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Applicants from high-performing high schools routinely enter the college admission process overscheduled and overwhelmed. Stress and sleep-deprivation have reached epidemic proportions at competitive high schools, while rates of depression and anxiety among US teens and young adults have skyrocketed. For this generation of students, the stakes have never seemed higher when it comes to college admission--leading more and more young adults to prep for higher education in ways that are both unhealthy and unsustainable. Rather than giving their students a leg up, an emerging body of evidence shows that hyper-competitive and overly demanding high school experiences can take the joy out of learning, undermine mental health, and leave teens less prepared to make the most of their college years. A new narrative--one that designates perfection as a prerequisite for admission--is increasingly driving the way students select classes and schedule their time out of school. And the messages colleges send to prospective teens can inadvertently add fuel to the fire. Students who are fixated on grades, test scores, and performance can find themselves in a lose-lose situation. Not only do they put their mental and physical health at risk, they often fail to develop the skills needed to successfully navigate life after high school. This article shares four ways counselors can help students take a more balanced approach to the college admission process.

Although never a monolithic community, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (or queer) (LGBTQ) students enter the college exploration process with a far more diverse range of experiences than past generations. A growing portion of today's LGBTQ youth came out in high school or even middle school--and were embraced by family and friends. But the story can be much different for other students, depending on factors such as age, race, religion, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. And some international students may come from countries where it is still illegal to be gay. How students present themselves in the admission process varies widely, as does the way they interact with campus services and LGBTQ organizations once enrolled. The challenge for admission professionals is to build supports, affirmative practices, and outreach efforts that speak to students on either end of the spectrum.

Hate crimes and incidents of bias against US Muslims have soared to their highest levels since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to data collected by the FBI and other organizations. As Muslim youth search for a sense of security, counselors on both sides of the desk are called to ensure their institutions remain safe and welcoming for all students. This article details 5 things colleges should remember if they are looking to recruit more Muslim students to their campus: (1) America's Muslim population is racially and ethnically diverse; (2) Parents play a crucial role in college discussions; (3) Little gestures go a long way; (4) Good information can help families make good decisions; and (5) Statements of support make a difference. Battling stereotypes, and confronting hate are topics that are also discussed.

The 120 movers and shakers included on LinkedIn's 2016 list of Next Wave honorees hail from a variety of industries but share a common goal. Their objective? To tackle some of the globe's most critical issues by rethinking business-as-usual. Professionals selected for the list are dedicated to transforming the way people live, learn, and even play. Just as important, they have cultivated the strong professional networks they'll need to support their innovations. The Next Wave list, curated annually, recognized 10 individuals for their contributions to education in 2016. Three of those honorees--including NACAC Board Director Zakiya Smith--have focused their attention on college affordability. The issue, they say, is central to preserving equality of opportunity. "To have a middle class life, more and more you need some type of postsecondary credential," Smith said. "People are realizing that, but it's paired with a frustration because in many cases they feel like (higher education) is out of their reach financially." This article takes a look at what Smith and her fellow Next Wave honorees are doing to make college more affordable for the next generation of students.

The article highlights the role of data science in changing the work of college admission offices. It mentions the role of databases, marketing software, and social media tracking programs that designed for admission offices and make it possible for counselors to access reports that are specific to their recruitment territory, on-campus program, or outreach campaign.

Those experiences all too often interfere with a student's college trajectory and can color their views of higher ed. Research shows that LGBTQ students who face discrimination are more likely to receive low grades, drop out of school, report higher rates of depression, and experience homelessness—all factors that can affect their transcripts and post-high school trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how competitiveness is negatively impacting college students in their attempt to excel. Piaget's theory of cognitive development shows that some students simply are not ready to deal with the demands of college-level courses as teenagers. It adds that counselors on both sides of the desk agree that increased competition to attend the nation's most selective colleges and universities is re-designing the adolescent experience for college-bound youths.

The article discusses the issues regarding the hate crimes against Muslims in college campuses and K-12 schools. Topics discussed include misperceptions about the Islamic faith and Muslims, special educational session at the 2017 National Conference of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) examining the effects of Islamophobia and exploring ways to better support Muslim students and NACAC has opposed the ban restricting travel from several Muslim countries.

The article reports on options offered by admission staff at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, New Jersey to their applicants. It presents the views of Christopher Romano, vice president of enrolment management at the college, on efforts to create a culture of student success. It also mentions that a centralized early alert program used at the Morgan State University in Baltimore to focus on student progress.

The article presents an interview with Beverly Daniel Tatum, the author of the book "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" Topics discussed include the psychology of racism, clustering together on college campuses, and the vacuum of parental silence filled by the racial stereotypes that pervade the culture, and the developmental impact of racism on the students they advise and admit.

The article discusses the move of several colleges in the U.S. in offering flexible school admission to international applicants. Topics include the concerns on cheating that influence the decision of the colleges to reduce the testing dates of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the security breach issue that led to the cancellation of the American College Testing and the factors that contributed on the decline of foreign students like visa denials and the higher educational cost.