BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUPREME COURT HEARING IS SET FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM

Tuesday could be a big day for thousands with student loan debt. President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program will go before the Supreme Court. The program, which is estimated to cost $400 billion dollars, would offer up to $20,000 in debt cancellation for students who qualify. Some argue that the president does not have the authority to implement such a program. However, the Biden administration maintains the program is in line with the HEROES Act, which grants executive power to implement such a program during a national emergency- in this case, COVID-19. Although no announcements have been made, many speculate that the Supreme Court could release a decision by early summer, in which case, debt cancellations could be issued “fairly quickly.” 

CONTROVERSIAL AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE TO BE OFFERED IN FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS

Fairfax County School District will pilot the controversial AP African American Studies course in three schools next year. Students at McLean, Centreville, and Westfield will have the opportunity to enroll. Currently, Virginia is one of four states reviewing the course that made national headlines in recent months.

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDER SCENE TO BE DEMOLISHED

The University of Idaho announced its plan on Friday to demolish the house where four students were brutally murdered in November. According to the school’s president, the owner of the home offered it to the university. Administrators then made the decision to demolish the house in an effort to promote healing and prevent sensationalizing the tragedy. To honor the four victims, the University of Idaho is establishing scholarship funds and an on-campus memorial garden.

SEVERAL COLLEGES PLAN TO CLOSE IN 2023

Recently, several colleges announced plans to close their doors at the end of the school year. Although application numbers are soaring at “name-brand” colleges, private universities without the name recognition are suffering. Since the pandemic began, enrollment numbers have dropped at these smaller schools, and economic uncertainty has weighed on endowment funds. Too, applicants are foregoing the high cost of private university tuition in favor of in-state institutions and alternative degree programs. For many, this is a concerning trend, especially since the number of university closures has quadrupled over the past decade. It is predicted that we will continue to see more closures in the near future.

MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY CUTS HUMANITIES MAJORS

Speaking of small schools, Marymount University in Northern Virginia announced its plans on Friday to address enrollment and financial concerns. The university will begin phasing out several majors, which have not been popular with students in recent years: art, English, history, mathematics, secondary education, sociology, theology and religious studies, and a BA program in economics. The goal, according to university officials, is to focus more on preparing students for “in-demand careers of the future.” Classes in these subject areas will continue to be offered, as the school insists they remain committed to educating the whole student.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ISSUES NEW SAFETY PLAN

Montgomery County School District (Maryland) released its new safety plan on Friday to address concerns over escalating behavior problems in school bathrooms. In an effort to curb drug use, threats, and vandalism, the district has organized immediate, short term, and long term plans. Most notably, the district will move forward with a bathroom monitoring strategy, a pilot program for student badges, and new staff training programs.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In the 1970s, Title IX changed the face of college sports for women, opening a world of opportunity. In the process, it also opened up a world of elite international athletes at American colleges. Over the past forty years, female athletes from around the globe have flocked to U.S. colleges and universities, where they take part in academic and athletic programs that aren’t typically available in their home countries. While the advantages are obvious for these women, who oftentimes go on to become Olympic and/or professional athletes, some find their international presence on American campuses problematic. Some question whether U.S. schools should invest their resources in athletes who will ultimately compete under a different flag. Several coaches have responded by citing the pressures to form successful teams, regardless of an athlete’s origin. 

Chances are that if you’re the parent of a high schooler, you’ve probably retired the child’s bedtime routine. However, psychologist Lisa Damour believes there’s one bedtime habit parents of teenagers should definitely institute: let your child tuck you in! She believes it’s a powerful way to create important connections and conversations with high schoolers. Why? Well, teens aren’t always willing to chat at the dinner table, and many dread the “how was your day” question. Demour has found that teens are more inclined to talk with parents if they feel like they are steering the conversation and really being heard. That’s why she suggests creating a space for teens to chat at night when they feel a greater sense of independence over the exchange. It could be a tiring endeavor, but Demour insists it’s worth it for relationship-building and mental health.

Get ready for sticker shock! Stanford University recently announced a 7% tuition increase for the upcoming academic school year. Why such a sharp spike? Inflation! There is some good news, though. To combat the rising costs, the university plans to expand financial aid and raise minimum thresholds for support. Although Stanford’s increase is described as an “outlier,” experts say we can expect to see tuition increases in the 3-5% range at other schools. Many institutions froze tuition prices during the pandemic and are now trying to make up for COVID-related and inflation-induced losses. 

ChatGPT- a new technology that can produce large-scale pieces of writing for students- has been creating big problems for teachers over the past few months. And now it’s cause of concern for those in the college admissions world. Beatrice Nolan, a writer for Business Insider, decided to test ChatGPT’s ability to write a college admissions essay. Within minutes, she had three pieces of writing ready for her own “committee” to review. Two college admissions professionals carefully looked over the essays and drew some interesting conclusions. First, they felt the essays wouldn’t immediately be flagged as AI-generated. And the professionals did give credit to ChatGPT for directly answering the prompts, using sound grammar, and employing first-person narration. However, the responses wouldn’t hold up as part of an application for a highly selective school, they insisted. As one might predict, there was a lack of personal detail, and one expert believed the overall narrative was way too predictable. As for our opinion, we absolutely echo these experts’ rejection of the AI-induced college essay! This piece of writing is a chance to show off your unique voice and share a story that’s deeply meaningful to you. No technology can do that for you, nor should you want it to! 

Ahoy, Matey! That’s how students at California Polytechnic State University at Humboldt might be greeting their new roommates next year. In response to on-campus housing shortages, the university is considering renting a barge and turning the boat into a makeshift dorm. This creative semester at sea might seem fun, but some are worried about the dangers of young adults living on the water. And many don’t see this as a viable solution for a bigger housing problem. In a state where it’s notoriously difficult to find affordable housing, many California schools are trying to find new ways to accommodate students. Thus far, California Polytechnic State University hasn’t made any decisions yet, but just the talk of a boat dorm is leaving some students excited and others seasick.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have been absolutely swamped with transfer apps in the lead-up to the 2/15 and 3/1 deadlines. And it’s on to the juniors now…. word on the street is that Common App will not be changing the essay topics for the Class of 2024! We are waiting to confirm that information tomorrow before clearing the way for our juniors to get started, but expect to send out essay instructions very soon.

Also, we found out that FCPS has released applications for the 2023 Student Representative to the School Board! Open to any 9th, 10th, or 11th grader in FCPS who lives in either Fairfax City or Fairfax County, this is a huge leadership role that would look phenomenal on any college application - plus, what a cool position! The first part of the application is due on March 17, so check it out!