Life After High School In the Time of COVID-19
Options and opportunities under the pandemic impact before your enrollment of colleges in Fall 2020.
2305, 2020
0402, 2020
ACT Major Reform!
Beginning September 2020, the ACT is introducing ACT Section Retesting, ACT Superscoring, and faster results with ACT Online Testing on national test dates. These new options offer students more choices, a better experience, and greater confidence that their ACT test scores best reflect their hard work, overall academic achievement, and potential for success throughout their lives. 1. Section Retesting Section retesting gives students the opportunity to showcase their skills and
1606, 2017
50 Reading Recommendations from Counselors and Deans
According to the College Board, the Reading section of the SAT includes passages from topics as varied as contemporary world literature, a U.S. founding document, economics, biology, and physics. Additionally, there are also questions that ask about “important, widely used words and phrases that you’ll find in texts in many different subjects.“ Besides improving your familiarity with different types of reading and your vocabulary, reading during the summer can also
2605, 2017
Mark Zuckerberg Speaks to Harvard Graduates About Creating Purpose
Mark Zuckerberg, the famous creator of Facebook, visited Harvard recently to speak to its graduates about purpose, meaningful projects, and community; all lessons which are always important for any student of any age: “The challenge for our generation is creating a world where everyone has a sense of purpose…Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better
0202, 2017
How the Travel Ban Affects Colleges
Last week, Trump’s travel ban against people from certain Muslim-majority countries stirred strong reactions across the U.S. The ban affected travelers entering the U.S. and those involved in the visa process. How has the ban affected colleges? The NACAC has made a list of recent news on the issue and the stories that students, professors, researchers, and others in higher education have to tell about their experiences. (Source: NACAC)
1901, 2017
What Can UC Students Do After College?
According to the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, a lot. Some UC alums have been honored on the list for a variety of accomplishments such as: Energy- Charles Cai and a new method to change plant matter into biofuel Social Causes- Rachel Sumekh and her nonprofit to end hunger on college campuses Education- Timothy Downing and his studies in biomedical engineering that could help improve repair of spinal injuries For
2209, 2016
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Connects UCSF, UC Berkeley, and Stanford
Besides Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have helped create another way to make new connections. The announcement of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub will connect UCSF, UC Berkeley, and Stanford University with an exciting new science research center. The Biohub is intended to provide needed materials for scientists, such as lab space and project funding. On the Biohub, Professor DeRisi of UCSF has said: “We have three great research powerhouses
2107, 2016
Concentrate on College with these Texts
Students who have concerns about long to-do lists for college admissions may soon be able to get some help. Up Next, the recent text-messaging service released this week, promises to give students handy reminders on college deadlines straight to their phones. With a student’s busy schedule, these text reminders should be useful for organizing their time. (Source: NACAC)
1512, 2015
Data Shows Greater Graduation Rates for U.S. High Schoolers
According to the Huffington Post, the U.S. Education Department has released recent data which shows that for 2013-14, the U.S. high school graduation rate had reached as high as 82 percent. A more detailed breakdown of that information can be found at the Huffington Post article.
1112, 2015
Michelle Obama Uses Music Video to Encourage Students to College
A recent music video with Michelle Obama and Jay Pharoah stresses the value of college to students. A link to the video can be watched here on The Chronicle of Higher Education.
1012, 2015
Supreme Court Continues Discussion on Fisher Case
The NACAC has posted a recent summary of the Supreme Court’s discussion on college admissions and race in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.
0212, 2015
UC Extends Transfer Deadline to January 4
Although the UC application usually closes by November 30, this year, the transfer student deadline has been moved to January 4, 2016. For additional details, students can go to the UC admissions website.
2311, 2015
2016 Rhodes Scholars Selected
According to Inside Higher Ed, the winners for the 2016 Rhodes Scholarship have recently been announced. The students who win a Rhodes Scholarship are offered an opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.
