My College Counselor

"Middle-income Americans have borne a disproportionate share of college price increases, too. For them, the net cost of a degree?has risen by from 12 to 22 percent?since 2009, depending on their earnings level, compared with about 1 percent for lower-income families, federal data show. Now a handful of schools — many of them private, nonprofit institutions trying to compete with lower-priced public universities — are beginning to designate financial aid specifically for middle-income families in an attempt to lure them back." https://lnkd.in/ee-5VjZF

Have you told someone that: ? all college disability services offices require learning disabilities (LD) testing to be no more than 3 years old, or: ? all their student needs to request disability accommodations at college is their high school IEP or 504 plan?? If so, you’ve (unintentionally) misinformed them. Don’t feel bad – it means someone else misinformed you. You’re not alone. Yesterday in my Facebook group, I answered a parent’s question about whether they should have their student’s LD testing updated for when they register for accommodations at college. I typically turn off commenting after I answer questions (so that members see only accurate information), but I forgot. When returned & read the information some members put in the thread, I saw how pervasive the misinformation is. Here’s what you need to know. Neither Section 504 Subpart E nor the ADA (the laws in place at college) tells colleges what documentation they can/can’t require. Therefore, colleges are allowed to set their own requirements. Some colleges do require testing that is 3 years old or fewer (I‘ve seen this), but others don’t. A recent study* looked at nearly 300 DS sites & found 46% of those they reviewed didn’t specify recency.? In that same study of college DS sites: ? 14% specifically said an IEP or 504 weren’t acceptable ? 35% said an IEP or 504 were useful but not sufficient ? 10% said it was sufficient The only way for students to find out what they’ll need to request accommodations is to check the DS website at the college they’ll attend. (Those applying to college can do this for the schools on their list.) Learn how they find the requirements by reading (https://bit.ly/LDblog109x) or watching (https://bit.ly/LDAv5) For the most detailed discussion of documentation, read Step 7 of my book, Seven Steps to Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities. I hope you’ll also share my post on myths about documentation (https://bit.ly/LDblog150x) & my brief video on how old disability documentation can (https://bit.ly/ECHFAQ2) In my private Facebook group, I have a master post on documentation. Join the group to read it: https://bit.ly/FBGCTA *See first comment for link to study

Now if only there was a way to put this in every kids' backpack before conferences... #parentteacherconferences #schoolfamilypartnership #makingcaringcommon

What can a gap year do for students with disabilities?? What questions should families ask? On November 20th, Jane Goldstone Sarouhan and Jason Sarouhan, gap experts and founders of J2Guides, will be doing their annual webinar for these students on my Facebook page. (Sign up for a reminder to join us live:https://lnkd.in/eSk37NA4 ) In the meantime, you can watch last year's webinar and prepare your questions to ask them on the 20th. https://lnkd.in/eCZGB_J7 ?#LearningDisabilities #GapYear #GapYearLife

The college application process can be overwhelming for students—but we’re here to help! The Common App YouTube channel offers a comprehensive set of video resources that guide students through every step of applying, from filling out forms to crafting personal statements. These videos are designed to make the process clearer and easier to manage. ?? Explore our YouTube channel for valuable tips, step-by-step tutorials, and expert advice. It's a great tool to share with students as they prepare for the next stage of their academic journey! ?? Explore the channel here: https://lnkd.in/gQJE6DNE

Great insight from Elizabeth C. Hamblet

If you haven't signed up for this event, there's still time! Our panel discussion, #Neurodiversity and #Disability Support in College Admissions and Beyond, is free and will be recorded. Here's the registration link: https://lnkd.in/gcF58iwK Please list your questions for the panelists in the comments below. Event description: Students with disabilities can succeed in college! However, it’s important for families to consider that the applicable laws change between high school and college, shifting what accommodations and services students may receive. In this presentation, we’ll explore: What supports are and aren’t commonly available, and how that impacts the college search What colleges expect from students with #disabilities How students with disabilities can best prepare for the transition to college Join the?Neurodiversity Education Series?for a webinar with?Dr. Eric Endlich?and?Elizabeth C. Hamblet, two neurodiversity college professionals. Bring your questions about the college search and admission process, along with the college disability accommodation system. Thanks to The Parent Venture, The RILEY Project and other organizations for helping make this event happen! #DisabilitySupport #DisabilityServices #CollegeAdmissions #SpecialEducation #SpecialNeedsParents #ParentingTeens #NeurodiversitySupport #EducationalConsultants #HighSchoolCounselors

Important data shared by Niche…Over half of the students surveyed reported a lack of support from their HS counselor during their college search/application experience. This is understandable as caseloads are at an all-time high and School Counselors are expected to wear a number of hats. Our goal is to help fill that void with affordable and accessible college counseling. mycollegecounselor.org

Awesome perspective. The discussion around "How will we find these hidden gems without test scores?!?!" - the answer - trust your staff to do the work to find them. They know their territories, can read school profiles, can look at historical data from their own institutions, etc.