An Old Option for the SAT Returns

A new option from the College Board will be offered to high school juniors taking the SAT this March: Score Choice. With this option, the student can choose which overall scores (SAT or SAT Subject Tests) that a college or university will be sent. While a similar option was offered for the SAT II: Subject Test a few years back, this was never available for the SAT. College Board officials are hoping this will reduce the anxiety and stress that accompanies their test and college admissions, but some highly selective colleges have already stated they will not go along with Score Choice stirring some hot debates amongst college admissions counselors.

Read the full article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/education/31sat.html?_r=1&ref=education

Obama Taps Chicago Chief for Secretary of Education

President-elect Obama announced Monday that Arne Duncan would be his Secretary of Education replacing Margaret Spellings. Mr. Duncan, known for his tough steps in tackling school improvement issues, has raised achievement levels in Chicago's school district, the nation's third largest.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/us/politics/16educ.html?_r=1&ref=education

Higher Education Out of Reach for Most

It's no secret that the rising cost of education has been slowly exceeding the grasp of many Americans, but the biennial report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reports that the figures now put it out of the reach of the majority of US families. Over all, college tuition and fees rose 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 (adjusted for inflation) while median family income only rose 147 percent. The financial aid picture isn't any rosier: student borrowing has more than doubled and the lower-income families are getting smaller grants.


Check out the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/education/03college.html?_r=1&ref=education

University Presidents Give Back...

Within a week of The Chronicle of Higher Education's annual survey of college and university presidents' pay, some of the highest-paid presidents will give back part of their pay. This comes amidst a tumultuous week for the economy and rising tuition notices.

Check out the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/education/23college.html?ref=education

Demystifying the College Admissions Puzzle

It's no secret that with an increased number of applicants vying for the same number of spots is going to lead to quite a competition. If you factor in the varying costs from application to enrollment and these uncertain times, the trends in become even more puzzling. Howard and Matthew Greene, former college admissions counselors discuss some of these trends and what families can do to navigate the maze.

Read the article at:
http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1743

More Students Joining Nonprofits

Studies show that more and more of the "Gen Y" cohort are sparking a surge in nonprofit and leadership courses at colleges and universities across America. A decade ago, only 179 schools offered programs in those areas, but now more than 230 schools have offerings. Arizona State, last year, created the first named undergraduate degree in nonprofit management and other institutions are looking to follow suit.

Check out the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11EDUC.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin

US to Expand Student Loan Purchases

In an effort to stave off potential short falls in the coming years, the US government has decided to purchase student loans it backs - a sign that credit crisis fears are seeping into the student loan market as well. While students can still obtain federally backed loans, many private lenders have dropped out of the market, citing risky market conditions, thus making the availability of loans strained.

Check out the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/business/08loan.html?ref=education