BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

THE COLLEGE BOARD FIRES BACK AT AP COURSE ACCUSATIONS

Over the weekend, The College Board released a statement responding to recent accusations over its revised AP African American Studies course. Officials from The College Board insist that criticisms from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis- which they referred to as “slander”-  had no bearing on the changes they made to the curriculum. Further, they maintain that they didn’t receive any feedback or suggestions from any state as they were refining the course. Perhaps most notably, The College Board expressed regret, stating that the “failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field."

DELAYS TO THE NEWLY REDESIGNED FAFSA FORM 

On Tuesday, the Education Department announced possible delays in the newly redesigned Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although the agency planned for an October 1 release date, officials now say they will launch the new FAFSA sometime in the fourth quarter of 2023. The delay could be problematic, many say, for both applicants and colleges. Institutions may be reluctant to estimate financial aid offers, which can prevent families from fully-informed admissions decisions.

STUDY FINDS SURPRISING ADVANTAGE FOR LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS SEEKING CLERKSHIPS

How can law school students secure an impressive Supreme Court clerkship? Earn an undergraduate degree from Princeton, Yale or Harvard! According to a new study, a diploma from one of these elite institutions gives applicants a “significant boost” in their clerkship applications. In fact, the study finds that the name of one’s college seems to carry more weight than one’s actual performance or proven track record of success in law school. Many are disturbed by these findings, believing that the study confirms the value of status over that of merit. 

VIRGINIA TECH INNOVATION CAMPUS IS UNDERWAY IN ALEXANDRIA, VA

An innovative vision is becoming a reality in Northern Virginia! Last week, construction crews raised the final beam on the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia. When the campus opens in fall 2024, it will feature some impressive spaces: a cyber lab, two story drone-testing cage, and a large maker space–all decked out in state-of-the-art technology.  The campus is the “crown jewel” of the state’s Tech Talent Investment Program, which seeks to attract a diverse pool of students to computer science and prepare them for cutting edge careers in technology. Officials are also hopeful that the campus will also attract new companies to the area, who are seeking young talent.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Imagine spending your college years in a national park! That’s the reality for students who enroll in Black Mountains College. Located in Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, UK, Black Mountains College offers a unique course of study for students passionate about environmental issues. The new BA in Sustainable Futures prepares undergraduates to be “climate-literate” changemakers who can respond to the environmental crises and changes of the future. And no, students won’t be sitting in the classroom discussing nature. They’ll be immersed in it! As part of the school’s mission, the majority of classes take place outdoors, so students can be immersed in nature and civically engage with the world around them.

There’s a new drink in the mix on college campuses across the country. The borg, which stands for blackout rage gallon, is a gallon jug filled with water, vodka, flavor enhancers, and electrolytes. This drink first gained popularity during the height of the pandemic when students could no longer drink from communal vats of jungle juice. Instead, they took to concocting their own self-contained cocktails. Since then, the borg has remained a favorite with undergraduates, many of whom praise it as a “hangover-proof” drink. However, others have had mixed reactions. Some parents and advocates are troubled by the promotion of binge drinking. Others believe that binge drinking is inevitable on college campuses, and the borgs provide a safer way to do it. 

230,000 students in the United States have disappeared, according to AP News. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools reopened, but over two-hundred thousand students never returned. Instead, they vanished from the school system with no record of relocation or enrollment in alternative forms of schooling. Why so many disappearances? Well, experts speculate that a variety of factors are to blame, including financial barriers,  mental health struggles, and overwhelming academic gaps. Regardless of the reasons, though, many feel that schools should have put forth more effort to retain students. Instead of taking action, many families feel that schools took a passive approach, failing to follow-through on virtual school attendance or the transition back to the classroom. Now an overwhelming number of students remain unaccounted for and face uncertain futures as they continue to suffer from the aftermath of the pandemic.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It was a better week this week with lots of positive news from EDII schools, as well as a ton of our kids getting into UVA early action! 🙏 I’m very thankful for the positive decisions after such a crazy admissions cycle so far!

And for the juniors - mark your calendars! Colleges That Change Lives is hosting a college fair in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2023. This is a great opportunity for students interested in learning more about small liberal arts colleges. Click here to see a list of colleges that will be in attendance and to register for the event.