Weekly Update: July 14

Every time I drive past the Plaza at Mason Square in Arlington (which is multiple times a week!), I think about how I need to share it on the blog, so here goes! The Plaza at Mason Square, located between Clarendon and Virginia Square near George Mason's incredible Fuse building (which we featured last year), is hosting a ton of fun, free community events throughout the summer. Our clients in the Northern Virginia area should definitely check it out, especially if they have any interest in George Mason.

We always stress the importance of campus tours to get a sense of a university's culture, but attending events like these can be just as valuable. The Plaza's summer programming reflects George Mason's commitment to community engagement and gives prospective students a chance to experience the university in a different way. I also think it's a great way to see what makes George Mason unique. There's so much more to the university than the Fairfax campus alone, and I don't think most students realize that. If you decide to stop by, the Mason Square Makers events (like DIY sunglasses and notebook decorating) especially caught our attention!

These are exactly the kinds of experiences that can help you better understand student life beyond the standard campus tour. And if you're looking for more ideas, be sure to check out our post from last year on Colleges with the Coolest Summer Events!

And now, let's get into this week's higher ed news!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NOTRE DAME INVESTIGATES SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

The University of Notre Dame has placed a residence hall rector on leave while it investigates anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct that were shared through social media. The allegations, which were posted on an Instagram account in June, involve the rector of McGlinn Hall, who has held the position since 2024. According to university officials, Notre Dame has not received any formal or first-hand complaints at this time, but the Office of Institutional Equity has launched an investigation and is working to identify any individuals who may have information related to the claims. The university has encouraged members of the campus community to report concerns through official channels while the investigation proceeds. This news comes shortly after Notre Dame released a report examining failures in how the university previously handled allegations of sexual abuse involving a former priest accused of grooming male students in the 1980s and 1990s. The university stated then that it is taking steps to strengthen its response process moving forward, and we’re curious to see how they continue to handle this current investigation.

While the current allegations have not been substantiated, they are quite serious and warrant a thorough investigation. Families considering Notre Dame should remember that evaluating a college involves more than academics and campus traditions. It's also worth paying attention to how institutions respond to allegations involving student safety, transparency, and accountability. Families considering Notre Dame may also wish to review resources such as Share Your Story Notre Dame, an Instagram account where members of the community have shared personal experiences related to sexual misconduct.

FORMER BUCKNELL COACH CHARGED IN STUDENT ATHLETE’S DEATH

A former Bucknell University strength coach has been charged with felony hazing and involuntary manslaughter following the 2024 death of football player Calvin Dickey Jr. Prosecutors argue that Dickey collapsed after a punishing workout and that signs of medical distress were not handled appropriately before he later died. Dickey had been diagnosed with sickle cell trait, an inherited condition that requires precautions such as adequate rest and hydration. According to a civil lawsuit filed by Dickey's parents, the university knew he had sickle cell trait, but failed to take precautions that could have prevented his death. For now, the former coach has denied the allegations, and the case is still working its way through the courts. But this story, like the one above, serves as a good reminder to speak up about issues involving student health and safety. Many students expect college – and college athletics – to be challenging, but those challenges should never come at the expense of their well-being.

DECLINE IN PH.D. ADMISSIONS AMID RESEARCH FUNDING UNCERTAINTY

Some of the nation’s top research universities are admitting significantly fewer Ph.D. students this year, with admissions to doctoral programs dropping by approximately 15% compared to last year. University leaders point to ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal research funding, including grant delays and budget cuts. While domestic applications have remained relatively steady, international applications have declined, adding to concerns about the future pipeline of researchers in the U.S. This story doesn’t just affect graduate students; for high schoolers applying to research universities, it matters too. Graduate students are responsible for much of the research conducted at major universities and often mentor undergraduates, teach discussion sections, and help run laboratories. And if these trends continue, they could influence other research opportunities and academic experiences available to undergraduates in the coming years.

BUDGET CUTS ACROSS HIGHER ED

As colleges finalize budgets for the coming academic year, another wave of layoffs, program reductions, and restructuring has swept through higher education. Several universities announced significant cuts over the past month, including the University of Minnesota (230 positions), Johns Hopkins University (roughly 110 positions), The New School, the University of Arizona, and the University of Denver, while other institutions eliminated academic programs in an effort to balance their budgets. Many colleges cited declining enrollment, rising operations costs, or uncertainty surrounding federal research funding as reasons for the cuts.

