt, according to a recent Inside Higher Ed report.

For the third consecutive year, more than 80 percent of admission directors believe a fear of debt is preventing students from applying to their respective institutions, survey results show. The concern is greatest among officials at private universities, with 91 percent of respondents citing debt worries as a barrier in the application process.

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Access

Boosting College Success for Hispanic Students

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Nearly one in five college students are Hispanic, but college-going rates among Latinos still lag behind the national average, data show.

A new report — Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Hispanic High School Students’ Perceptions on the Transition to College—offers recommendations to boost attainment rates. The research, which consisted of interviews with Hispanic students and parents, was conducted by ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning in conjunction with Univision Communications.

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College Admission

Admission Officers Pen Open Letter to Students, Parents

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A group of 24 college admission professionals published an open letter this week in Inside Higher Ed.

Their audience: Students and parents.

Their message: A pledge to provide each student “with the opportunity to realize the very best in themselves, in others, and in the world they will help shape” amid a college admission process that can seem overwhelming.

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STEM

Survey: Girls Thrive in STEM, Even Without Tech-Savvy Parents

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Editor’s note:  This post was originally published on Admitted in December 2018. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series.

Parents don’t need to be tech-savvy to raise girls who are interested in STEM.

A 2018 poll found that parents’ proficiency with technology has only marginal effects on girls’ excitement about the subject.

“This survey shows that, contrary to popular belief, girls are interested in tech, and that they will seek out instruction regardless of their parents’ affinity with technology,” according to Tracey Welson-Rossman, founder and CEO of TechGirlz — a nonprofit organization that worked with Drexel University (PA) to conduct the survey. “It should reassure parents they can set their daughters on the path to a rewarding, empowering career in tech with support and encouragement, even if they do not understand the subject matter themselves.”

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Access, College Admission, NACAC News

#NACACreads: Colleges Must Change to Better Serve Low-Income Students

In his book, The Privileged Poor, author Tony Jack shares a surprising statistic.

At highly selective colleges, one half of black students and one third of lower income Latino students are the alumni of boarding, day, and preparatory high schools.

Offering admission to such students is “easy” and “a safer bet” for universities, Jack noted Tuesday during a #NACACreads Twitter chat. After all, students who attend college prep high schools generally arrive on campus already having developed the skills and social capital needed to navigate the “hidden curriculum” of higher education.

But Jack challenged chat participants to diversify their recruitment strategies and invest in on-campus efforts that ensure all students have the knowledge and support needed to make the most of their college years.

Continue reading #NACACreads: Colleges Must Change to Better Serve Low-Income Students →

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