1811, 2015
An Update for Students with Corinthian College Loans
As a continuation of the Corinthian Colleges investigation last year by the U.S. Department of Education, an Inside Higher Ed article has announced that based on new info, as many as 85,000 Corinthian students may be able to have their loans cancelled.
1611, 2015
Be a Better Student with these Time-Saving Tips
Current high school students may feel a certain sympathy with Alice’s White Rabbit, who shouts “I’m late!” everywhere it runs. However, to keep a better handle on a busy schedule and to help reduce stress, students should consider using a few of the 7 time management techniques from the Huffington Post.
1311, 2015
Student Protests at Colleges Bring Up Issues of Diversity
Recent news has reported a number of student protests on college campuses like the University of Missouri and Yale. The Chronicle of Higher Education has provided a helpful summary of the different protests and the conversations they have started on race and diversity in higher education.
1111, 2015
Encouraging Announcements for Veterans and Higher Education
According to Inside Higher Ed, there has been some good news recently for veterans who are planning to attend college, like the announcement of a veteran-specific tool for comparing colleges and new protections for GI Bill benefits.
1011, 2015
UC Plans to Add 10,000 Californian Students by 2018
According to the LA Times, there may be an increase of 10,000 in-state students added to UC campuses by 2018. The plan would “boost in-state enrollment of freshmen and transfer students by 5,000 next fall and then 2,500 more in each of the two following school years.”
3110, 2015
Pell Grants May Soon be Allowed for High School Students in Dual Enrollment
Recently, the Department of Education released an announcement that high school students who want to take college classes through dual enrollment may soon be able to use Pell Grants towards dual enrollment. This experiment has been reported as a way to increase opportunities for high schoolers with low-income backgrounds, as dual enrollment seems linked to benefits like “better grades in high school, increased enrollment in college following high school, [and]
2010, 2015
The First Lady’s Campaign Makes a Space to Inspire Students to College
Michelle Obama, the First Lady, recently announced the start of Better Make Room, a campaign to inspire students to college. The Better Make Room website, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, seems to be appropriately designed for sharing stories about college-going students to other younger students.
0505, 2015
3 Pop Quizzes for High Schoolers
The news constantly seems to report that U.S. students are behind in nearly every academic subject–whether it is science or reading or languages. However, no matter if you are a high school student or a graduate from high school some time ago, take the chance to test your knowledge with the following links below: 1. The Singapore math puzzle from April which stumped many students and adults alike 2. An
2603, 2015
San Jose Student in Top Three for Intel Science Talent Search
In March, the Intel Science Talent Search announced Andrew Jin, a San Jose student, as one of its top winners for his project on DNA mutations. Besides Andrew Jin, a number of Californian high-schoolers also placed as finalists. More information on the Intel Science Talent winners can be read in the San Jose Mercury News. For students who hope to enter the Intel Talent Science Search or have a passion
2601, 2015
More Info Means Better College Match for Students of Low-Income
A recent article in The Atlantic looked at the reasons of students who decided not to apply for selective colleges. More specifically, low-income students who scored in the top 10 percent of the SAT or ACT. Their application decisions were found to have resulted from a lack of information on college aid and college programs. However, once students of that profile received more detailed info on colleges, they had a
2001, 2015
The Complicated Cost of a UC
According to the LA Times, Gov. Jerry Brown and UC President Janet Napolitano will soon meet as a committee to go over the costs and the spending of UC campuses. Their first meeting is reported to be scheduled for January 26. Besides college costs, some other issues which may also be discussed include teaching loads and time needed to earn an undergraduate degree. In a more recent LA Times piece,
1901, 2015
New Scorecard to Aid Colleges in Assessing Students’ Banking Options
With growing concerns on tuition, room and board, and other necessary expenses, how can future college students keep a handle on all of their financial matters? Students may be glad to know that throughout January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has worked on a Safe Student Account Scorecard. The scorecard is intended for colleges to use to get a clear picture of the most student-friendly banking accounts. Some colleges
1601, 2015
How Much Student Debt is in Your State?
