ICYMI: NACAC 2018
The 74th National Conference was held September 27-29, 2019 with over 6,000 conference attendees gathered in Salt Lake City. Over 55 Great Plains ACAC members were in attendance. Read the National Conference Highlights provided by the GPACAC president here.
News
Here is some information on what's going on in the world of college admissions:
Paying for College
There are hundreds of websites that purport to offer families advice about the complicated issue of financial aid for college. Not all of them are truly helpful. Not all are accurate. Some of them attempt to steer you to particular lenders. NACAC has compiled this list of trusted, up-to-date sources to help your students and their families navigate this process here.
Saving High School Admission Visits
We all know the cycle. Unpredictable admission yields put pressure on earlier communication and a push to apply earlier and earlier. This drives up anxiety for students concerned about checking all the boxes ASAP, causing a greater focus on the Big Four—rigorous classes, leadership, athletics, and community service. More academic rigor means that it is harder to miss class, so fewer students attend on-site high school admission sessions. With less student contact, more stealth candidates are in play and yields are unpredictable. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. ... Read more.
Expanding Access: CBOs & Regional Reps Working Together
Students involved in community-based college access and success programs are an untapped resource, said Erica Padilla, director of New York City Engagement at Utica College and a member of Regional Officers of Admission Metro NYC (ROAM NYC). ... Read more about how regional reps like Padilla are tapping into that resource and joining forces with community-based organizations here.
What is One Thing Counselors Can Do or Should Strive to Do to Improve College Access?
I think counselors should help students see the value in the breath of college and university options that exist across the spectrum. Sometimes, it seems, students and tiger families become fixated on colleges and universities that are popular or that they consider “the best” and “catastrophize” their future prospects when they aren’t admitted to them. As counselors, we can and should be talking about the best fit for students and the reality that fit is not a singular notion when referring to optimal college and university options. Read more about how counselors can help improve college access here.
Nontraditional Students Now the Norm on College Campuses
Still using the term nontraditional students?Researcher Alexandria Walton Radford told NPR this week that it’s time for the name to go. Learn more.
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