The college admissions process has been making students nervous for decades, and no amount of preparation or understanding can make the game of “wait and see” any less stressful for prospective students and their families. While students are unlikely to ever get a break from the stress of this aspect, the admissions system that they deal with today isn’t the same one that their parents faced a couple of decades ago. Trends, preferences, and, most importantly, technology have all changed, contributing to some major shifts in how colleges find, evaluate, and choose students to attend their institutions.

Whether you’re applying to schools now or plan to in the coming months, it’s important to know just what trends are big in admissions right now. Some may affect how and where you decide to apply. Others are just interesting to know and demonstrate some compelling trends in society as a whole. No matter which of these categories they fall into, take your time reading about these modern trends in admission — they’ll help make you savvier and smarter about the process, and those qualities can never hurt to have in spades when it comes to college decisions.

1. Admissions officials commonly check applicant’s Facebook pages

   Social media has changed more than just how we communicate and keep in touch — it’s also had an impact on how colleges evaluate prospective students for admission. More than a quarter of schools in a 2009 survey indicated that they used social networks to locate information about students, and the number is likely to grow as social networking becomes ever more ubiquitous. That means students need to be smart about what they put on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace if they don’t want it to hurt their chances of college admission.

2. Students are applying to more schools

   Tuition may be up, but applications to colleges and interest in attending college haven’t tapered off. In fact, in recent years many schools have reported record highs in the number of applications they’ve received. Part of this is due to students applying to many more schools than was common in years past. Nationally, 17.8% of students applied to eight or more colleges, up from just 7.8% a decade ago. Experts believe it could have something to do with the ease of applying through technology, or aggressive recruiting tactics from some schools.

3. Admission yields are down

   Another byproduct of students applying to more schools may be the downward trend in admission yields. Admission yields are the percentage of accepted students accepted to a given school who ultimately end up attending. Average admission yields in 2011 were about 49%. Today, they are less than 41% and could drop further.

4. Few students receive college admissions help from high school counselors and admissions officials

   Many students may be struggling with the application and admissions process because they’re simply not getting the help they need. On average, the counselor to student ratio in the U.S. is 460 to 1. That’s a lot of students for one counselor to handle, and many simply don’t have the time to devote to helping each and every student, especially with many other duties besides college counseling on their plates. Only 26% of public schools have a counselor who works exclusively on college counseling, though a surprising 73% of private schools do.

   

   5. More and more students are on wait lists

      Wait lists have been a part of the college admissions process for a long time, but not to the degree that they are today. Today, over 48% of schools use a wait list, a leap from just 39% in 2009. The number goes up even more for highly selective schools, with 63% using wait lists. Some of the most popular schools have wait lists that include 10,000 students or more, leaving many in limbo as they decide whether to wait out a decision from a top choice, or enroll with a school that accepted them from the get-go. Ultimately, only 28% of students on average will get a spot after being waitlisted.

   6. Grades are still the most important factor in college admissions

      Your high school grades matter quite a bit when it comes to applying to college. In fact, they are generally the most important factor for college admissions officers when deciding whether or not you meet a school’s standards. A survey of schools nationwide found that the most important factors are GPA in college prep courses (upper level, AP, and honors courses, generally), the strength of the curriculum at your high school, your scores on the ACT and SAT, your overall GPA, and your college essay, in that order.

   7. Demonstrated interest, however, has risen significantly in importance

      While the main factors of importance haven’t changed over the past few decades, there is a growing trend towards schools considering your interest in acceptance being a very important factor. In 2003, only 7% of schools thought it was important, but today, 22% do. With long wait lists and lower acceptance rates, students may find showing interest in a school is a way to get an edge, with all other factors being equal.

   8. Streamlined apps are becoming a hot way to market to applicants

      Many colleges and universities are launching aggressive marketing and recruitment campaigns to help bolster their application numbers. One of the ways they’re doing this is through the use of “snap apps.” These streamlined applications often don’t require a fee or an essay, which may make them good for students who are already standouts, but could hurt those who may be struggling for acceptance and need an essay or room for extra recommendations to bolster their chances.

