Asphyxiation games have been around for decades – and for some reason the brief euphoric high from lack of oxygen continues to intrigue teenagers. However, several publicized deaths over the past few years, as well as Internet sites like YouTube displaying the game in more threatening variations, are spurring a discussion in schools and among parents’ groups, guidance counselors and physicians. Many psychologists believe that this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed openly and aggressively.

Levi Draher has received national attention after sharing his near death experience. Click here to view a video of Draher’s talk about the deadly game.

In a New York Times article, 16-year-old Draher Casts Light on a Shadowy Game.

GERONIMO, Tex. – Levi Draher, 16, walked to the front of the Navarro High School gym in early March and picked up the microphone before a hushed audience of fellow teenagers.

“I died and came back,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

Social networking sites are constantly adapting to fit the needs of both high school and college students and now colleges are using these online communities as a resource as well. In The New York Times article Make New Friends Online, and You Won’t Start College Friendless,” Robert Alexander, assistant vice president of enrollment management at Tulane, said reading the group discussions in Facebook was a good way for the university to learn students interests and concerns. Tulane has created its own online group for admitted and prospective students as well.
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Will colleges continue to award merit-based aid in the years to come? Some schools believe the increasing numbers of low-income students will spur a shift in the use of institutional dollars. USA TODAY’s article “Colleges taking another look at value of merit-based aid,” discusses the potential change in scholarship recipients, as well as how some schools are only rewarding need-based aid already.

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

Good grades and high test scores still matter a lot to many colleges as they award financial aid.

But with low-income students projected to make up an ever-larger share of the college-bound population in coming years, some schools are re-examining whether that aid, typically known as merit aid, is the most effective use of precious institutional dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

Counselors will tell you that landing an relevant internship while you’re in college can be the key to finding a great entry-level job once you graduate. And, yes, internships – like jobs – are becoming very competitive. But is it worth paying an outside company thousands of dollars to help you snag one of these coveted internships? This article from CNN.com investigates:

“Claire Richardson knew this summer would cost her money. Whether she chose to take an unpaid internship, study abroad or stay at Southern Methodist University and take summer classes, she and her parents would have to pay.

So that’s why she didn’t mind spending thousands of dollars to land an internship, plus housing and food, for a summer in New York.

“When you look at it you’re going to be paying money wherever you are or whatever you’re doing,” said Richardson, a 20-year-old sophomore who will intern this summer at brokerage Smith Barney.

Hunting for an internship takes time and as more students realize their value, competition is getting fierce. A slew of businesses have popped up to help match students with internships, charging hundreds to thousands of dollars to help them write resumes, identify potential employers and find summer housing. Read the rest of this entry »

As mentioned on MSN Careers in the article Job Outlook for Class of 2007, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts college hiring will increase by 17.4 percent in 2007. This is the fourth straight year that new graduate hiring is expected to grow by a double-digit percentage.

According to the fall preview of NACE’s “Job Outlook 2007″ survey, employers cite company growth, retiring employees and high job turnover as key reasons for the rise in hiring.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “2004-2014 Job Outlook for College Graduates” identifies seven prominent career fields that will have significant openings in the years ahead two of which tie in closely to school guidance counseling. Read the rest of this entry »

Any college student can tell you that iPods took over most college campuses soon after they were introduced. Walking across campus, if students aren’t on their cell phone, they are probably listening to music on some variety of Apple’s iPod. But recently, colleges have started embracing the trend and attempting to use it for academic purposes.

“When they aren’t dancing, those familiar iPod silhouettes are probably hunkered down in the classroom, where the devices have become a common learning tool.

More than 70 million iPods have been sold since they were introduced by Apple more than five years ago. Now, with the MP3 player’s foothold in academia, universities and companies are quickly expanding the amount of study materials students can use with them. Read the rest of this entry »

High school can be a difficult time for both teens and parents. Students are changing both emotionally and physically as they become young adults. As a parent, keep in mind that counselors can be a valuable resource for you and your son or daughter.

Counselors are readily available to advise students throughout the school year. Learn about a few of the areas that a high school guidance counselor can help.
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If you are a prospective School Counselor about to go on your first interview, it’s normal to feel nervous and unsure of what might be asked of you. Courtesy of Counselor Companion reader Tina, we present you with this guide to how a typical School Counselor interview might go. Tina has been a counselor with a special education focus, a counselor at a large public middle school and at a private high school. In addition to brushing up on your general interviewing skills, read about Tina’s experiences in School Counselor interviews. Read the rest of this entry »