College Admission, College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads: College Prep and the Price of Perfection

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College-bound kids from across the globe are increasingly internalizing the same harmful message: Only excellence will do when it comes to grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and college admission.

But expecting across-the-board greatness is a “set-up,” clinical psychologist David Gleason told counselors and admission professionals on Tuesday.

“Trying to conform to these expectations, kids become depleted, feeling scared about their futures, and disillusioned by their inability to do it all,” Gleason tweeted during a #NACACreads discussion of his book, At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools.

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NACAC News

Web Resource: See How Colleges Are Supporting Students Affected by Natural Disasters

Have your students been impacted by recent natural disasters?

NACAC has created a digital resource to help US and international students affected by hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods make plans for higher education.

Since NACAC began surveying colleges and universities in October, more than 140 institutions have provided campus contacts and a direct link to information on their websites for students affected by the devastation.

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Cost of College

California to Make First Year of Community College Free

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California residents can now go to community college for free.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill in early October that gives students one year of free tuition at any of state’s 114 community colleges, as long as they are California residents and new students enrolling full-time, CNN reported.

This new legislation expands on what California already offered. Community colleges in the state currently charge residents $46 per credit — amounting to a cost of roughly $1,100 a year for students who enroll full-time.

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College Readiness, NACAC News

#NACACreads: Discuss Student Mental Health on Tuesday

How much pressure is too much for college-bound students?

Join us Tuesday for a #NACACreads discussion of At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools.

The hour-long Twitter chat, featuring author David L. Gleason, will kick off at 9 p.m. ET.

“Pressure to succeed, in and of itself, is not necessarily unhealthy,” Gleason notes in his book. “However, too much pressure — for anyone — but especially for still-developing children and adolescents — can be dangerous.”

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International Education

IIE Creates Emergency Fund for Caribbean Students Affected by Recent Hurricanes

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US colleges and universities have a new avenue to help Caribbean students facing major financial difficulty due to the recent devastating hurricanes.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has organized an emergency support program. US campuses may nominate up to five enrolled degree-seeking students who are citizens of Caribbean nations.

Applications must be submitted to IIE by an international adviser or similar university official by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 30. Students may not apply directly.

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College Admission, NACAC News

Tell Us: Is Your Institution Supporting Students Affected by Natural Disasters?

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Is your college or university offering flexibility to students impacted by recent natural disasters? Let us know!

NACAC is creating a digital resource to assist counselors working with US students affected by hurricanes and wildfires, as well as international students impacted by earthquakes and floods. Colleges and universities are asked to add their information to the database by completing a short survey.

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College Admission, National College Fairs

Help Your Students Prepare for National College Fairs

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Editor’s note: A version of this post originally appeared on Admitted in April 2015. It’s being republished as part of NACAC’s Best of the Blog series.

All hail the humble highlighter.

Neon markers are a vital part of Dana Lambert’s efforts to help students make the most of their National College Fair experience.

“I make them come in with a plan,” said Lambert, a counselor at West Milford Township High School in New Jersey. “Once the list of fair exhibitors comes out, we have them sit down and highlight the schools and the tables that they want to stop at.”

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Academic Performance, College Admission, College Completion

Engagement Key to Retaining Non-Traditional College Students

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Determining which returning adult students are at risk of dropping out of college is a complex process, according to results from a recent national survey.

Common data points — such as demographics, choice of major, and hours devoted to studying — can’t reliably predict whether a nontraditional student will struggle to complete their degree.

As it turns out, the most dependable factor for identifying at-risk non-traditional students is the extent to which they make effective connections to their college, a factor that can be difficult to measure. After all, the very students who are most in danger of dropping out often have limited contact with professors, peers, and college staff, according to a recent report from Barnes & Noble College Insights — a division of the bookseller that produces quantitative and qualitative research related to higher education.

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Access, Advocacy

New Advocacy Resources Available to Support Undocumented Students

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Campus leaders who want to support undocumented students have a new place to turn for information.

Earlier this month, the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition, of which NACAC is a member, created a new website highlighting facts about undocumented students and providing advocacy resources.

The coalition is encouraging colleges and universities to recognize Oct. 16-20 as Protect Dreamers Week. New resources created to help educators and others advocate on behalf of DREAMers include a fact sheet and talking points.

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