Curious about the average student debt for college in your state? You can find out on this map. As reported by the Huffington Post, the top 3 states with the worst student debt are New Hampshire. Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The 3 other states with lower student debt are Nevada, California, and New Mexico. As students and their families continue to worry about the cost of college tuition, keeping an eye
1301, 2015
President Obama’s Community College Plan
When President Obama announced a plan last week to make 2 years of community college free for students who could meet certain requirements, the usual spirited discussions followed about the purpose of higher education and student goals, and the ways and means the plan would be put into place. The U.S. News pointed out that previous programs similar to President Obama’s plan had been created before. Other articles, like this
1301, 2015
How Many Counselors Does a High School Need?
Or to flip the question, how many students do you think a school counselor can handle while still working effectively? 50 students? 100 students? What about 500 students? According to a recent article from the New York Times, the national ratio of high school students to counselors is almost 500-to-1. Last year, Time Magazine also mentioned a similar figure, stating that a public high school counselor usually has a caseload
2212, 2014
Studying Tips for the Holidays
As winter break has just begun, some students are excited for the chance to sleep in and catch up with friends. But the holidays also provide a great chance to review school subjects or work on a long-term school project. In order to ensure the most productive study session possible, see some of the tips below! 1. Check your study environment A quiet and clean place to study is
1612, 2014
How Much Homework is Helpful?
A recent article on The Atlantic reviewed data on the amount of homework assigned to 15-year-old students around the world. According to the listed countries: Students in Shanghai spend, on average, 13.8 hours on homework each week Students in the U.S. spend 6.1 hours on homework each week Students in Finland spend 2.8 hours on homework each week The report does not take into account any time spent in after-school
1012, 2014
Calls Increase for Computer Science at High Schools
On Monday, several of the largest school districts in the U.S. in New York, Los Angeles, and other locations announced that they would be making introductory computer science classes more available to their students. One problem with computer science courses is that it is usually a non-required course for high-schoolers, so schools might not place a high priority on hiring computer science teachers. For AP classes, students interested in computer
0412, 2014
College Tuition Increases Loom Over Students’ Minds
In a recent article from Bloomberg News, in 2014, tuition and fees at 4-year public colleges and private colleges have risen from around 3 percent to 3.7 percent. For an in-state student at a public college, tuition with room and board can come up to $18,943 and at private colleges, the cost comes up to around $42,419. In related news, a chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics displays an
2211, 2014
UC Tuition Increase Voted on by UC Regents
On Thursday, the proposal for increasing UC tuition was approved by UC Regents, according to news sources such as LA Times and Newsweek. The proposal to increase UC tuition by 5% each year was first announced at the beginning of November. Under this proposal, by 2019, UC tuition could be as much as $15,564. The UC tuition increase was stated to be a response to budget concerns, the increased student
1211, 2014
Increased High School Graduation Rates Seen in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Education announced that for the 2012-2013 school year, 18 states had high school graduation rates at 85 percent or more. In 2011-2012, only 16 states had that same graduation rate. Specific information about graduation rates for each state can be found online at ED Data Express. There may be some differences between states on how their rates take account of English learners and students with disabilities.
