2009 NACAC Conference

I have been very hesitant of and completely intimidated by the prospect of beginning the blog.  But I am jumping in with an open mind, a sincere intent, and a bit of playful excitement about where it may lead.   

I have just returned from the annual National Association for College Admission Counselling conference in Baltimore, Maryland, and I am very excited to share what I have learned.  I attend this conference every year in order to keep current of trends in post-secondary education. It is the largest college counselling conference in the world, and there were over 5,000 independent counsellors, public school counsellors, and admissions personnel from all over the world attending. 

Some of the fun of the conference is seeing who you run into in the elevator, whether it’s the Director of Undergraduate Admissions for the University of Michigan, Ted Spencer, or an old colleague from Colorado; the conference is a great networking opportunity.  To learn more about the organization visit: http://www.nacacnet.org/Pages/default.aspx.  I will spend the next two weeks summarizing some of the interesting sessions I attended.  This will make the blog a bit US and UK focused for the next little while, but we will then turn our attention to some emerging Canadian issues.

Over the next few weeks, watch for blogs on topics such as:  the use of “hooks” in admissions, learning disabilities and disability services at post-secondary institutions, the use of essays in admissions, picking the right business program, and the changing face of technology relating to the admission process.

The conference also sparked a surprising revelation for me.  Something that I have known but hadn’t really pondered re-emerged on my radar.  It is the idea that all over North America there is a first year retention issue- a major issue.  Students are starting post-secondary studies, but not returning for second year.  In our office, we plan to explore and research this startling fact and will share our findings with you.  Bill Fitzsimmons, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard, recommended the book:  Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America’s Public Universities. The book explores what factors enable students to finish university.  We will be reading it around our office and invite you to join us.   

As a sign off, I will share my favourite quote from the conference with you from Leon Botstein, the President of Bard College:  “When education meets puberty, education loses.”