      9. Recommendations don’t hold the weight they once did

         Once upon a time, recommendations from teachers and employers were a big factor in determining whether or not students would get into schools. These days, things have changed. Teachers and counselors are often overwhelmed with recommendation requests, and admissions officials are reporting that what they’re writing is often less specific and thoughtful and often tells admissions little about the student. As a result, only 17% of colleges now rank recommendations of “considerable importance” in the admissions process. Additionally, many schools have eliminated or greatly reduced the number of recommendations they require.

      10. Many schools no longer require the SAT or ACT for admission

          The SAT and ACT have long been rites of passage for college-bound high school students, but fewer colleges are requiring the tests than ever before. It may have something to do with research that shows that the tests do little to predict the success of students in college, instead pointing to grades and GPA as being more important. Today, there are more than 815 colleges and universities that do not require the SAT or ACT for admission, and the numbers have grown rapidly in recent years.

      11. Schools are using social media to recruit applicants

          Recruiting for colleges is increasingly being done through social media, though mailers and other more traditional methods are still popular. Schools can reach out to a large number of students in a cost-effective manner through social media, making it a popular choice. Today, students would be hard-pressed to find a school that doesn’t have a social media presence; they shouldn’t be surprised to get a friend request from a college or an admissions officer when applying to schools.

      12. Applications are more carefully audited

          Whether it’s a sad sign of the times or due to the greater number of students applying to schools, cheating and lying on applications isn’t entirely uncommon. Colleges are increasingly trying to combat this, with schools like Stanford and Harvard increasing their use of fact checking applications and plagiarism software. Students who fudge applications should be aware that there’s a pretty good chance they’ll be caught, so honesty is, as usual, the best policy.

      Source:  Best Colleges Online

Now the time is nearing for parents.

Parent teacher conferences are usually set for October. 

Are you ready?

Here are some tips to help you get the most from your time with your child’s teachers.

Before the conference:

• Check grades and teacher expectations. Many schools post student’s grades on their Student Information System. So review your child’s past work. There’s no reason to get caught off guard.
• Jot questions and prioritize concerns. Take a few minutes to jot down questions for the teacher. Take those with you so you won’t forget to ask. Also, don’t forget to ask your kid if there is anything the teacher might tell you that you don’t know. (It’s always best to not be surprised.)
• Meet your needs. If you need extra set of “ears” to be with you, you feel intimidated, or worry the teacher may use jargon you don’t understand, bring a friend (a neighbor, relative, older child). If you need a translator (language or sign), call the school to arrange one. Let the teacher know before the conference if you are in a contentious divorce or if your partner requests to come to the conference separately.
• Block time. The teacher has scheduled only a set amount of time, so you will want to use every second wisely and not be distracted. Arrange a baby sitter for a younger child and allow ample time to get there.

Here are the four areas of learning to discuss during the conference:

• Academic: Find out what your child’s strongest and weakest subjects are, how he compares to the other students and if he is keeping up with the workload. You might ask: “If you were to evaluate my child now, what would his grade and average test score be in each subject? “If the teacher uses educational terms that you’re not familiar with, ask for a simpler explanation. Ask to see specific examples of any academic problem so you know how to help or if a tutor might be helpful.
• Social: Find out how your childgets along with others. Let the teacher know of any bullying or repeated peer rejection and create a safety plan. Ask for recommendations for a new friend if there are social problems.
  
• Behavior: Find out how your child behaves around peers and adults and if he is showing up on time and prepared to learn. If there are behavior issues, get specifics: what the behavior looks like, the teacher’s discipline approach, any triggers or patterns (when and where the behavior usually happens), and how it is being resolved.
• Emotional/health: Find out how your child is coping. Explain any home issues that could affect your child’s learning performance (a divorce, deployment, illness of a relative) and any serious allergies, sleep problems, medication, counseling or other health-related issues that the teacher should know about.

If your child is having any kind of problem in one or more of those four learning areas, then discuss strategies you and the teacher can do to help your child by creating common goals. Discuss how you will you know if things are improving or declining and if there’s no improvement, ask what our “next step” will be and how the teacher would like to be contacted.

After your conference:

Go home, share what you learned with your child and parenting partner, and then commit to doing what you discussed. If you see that your child continues to struggle or you do not see improvement in a few weeks, or things get worse, call for another conference. If you still don’t get help, then it’s time to seek the help of the principal, vice-principal or counselor.

Parents, what are your parent- teacher conference experiences? Do you have any tips of your own to share?  Please leave them in the comments.