1111, 2014
Want a Creative Career? Study Up on STEM
As a student, have you ever wondered “Why do I need to know what derivative is?” or “Why should I care what a quantum mechanical system does?” If you’re interested in one of the careers below, you might want to dust off your textbooks and get back to your math and science notes. 1. Fashion Designer (Algebra, Geometry) Besides knowing the difference between red and blood-orange, math is a
1011, 2014
U.S. and China Increase Time for Visa Validity
On Monday, during the first day of his trip to China, President Barack Obama announced a new policy on visas between the U.S. and China. Originally, U.S. visas such as business visas and student visas were only valid for one year. Under the new policy, business and tourist visas will now be valid for up to ten years. Student and exchange visas will be valid for five years. The new
0811, 2014
UC Announces Plan for 5% Tuition Increases
Originally, the tuition for UC colleges had been frozen for the last 3 years. However, a few days ago, the UC system announced a plan to raise tuition by as much as 5% for the next few years. What is the increased tuition supposed to cover for UCs? Costs for employees Costs to cover a greater number of Californian students How will the UC tuition change if it
2710, 2014
At UNC-Chapel Hill, Some Athletes Signed Up For False Classes
Last week, a furious debate broke out over the role of athletics in college after the results of an investigation at UNC-Chapel Hill were revealed. For twenty years, about 3,000 students took classes at UNC-Chapel Hill which did not require them to attend lectures or turn in any major assignments. Roughly half of the students in these classes were also athletes. Some of the athletes named in the investigation played
2210, 2014
UCs Weigh Costs of Limiting Out-of-State Students
Most colleges see great benefits in having a mix of in-state and out-of-state students. However, due to increased fears about college admissions from Californians, the University of California colleges are taking another look at the number of out-of-state students on their campuses. So what are the benefits and the disadvantages of out-of-state students in UCs? Pros Greater diversity of voices and cultures on campus Stable funds for school budget (in-state
1510, 2014
Stanford Updates Info About Majors
Stanford University has just added a new page on their website to help students understand their major options. By using the new major-comparison tool, Stanford students can better research the range of majors offered, from Aeronautics and Astronautics to Urban Studies. Along with majors, students can also look at joint major options, minor options, and co-term options. A co-term at Stanford lets a student start on a master’s degree while
1110, 2014
Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Professor Nakamura of UC Santa Barbara
What’s bright and blue and shiny all over? Professor Shuji Nakamura could probably tell you. Shuji Nakamura is a professor of materials and of electrical and computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara. Last week, he was given the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes. These blue light-emitting diodes are valuable because they allow for a greater energy-saving light source. The Nobel Prize in Physics
1010, 2014
UC Davis Expects Great Growth of Undergraduates by 2020
In the year 2020, UC Davis expects an increase of 5,000 undergraduate students to its campus. In-state, out-of-state, and exchange students are all counted in the 5,000 student figure. To prepare for this expected increase of students, some significant changes were recently made to the UC Davis campus: 1. For housing, 150 triple rooms were added to the residence halls of Tercero 2. An additional 800 seats were added in
0310, 2014
Students Protest Over School Board’s Reaction to AP U.S. History Curriculum
In the past week in Colorado, many Jefferson County students participated in protests against a school board’s response to new guidelines for AP U.S. History. The Jefferson County school board took issue with new AP U.S. History guidelines which came out from College Board in the summer. Some stated that it promoted an anti-American view of history, and placed too much emphasis on the role of race, gender, and class in
0110, 2014
California Laws Passed on Community Colleges and Financial Aid
Last Sunday, two important bills were signed in California regarding higher education. The two bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown were Senate Bill 850 and Senate Bill 1210. After the approval of Senate Bill 850, some of California’s community colleges will be able to give out bachelor’s degrees to their students. The program for 4-year degrees from community colleges is intended to start during the 2017-18 academic year. Through Senate
1809, 2014
The Pell Grant Problem
The Pell Grant does not require repayment and is awarded to millions of low-income students each year to help them attend college. However, based on a report from the New America Foundation, many colleges only admit a few Pell Grant students, or do not offer enough support for Pell Grant students who cannot meet their college costs. The colleges researched in the report included 828 private colleges and 598 public
1709, 2014
Public Agrees on Poll That Better Teacher Preparation Is Needed
From the recent release of the PDK/Gallup poll on education, 81% of those surveyed thought that teachers should be required to pass board certification before teaching. As The Atlantic noted, a national certification exam for teachers already exists, although it is not required for every teacher. The poll results started up a discussion among educators on how U.S. teacher preparation could be improved. The American Federation of Teachers and the
0909, 2014
Bill Gates Optimistic About Big History Project
What is “Big History” and why is Bill Gates interested in it? Originally, “Big History” was a college course created by the Australian professor David Christian. His course not only covered important events in human history; it also linked history with other seemingly unrelated fields like biology or astronomy. After Gates watched the DVD version of “Big History,” he met with David Christian to plan how to convert it into
1108, 2014
Princeton’s Report Grapples with Grading Policy Issues
Princeton University took on a grading policy in 2004 which was meant to provide students “consistent grading standards in different departments” and “clear signals from their teachers about the difference between their good work and their very best work.” The policy suggested that each department give A-range grades for only 35% of course work. In August 2014, a committee of Princeton faculty met to discuss the effects of the grading
2907, 2014
Should Colleges Be Ranked?
