Notes on NACAC Part 2: 3 Major Take Aways

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is a tremendous resource for everyone working in the college counseling field, and their annual conference provides much insight into current trends in college admission. This year's gathering in Boston was no exception! While it there was truly an *abundance* of all kinds of information available, her are my top 3 major take aways from the 2017 NACAC conference:

1. Mental Health is becoming a significant concern on campuses across the nation. More students are reporting depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues with every passing year, and counselors on college campuses, as well as in high schools, are focusing their energy on providing the best support possible for their students.  Two organizations, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and The Jed Foundation, have partnered to address how best to support students as they make the transition from high school to college, specifically looking at ways to help students with mental health issues. They have created a special guide called Starting the Conversation, and you can download a free copy here: www.nami.org/collegeguide


2. Students need to be their own advocates when it comes to the college admission process. This year's keynote speaker, Dr. Shaun R. Harper, spoke on the racism that pervades the college admission process, giving stark examples of several African-American male high school students who were discouraged from applying to prestigious universities when, in fact, they were ideal candidates for these institutions. These students succeeded because they were pro-active in the admission process, demonstrating that every student HAS to believe in his/her right to attend their "best fit" school. Watch Dr. Harper's entire speech here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcUkalvq0LA
   
   
3. There is A TON of information out there on applying to colleges -  so much information that it can be overwhelming even for professional counselors! For example, the Exhibit Hall alone (pictured above), where college-related vendors gathered to talk about their services and products, looked like a full football stadium. Because of this great volume of data and advice on college admission, no family should go it alone. Students and their parents should reach out to their school's guidance department for as much support in the process as possible. If more assistance is needed, strongly consider hiring an independent college consultant to help guide your family through the complex process. Check out my Resources web page to find some helpful websites and books to get you started on owning the college application process: www.apluscollegeconsult.com/resources.html