If you’ve routinely pointed students toward scholarships designated for students of color, women, or other underrepresented groups, the landscape has shifted. New data from the National Scholarship Providers Association, which tracks more than 33,000 scholarships, shows the share of scholarships with eligibility requirements tied to race, ethnicity, gender, or other demographic factors has dropped from Read More

A growing number of selective universities have announced they will not require supplemental essays for the 2026-27 admissions cycle, and the list has been building throughout the summer. Schools making the change include Tulane (dropping its “Why Tulane?” essay), the University of Georgia (dropping its well-known book essay), UNC Chapel Hill (removing two short-answer prompts), Read More

On June 30, ETS, the nonprofit behind the GRE and TOEFL, announced it is acquiring ACT, one of the most widely recognized names in college and career readiness testing. The deal combines two of the biggest players in educational assessment into a single organization reaching roughly 35 million people annually. For counselors, the immediate question Read More

Starting July 1, federal student loan borrowers who enroll in automatic payments will receive a 1 percentage point reduction on their interest rate – a significant jump from the 0.25% discount that has long been the standard. The benefit is temporary, running through June 30, 2028, but the enrollment window extends to September 30, 2026, Read More

Students who took the June SAT or ACT should have acces to their scores by now. If your student recently received an SAT or ACT score, now is a great time to evaluate what it means in the context of their college goals. A score report can help identify strengths, areas for improvement, and whether Read More

New research from Zety offers a useful data point for counselors talking with students about social media and their future careers. The survey of over 900 Gen Z employees reveals a workforce navigating intense pressure to connect with colleagues online, leading to widespread self-censorship and severe consequences for those who share too much. Key Findings Read More

Pay attention to your high school students’ behaviors.  If they’re not acting present for your meetings, not going out with friends, spending too many hours gaming, you may be seeing an emerging mental health condition known as a process addiction or behavior addiction. If this is the case, trying to limit these behaviors by imposing restrictions typically Read More

Research indicates that the brain doesn’t fully mature until around age 25, but nonetheless: In most states, 18 is the age at which a child is considered to be a legal adult. And it’s when parents lose their right to that child’s medical information. That’s why – once they hit that magic age – parents Read More

According to Monster’s Jobs Hiring Now Report, the best opportunities for job seekers in 2026 are increasingly defined not just by salary or demand, but by how quickly employers are hiring. Based on U.S. job posting activity from October 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, Monster® analyzed the 30 highest-volume non-healthcare occupations and ranked them by hiring Read More

For many families, the college admissions process brings a predictable level of stress, given both the time it requires and the significance of the outcome. There is a shared understanding between students and parents that planning for college is an important transition, one that requires focused attention and effort. Parents often have expectations about how Read More