While the news can sound alarming, it’s important to keep it in perspective. Most students will never notice the effects of a handful of staff reductions, and many of these changes happen behind the scenes. However, we’d encourage families to pay attention when universities begin announcing repeated layoffs, hiring freezes, or program closures, as these decisions can sometimes affect class offerings, student services, research opportunities, and campus life over time.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape the college experience, from the classroom to career planning. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted how some high-achieving college students are moving away from traditional summer internships in finance and technology to pursue their own AI-focused startups. Instead of spending summers preparing for career paths that are increasingly uncertain, these students are joining incubators and accelerator programs, building products, pitching investors, and gaining hands-on experience as entrepreneurs. Some students have even questioned whether they should return to college after experiencing the speed and independence of startup life.

Of course, we strongly encourage students to finish college, even if the job market is uncertain. But this story also underscores the value of investing time into creative professional projects, as many of our clients have already started their own startups and small businesses (which also looks great in your college application materials). For many, college is also about developing the creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to adapt to a rapidly changing world and to continue to grow projects they may have already started even before enrolling in a university.

AI isn't just changing career paths – it's also forcing colleges to rethink how students learn and demonstrate what they know. At Brown University, a recent controversy over suspected AI use on an exam has raised questions about how students are using these tools and whether they are actually developing the skills they will need after graduation. After one professor became concerned that students had relied too heavily on AI for a take-home assessment, he gave an in-person exam covering similar material – and the grades dropped dramatically. The situation has sparked larger discussion about the role of AI in college learning and how universities can balance new technology with academic integrity.

For students applying to college, this story is another reminder that the value of an education is not just the ability to complete assignments or earn a degree. The most successful students will be those who learn to use AI thoughtfully while continuing to develop the creativity, critical thinking, and judgment that technology can't replace. Whether launching a business or exploring academic and professional interests, the goal should be using technology to enhance what they can do, not replace the learning process itself. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

July is typically when we see a sharp increase in the number of appointments students schedule with our essay coaches. While a few of our clients are putting the finishing touches on their Common App essays, most have shifted their focus to supplemental essays, taking advantage of the earlier generic prompts to make the process much smoother.

Many of these essays require substantial research into specific colleges, majors, and opportunities, and that work should be completed before each coaching meeting. Coming prepared allows students to spend their time with their coach refining and finalizing essays, rather than researching during the session, and leaves more time to brainstorm ideas for the next school on their list.

Stay cool!

See what else we’ve had to say about AI:

Weekly Update: February 13

Happy (early) Valentine’s Day!

If you’re interested in learning about some college-specific Valentine’s traditions, don’t miss our post from last year: Schooled in Love: Fun Valentine's Day Facts From College Campuses

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST CONFLICT IN GAZA

Campus debates and protests related to the war in Gaza continue. Last week, American University imposed a ban on indoor protests at the school in the wake of ongoing campus conflict. This week, Brown University is in the spotlight, with eighteen students on day seven of a hunger strike (at the time of publication), calling for the school to “‘divest from the genocide in Gaza,’ and allow them to make their case to the university’s governing board,” according to The Washington Post. Brown’s president, Christina Paxson, maintains that the university should not be making decisions about its endowment in response to political issues.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES RESPOND TO NEW TIMING OF FAFSA DATA

Problems with the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) have been widely reported, and have created major problems not just for students and families, but also for colleges and universities around the country. Once the delayed information reaches colleges, the schools will still need to scramble to put financial aid packages together. Some colleges have already extended their commitment deadlines from May 1 to June 1 in response, so that students have enough time to make educated decisions once the delayed information reaches them. The University of California system has moved their deadline to May 15 for all nine UC campuses, with the exception of out-of-state and international students accepted to UC Berkeley.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESPONDS TO FAFSA DEBACLE

Now, the U.S. Department of Education (which oversees the FAFSA) has established a $50 million fund to help schools deal with the backlog—and backlash. The Department will also provide a “concierge service” for schools. “A senior department official said all historically Black and tribal colleges will have the opportunity to get direct support from the agency,” the article says. Colleges seem pretty underwhelmed by the response so far. The article quotes Kiely Fletcher, Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago (and the first institution to extend its commitment deadline to June 1) as saying “While we appreciate the secretary providing an updated timetable, the partial measures do little to alleviate the burden and anxiety expressed by students, their parents and higher ed professionals.”

CONGRESS RESPONDS TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OVER FAFSA DELAYS

Today, the leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce responded to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s announcement that the department will provide additional supports for high schools as they work with students and families to complete and submit the FAFSA and for colleges as they prepare financial aid packages. In addition to committee leaders Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), 106 senators and representatives co-signed the letter, which asks the Secretary of Education to clarify how the department will minimize the impact of these delays — especially for those students most in need of financial aid. The letter poses a set of seven questions that Congress wants answered. The letter concludes by asking if there are any “specific requests that Congress can respond to in order to help address related issues moving forward.”

