In the article “Internships Go Virtual, Allowing for Flex Time,” Wall Street Journal Reporter Amy Hoak discusses how students are increasingly taking on internships that don’t require regular appearances in the office. Virtual internships allow students to work independently while having the flexibility of working in their dorm rooms. (more…)

Are you struggling to make a decision about your future? Luckily there are people out there who are more than willing to help you make a smart decision. Keep in mind, there are also people out there who are more than willing to give you their two cents worth of advice when it may not be worth a penny. Who’s opinion counts?

KEY Colleges writer Michael Mackie provides a “semi-comprehensive list of people to avoid when making life-changing college decisions” in his article “The Five Worst People to Listen to … About a College Education.”

In every student’s life there comes a time when they ask themselves, “Am I doing the right thing?!” High school is an exciting time, but it’s also a time to be mindful of the future. Figuring out the who/what/when/where of college can be daunting, especially when everyone and their brother has an opinion on what school is best for you.

Find out whose advice you SHOULD’NT take into consideration on KEY Colleges.

They don’t call it senior year for nothing. Both semesters count. In TIME Magazine’s article How to Combat Senioritis, the early symptoms of the disease are described as lethargy, lack of focus and difficulty making decisions, which often appear in the fall.

By spring the average, healthy high school senior may have completely succumbed. Senioritis attacks high-achieving, average and struggling students alike. By this time in the school year, most college-bound seniors have turned in their applications and received their acceptance letters. Many of them understandably feel entitled to a little downtime. The 30% of seniors who aren’t headed for higher learning may not have figured out what they want to do after graduation, but they are pretty sure that it won’t require algebra or Shakespeare.

In short, the second semester of the last year of high school is a kind of waiting room for the next stage of life. But over the past few years, high schools and colleges have begun experimenting with ways to keep students more engaged during the period between homecoming weekend and the senior prom.

There are several ways for students to fight off the temptation to slack off second semester. CollegeBoard.com provides efforts students can make to stay motivated. (more…)

A high school senior was fighting back tears in her guidance counselor’s office. Despite her 92 average, the girl had been rejected by her top three college choices. Another senior, already clad in a new Northwestern T-shirt, interrupted to give his counselor a thumbs-up. He was in.

And so it has gone over the last few weeks, as colleges send their decisions and counselors console, cheer up and otherwise try to help this year’s seniors navigate the end of the admissions process.

“It’s a bittersweet time,” said Susan Buchman, a counselor at Byram Hills High School in Armonk. “You get some kids who are ecstatic because they got into their first choice school, and then there are disappointments. And you get parents who are very upset. They were hoping their kid was going to get into a certain school so that they could put the sticker on the car.” (more…)

Social networking sites are constantly adapting to fit the needs of both high school and college students and now colleges are using these online communities as a resource as well. In The New York Times article Make New Friends Online, and You Won’t Start College Friendless,” Robert Alexander, assistant vice president of enrollment management at Tulane, said reading the group discussions in Facebook was a good way for the university to learn students interests and concerns. Tulane has created its own online group for admitted and prospective students as well.
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Will colleges continue to award merit-based aid in the years to come? Some schools believe the increasing numbers of low-income students will spur a shift in the use of institutional dollars. USA TODAY’s article “Colleges taking another look at value of merit-based aid,” discusses the potential change in scholarship recipients, as well as how some schools are only rewarding need-based aid already.

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

Good grades and high test scores still matter a lot to many colleges as they award financial aid.

But with low-income students projected to make up an ever-larger share of the college-bound population in coming years, some schools are re-examining whether that aid, typically known as merit aid, is the most effective use of precious institutional dollars. (more…)

Daniel Spangenburger has two jobs and is at the top of his class. So why aren’t the best colleges courting him?

Article by Peg Tyre, Newsweek

Daniel Spangenburger, a high-school senior in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., dreams of attending a prestigious college like Carnegie Mellon or Cornell. A degree from either “could make a difference for the rest of my life,” he says. And on the face of it, Spangenburger has what it takes: eight Advanced Placement courses and an impressive 3.9 grade-point average.

He scored 1330 on his SAT, well within the range desired by many elite schools, and now that he’s borrowed an SAT prep book, he hopes to break 1400 on his second try. His teachers say he’s smart, motivated and exceptionally mature. He holds two after-school jobs and also finds time to volunteer, setting up a computer cafe at the local Boys & Girls Club. And he drives his mother, who is battling cancer, to her monthly chemo sessions. Only two obstacles stand between Spangenburger and his dream: he comes from a poor family (neither parent went to college) and attends a rural high school. “With the right kind of college education, Daniel could do great things,” says Berkeley Springs High School principal George Ward. “But so many smart rural kids fall through the cracks. Top schools don’t know Daniel exists.” (more…)

As mentioned on MSN Careers in the article Job Outlook for Class of 2007, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) predicts college hiring will increase by 17.4 percent in 2007. This is the fourth straight year that new graduate hiring is expected to grow by a double-digit percentage.

According to the fall preview of NACE’s “Job Outlook 2007″ survey, employers cite company growth, retiring employees and high job turnover as key reasons for the rise in hiring.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “2004-2014 Job Outlook for College Graduates” identifies seven prominent career fields that will have significant openings in the years ahead two of which tie in closely to school guidance counseling. (more…)

Is graduate school right for you? Only you can answer that question. Don’t take the decision lightly. Consider your interests, goals, dreams, and abilities. Assess your skills, competencies, and weaknesses with brutal honesty. In-depth soul-searching is unpleasant, but vital to making a choice you can live with for the next two to seven years. Consider the following questions: Why do I want to go to graduate school? Is it for the right reasons?
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Colleges and universities have varying deadlines and admissions requirements. Your high school guidance counselor can be your best resource for information. Build a relationship with your guidance counselor and (s)he can help you through every step of the college application process. Our timeline can be a great resource as well, although you may have to make adjustments based on your specific needs and the schools in which you apply.

Freshman Year

• Get involved in activities, both inside and outside of school. You can participate in sports, school clubs, youth groups, and even volunteer! Choose activities that will allow you to make new friends, have fun, and take on leadership positions.
• Challenge yourself by taking the hardest classes you can handle. Taking tough classes now allows you to take more advanced classes down the road. Just remember that good grades are also important. Don’t take on more than you can handle.

Sophomore Year

• Take the PSAT. This exam is great practice for taking the test again during your junior year.
• Stay involved in advanced courses and extracurricular activities! You can have a great time, face challenges and learn, while becoming a more desirable college applicant. Begin to focus on the areas you enjoy the most and the ones in which you’re excelling.
• Good grades are critical!

Junior Year

First semester

• Take more of a leadership role in your activities. Take on a service project and see it through from start to finish.
• Take the PSAT (as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test).
• Focus on your grades!

Second semester

• Begin thinking about colleges and scheduling college visits. There’s no better way to learn about a school than experiencing it firsthand!
• Study for the ACT and SAT.
• Grades, grades, grades! This semester is probably more important than any other!

Senior Year

First semester

• Begin speaking more regularly with your guidance counselor.
• Request college applications.
• Visit more schools.
• Retake the SAT and/or ACT if necessary.
• Get recommendations from teachers.
• Prepare and mail applications.
• Don’t forget about grades! Even if you’ve mailed your applications, many schools will ask for a grade update in January.

Second semester

• Enjoy your senior year! This can be a very exciting - and sometimes stressful - time.
• You’re going to get responses from schools.
• Choose a college!