GradBetter offers free tools that compare financial aid awards and draft clear, effective appeal letters. Counselors can use the tools directly or simply invite families to compare awards, understand what drives appeals, and generate a strong starting draft. Appealing is now common practice. About one-third of families appeal, and most succeed, with the majority of Read More
A recent report in Inside Higher Ed said something that wasn’t surprising to me: Many students and families are unprepared for the true cost of college. It’s not uncommon for families to say, “Oh look, the state school will cost us $8,000 to $10,000 a year” and they think that’s all they will be paying. Read More
Every so often a colleague sends a question I haven’t seen before. The good thing about having a time-tested process is that even if I haven’t answered that precise question, I can always offer something. Here’s one that came in last fall: I will be working with a student who is high functioning and has Read More
You hear a lot of discussion these days about “self-care,” being mindful of our physical, mental and emotional health with healthy eating, exercise, sleep and recreation. It’s not self-indulgence. It’s necessary for our well-being. But sometimes, that concerted effort just isn’t enough to truly achieve the goal of balance. Life happens. How do we achieve Read More
Helicopter parenting has officially entered the workplace. New data from Zety reveals that 67% of Gen Z workers regularly receive career advice from their parents, and for many, that support goes far beyond advice. Coined “Career Co-Piloting,” this growing trend describes parents taking a hands-on role in their child’s early career — actively helping write Read More
New Ratios Released! New data indicates the student-to-school-counselor ratio continues to narrow – reaching its lowest margin since ASCA began tracking ratios in 1986. The national student-to-school-counselor ratio was 372:1 in 2024–2025. Read more here: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/efe644ea-e26c-4531-82e9-ddbab422227a/24-25-Ratios.pdf
As a Counselor you must know today’s reality of the career market to advise your students. In today’s high-tech career market, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are giving way to one-year certificates and two-year associate’s degrees for many students. This is a growing trend for careers in machine and electronics technology, AI, medical diagnostic imaging, and Read More
An interactive virtual class for parents of high school juniors and seniors is being offered by Andrea Malkin Brenner of Talking College for a nominal fee. This is a three-session virtual class that will help attendees gain a complete list of the critical life skills their college-bound kids should master before leaving home and tools Read More
Selective summer programs can be powerful experiences for students who are ready for them. At their best, these programs offer intellectual depth, mentorship, and immersion; experiences that most high schools can’t replicate. Students are surrounded by peers who share their curiosity, are challenged to think at a college level, and asked to engage deeply — Read More
When you and other counselors hear that the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2023 made it easier to apply for federal financial aid for college, you may think, “This will be easy!” True, the act reduced the number of questions, but counselors and families still find the form so complex and overwhelming that the process seems Read More
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