LOCAL EFFECTS OF FAFSA DELAYS FELT AT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

One of the largest impacts in our local area will be felt at the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program. DCTAG is administered through the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education and provides scholarships to D.C. residents to offset the cost of attending one of 300 participating colleges and universities. The aim is to help D.C. families with the cost of college as there is not an in-state option for D.C. residents. Because of the U.S. Department of Education's announcement that programs and schools will not receive the data from the FAFSA until mid-March, DCTAG has delayed opening the application until March 11, 2024.

VANDERBILT AND CORNELL EXTEND TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS

On the heels of Dartmouth’s announcement last week about reinstating standardized testing in the admission process, Cornell University and Vanderbilt University reported that they will each extend their test-optional admissions policies established during the pandemic. Cornell extended their policy for one more year. Several of Cornell’s schools have already adjusted admissions policy to “test free,” meaning they will not consider standardized test scores at any point in the admission process. Vanderbilt has extended their policy for three additional years in order to conduct internal research before making a permanent decision.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Following Dartmouth College’s aforementioned testing announcement, Inside Higher Ed interviewed Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Lee Coffin. Coffin makes the point several times that the decision came after an internal study of admissions data for the last few years at Dartmouth. It was a decision made for Dartmouth using data from Dartmouth and is not intended to be a bellwether decision in the standardized testing controversy. Of course, though (as Coffin acknowledges), when an Ivy League university makes an announcement like this, it draws attention from all constituents.

A debate about the value of a college degree versus technical, vocational, and other skilled labor and career training has been going on quietly for the last several years, because leaders are struggling to assess the value of CTE programs. Unfortunately, standard ways of tracking outcomes and collecting data don’t apply, as it’s hard to match up workforce data with protected student records. This week, The Washington Post weighed in on the struggle. “States that do connect school and work data, such as Florida and Maryland, have found that taking career courses in high school can lead some students to earn higher wages after graduation,” Wall writes. But with data hard to come by, and some of it contradictory, it seems as if the debate will carry on a while longer. For now, as the College Board makes clear, getting education beyond a high school diploma is crucial to economic success, and a college degree is one of the best investments a family can make.

In “Legacy Admissions May Not Be at Odds With Diversity,” Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley addresses an aspect of the debate over legacy admissions that has attracted comparatively little attention: the negative effects ending the practice might have on minority students. Riley argues that “ending the practice might undercut the left’s campus diversity objectives.” He writes: “Affirmative-action policies have been in place for a half-century. Hundreds of thousands of black students have matriculated at selective colleges and universities across the country, and their children stand to benefit from legacy admissions. Now that race-conscious admission policies have been banned, legacies are one way for schools to maintain a racially mixed student body without violating the Supreme Court’s decision.” Riley also notes that some leaders at HBCUs have expressed anxiety about legal bans of legacy consideration. He quotes Brenda Allen, the president of Lincoln University, a small black college in Pennsylvania, who notes: “People have generations of folks who go to these institutions. My school is like that. We recruit family members … Being able to recruit legacies is important, especially at HBCUs.”

Snowplow, bulldozer, helicopter — we have all read the various research, news coverage, and parenting advice columns that discuss the pros and cons of super involved parenting. The New York Times published a story this week about two new surveys which suggest that there is more to the story when it comes to this style of parenting. In fact, the surveys show that “nine in 10 parents rate their relationships with their young adult children as good or excellent, and so do eight in 10 young adults.” Many past researchers have studied the negative effects of intense parenting on the child — they are less self-reliant, more frequently live at home, and continue to be financially dependent on their parents well into their late twenties; however, these surveys indicate that closer relationships between parents and their adult children can be beneficial to both. In some families with young adults living at home, three-quarters of them contributed to the family expenses and one-third of adult children helped support their parents financially.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In recognition of President’s Day, our office will be closed on Monday, February 19 and will reopen on Tuesday, February 20. Wishing everyone an enjoyable long weekend!

CATCH UP ON PAST BLOGS BELOW!

Weekly Update: March 13

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

REGULAR DECISION NOTIFICATION DATES FOR CLASS OF 2027

It’s that time of the year! Colleges and universities across the U.S. are starting to release their regular decision notifications. College Kickstart is tracking regular decision notification dates for the class of 2027. We encourage high school seniors to bookmark this website, which is frequently updated. Good luck! 

BROWN UNIVERSITY DECIDES TO REMAIN TEST-OPTIONAL…FOR NOW

On Friday, Brown University announced that it will remain test-optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. This news comes just one week after Columbia University made headlines for its decision to go test-optional indefinitely. Brown plans to reevaluate its temporary testing policy again for the 2024-2025 cycle. Stay tuned! 

