The Holiday Season has sent millions of high school students home for a short break from school, but the task of getting into college continues. With application deadlines looming, financial aid applications to complete and standardized tests to retake, high school seniors are feeling the pressures of getting into college in new ways. The increased stressed seems to have increased their creativity as well.

One student wrapped his University of Notre Dame application in a leprechaun made of balloons. Another sent Indiana University photographs of herself as a toddler in a crimson cheerleading skirt to show a lifelong passion for all things Hoosier. Others include resumes, videotaped pleas for acceptance and newspaper clippings of high school highlights.

Universities and colleges do not want most of those frills, but admission officials report a surge of them in this year’s applications. More than 50,000 applications will reach Indiana colleges and universities this year.

Read the full Indianapolis Star article here.

High school students benefit from taking college classes while in high school. Dual-enrollment programs have grown in popularity amongst college-bound high school students. But a recent study found that despite the popularity, college classes are still underused by high school students.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Center for School Change would like to see more students taking advantage of the dual-enrollment program that gives high school students a realistic view of what college is like without the hefty price tag.
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This time of year is a time of panic for most high school seniors. The pressure of the college selection process is behind them. Now it is time to complete applications, apply for scholarships and wait for their letters of admission or letters of rejection. There is no sure way to guarantee admissions into any school, but knowing what admissions counselors are looking for can help.

There are four major areas that students should focus on as they complete their college applications. Admissions counselors at schools ranging from small, private to large, public universities across the country have identified these four areas as the most important.
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Making the time to meet with all of your students on a regular basis is little more than wishful thinking for most high school guidance counselors. Large case loads, small budgets and few resources present challenges on all levels. But, there are a few things you can do to help your students make the most of the time they have with you.
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