A better question might be “How useful are college rankings anyways?” A new ranking list from Money magazine has been greeted by some with approval, others with dislike. The list ranks 665 colleges total based on 3 measures: educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes. The New York Times praised Money for additional factors that were included in its rankings. For instance, when judging affordability, instead of sorting colleges by tuition
0707, 2014
Corinthian Colleges To Sell And Close Campuses Under New Plan
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that Corinthian Colleges Inc. has agreed to an operating plan which will ease the process of closing down its campuses. In early June, Corinthian Colleges was placed under “increased financial oversight” by the Department of Education since Corinthian had failed to submit required data about enrollment and job placement. Concerns were also brought up about Corinthian’s marketing practices to prospective students. Programs owned
3006, 2014
U.S. Education Department Releases New Lists on College Cost
Do you know which public 4-year college has the highest tuition? Do you know which private 2-year college has the lowest net price? As The Chronicle of Higher Education noted today, the U.S. Department of Education just released new lists of the most expensive and least expensive U.S. colleges. The new lists are based on tuition data from the 2012-2013 school year. The lists allow the public to view tuition
1806, 2014
CA Ruling on Teacher Tenure Stirs Arguments on Teacher Effectiveness
How can we judge if a teacher should be tenured? This question was raised by many news sites last week when a California judge ruled that teacher tenure “impose a disproportionate burden on poor and minority students.” As the reasoning went in Vergara v. California, teacher tenure currently keeps many ineffective teachers in schools and changing the tenure system would benefit student success. The ruling also stirred up passionate discussion
0906, 2014
Classes vs. Extracurriculars at Harvard College
When Harvard’s undergraduates asked for additional funding for Harvard’s student groups, it set off a debate about class and extracurriculars throughout the campus. At Harvard, besides 399 student groups, other extracurricular options include 65 club sports teams and 86 student-directed service programs. For first-year students at Harvard, it is not unusual to join 4 or 5 clubs at a time. Students state that the extracurriculars on campus provide opportunities for
0706, 2014
How Effective are MOOCs?
The answer is still uncertain. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are online courses which are usually free and open to anyone with internet access. Three well-known organizations which offer MOOCs are Coursera, Udacity, and edX. According to the U.S. News, some teachers and education experts hold the position that MOOCs can improve U.S. higher education. Others are more skeptical and think more time is needed before any results from MOOCs
2905, 2014
Lower UC Acceptances for Californian Applicants in 2014
As news sites like LA Times (“California Students Feel UC Admission Squeeze”) and San Jose Mercury News (“UC admission harder than ever for Californians”) have noted in April, an increasing number of Californian applicants were not accepted to their UCs of choice. Especially for coveted schools like UC Berkeley and UCLA, competition between applicants was fierce. For Fall 2014, UCLA received 86,521 applicants and UC Berkeley received 73,771. For the
3004, 2014
Common Core Standards
Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade. In California, the State Board of Education decides on the standards for all students, from kindergarten through high school. The California Department of Education helps schools make sure that all students are meeting the standards. In 2010, more than 40 states adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards are
3003, 2011
California Statewide Path
To be considered for admission of University of California and California State University system, you must earn a high school diploma (or equivalency) and satisfy these three minimum requirements no later than your high school graduation: Subject requirement specifies the 15 approved yearlong academic courses you must complete in high school: two years of history/social science four years of English three years of mathematics two years of lab science two