MORE UNIVERSITIES DROP OUT OF THE U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT RANKINGS

Hot off the press! Bard College just announced that they are dropping out of the U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings. Bard is the third undergraduate institution to leave the rankings, following Colorado College and Rhode Island School of Design. 

YOUNG ADULTS REJECT COLLEGE AT ALARMING RATES

The numbers are in, and they aren’t so good for college enrollment! Since the beginning of the pandemic, college enrollment numbers have dropped at alarming rates. Young adults have adopted a more pragmatic approach to education, rejecting the traditional college model in favor of trade industries and alternative employment pathways. While these paths are helping students save money and develop a confident “do-it-yourself” attitude, experts worry that this trend could have dire effects on the economy, as well as industries that require degrees. However, young adults aren’t so worried, at least not for now. They are making strides toward the future “one step at a time.” 

FOUR UNIVERSITIES BLAST OFF INTO AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH FOR NASA

Students and faculty at Notre Dame, Boston University, Tennessee Technological University, and New Mexico State University just received an out-of-this-world opportunity. NASA recently selected teams at these four schools to conduct aeronautical research for the agency as part of its University Leadership Initiative. The diverse, multidisciplinary teams will contribute to some of NASA’s most prominent research goals, including infrastructure development and aircraft design. If you’re interested in learning more about each team’s research topic, click here.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I’ve got a secret to share! No, actually make that ten secrets. Last week, I contributed to an article in U.S. News and World Report, revealing things you might not know about your college professors. For example, contrary to popular opinion, professors (even at big universities) can tell if you’re actually paying attention in class, and they can spot a bad excuse from a mile away. In order to make a good impression on your professors and develop strong relationships (and grades!), there are a few simple things you can do, from strategically choosing your seat to fact-checking your excuses. Click here to learn more about all ten secrets and tips for building rapport with your professors.

With inflation continuing to wreak havoc on the economy, families are more concerned than ever with finding ways to cut college costs. Surprisingly, some of the best ways to stretch your college tuition dollars are pretty simple–if you’re strategic and plan ahead. High schoolers can earn a hefty number of college credits for free by taking advantage of dual enrollment programs and/or advanced placement courses. Community colleges are also a great- but often underrated- resource to save money. Students can save thousands by attending a local community college and then transferring to a four-year college or university. There are also plenty of options for course sharing, which involves taking some community college classes during winter or summer breaks to offset the cost (and academic load) of a typical semester. 

I actually graduated a year early from college, so I can add a few tips here for others trying to do the same thing. At current tuition prices, this could save about $80k! (1) Take an extra class each semester. If your school is on a traditional 120-credit system and you take just one extra 3-credit course per semester, which is usually free to do, you will shave off a total of 18 credits by the end of your third year. (2)  Look for ways to pick up credit for things you would do anyway. In my case, I got 12 credits for internships I would have done anyway for resume purposes! I also got 9 credits worth of piano lessons, which was beyond easy and kind of a nice stress reliever too. 

Speaking of saving money, a huge controversy is brewing at Valparaiso University in Indiana. The school needs to update their aging dorms, and doesn’t have the funds to do it - so they are planning to sell several pieces of art for $10 million in order to fund the project. Not surprisingly, many professors are furious. Personally, though, I agree with the engineering professor quoted in the article: students should be prioritized. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and it’s not right to put kids in a room with single-pane windows during an Indiana winter. If they can sell the art to raise the money they need without cutting aspects of the undergraduate experience that would more directly impact students, I think this is an understandable solution. For what it’s worth, I had a really nice visit to Valparaiso back in 2019. I would absolutely recommend it as a great option for STEM or music-oriented students interested in a close-knit, smaller campus community.

With the birth of ChatGPT- a technology that can provide just about any answer or piece of writing that a student may need- those in the education world are asking a lot of questions. How will this technology change the nature of writing assignments? How will teachers catch cheaters? What updates will need to be made to plagiarism policies? While these questions represent legitimate academic concerns, Paul LeBlanc- president of Southern New Hampshire University- thinks we aren’t asking the right questions. Rather than concerning ourselves with the short-term effects on curriculum and assessment, we should be thinking about the bigger picture. How will this technology redefine knowledge? How do we teach students to use the technology, rather than allowing it to use us? LeBlanc believes that universities have a critical role to play in this paradigm shift. Schools need to prepare students to navigate technologies and provide a distinctly human touch on jobs that no algorithm can replace.

OFFICE HAPPENINGs

Are you looking to support your high school student AND a great cause? Then consider bidding on a DC College Counseling Strategy Session to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Our one-hour session will help your student kick off the college application process with a thorough analysis and action plan!