Special contributor: Michele Borba, Parenting Expert and author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.

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Why do students drop-out?

There’s no single reason.

Students drop out of school for a number of different reasons—and it’s typically a combination of many issues. Here are some of the top reasons students give for leaving school:

• Classes aren’t interesting
• Parents/family/adults have low expectations
• Poor attendance
• Failing in school
• Family responsibilities (work, caring for siblings, etc.)
• Becoming a parent
• Too much freedom

What are some warning signs to look for?

What to watch for. There are specific factors to watch for in students who are likely to drop out of school. If you see one or more of these signs, get involved! You can give these students the Boost they need to stay in school.

• They don’t feel challenged in school.
• They don’t feel high educational expectations from either their family or school.
• They believe their parents are too controlling and they want to rebel.
• They have trouble with schoolwork or feel like they are not as smart as other students.
• They have drug, alcohol or mental health problems.
• They regularly miss school or are frequently tardy.
• They struggle with problems at home, including physical or verbal abuse.
• They feel like they don’t fit in or have friends at school.
• Their peers or siblings have dropped out of school.
• They have poor learning conditions at school—such as overcrowding, high levels of violence and excessive absenteeism.

If you fear your teen is heading down a negative path and you need to get them back on track, visit www.BoostUp.org or www.HelpYourTeens.com for more information.

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Be sure to verify your online college accreditation.

Not every teen is ready to go off to college.  Many times starting with online courses can ease their way into going to a local college or university.  Many adults are also turning to online college courses since they can be more accessible when having a job and supporting a family.  No matter why you are choosing an online college, be sure it is accredited so you can easily transfer or obtain a legitimate degree.

An important step when choosing an online degree program is learning if the online college is fully accredited. This is vital, because by choosing a non-accredited college, you risk receiving a substandard education in exchange for your precious time and money, or employers rejecting you based on an obscure education path. Accreditation allows you to rest assured that your degree, and quality education, will be well-recognized by employers. Without the right accreditation, your online degree may in fact be worthless, so do your research and find out whether the college you’ve chosen is a smart choice for your future.

How does accreditation work? A third party, known as an accreditation agency, validates each online school as a legitimate educator. The agencies usually investigate the school to make sure students are receiving a quality education and the school operates legally. This process keeps schools from making educational promises they simply cannot keep.

Remember that while accreditation agencies offer a certain legitimacy to schools, the accreditation industry isn’t necessarily regulated. The process is voluntary, without much governmental oversight, so know that for every good accreditation agency out regulating schools, there are just as many fraudulent ones. Schools have even been known to set up fake accreditation agencies so they look more genuine, so you must do your research to avoid getting the wool pulled over your eyes.

It is a good sign if either the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education has recognized the organization. CHEA has an international directory of quality assurance organizations, accreditation agencies and Ministries of Education in more than 150 countries. Search for your school on the the US Department of Education’s list of recognized accreditation agencies.

Do all of the schools they accredit appear to be genuine? If they appear phony, they likely are. You can see if they are listed as legitimate by well-known organizations, such as the International Handbook of Universities, the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook, and the US Department of Education’s College Navigator.

Is the accreditation agency connected to the schools in any way? As with online college rankings, there’s a chance that the accreditation agency you’re considering is a front, created to offer credibility to a phony online college. Accreditation agencies should be an independent third party, so any accreditation organization affiliated with a school is a conflict of interest. Look at their addresses, Whois information, ownership and other identifying details.

Follow these guidelines to be sure the accreditation agency you’re trusting to assess your online college is legitimate, offering a helpful and independent endorsement of the school. When you find an accreditation agency and school you can trust, you can feel confident that your online degree will be taken seriously and offer you a quality education.

Source:  Accredited Online Colleges

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Because of this, many learning disabled students feel marginalized by their peers and instructors alike, oftentimes hindered more by imposed isolation than the conditions themselves. But as technology marches on, so too do opportunities for academic success. No matter their struggle, these perfectly competent, capable individuals probably have something available to close any unfortunate, challenging gaps. It’s all a matter of finding the right answer and finding ways to pay for it — though the more financially strapped have a few options available, depending on their situation and what they require.

Please be aware that this article is not meant to take the place of legitimate medical advice. Different individuals require different solutions based on numerous factors, and only a small sample of the myriad assistive technologies available receives representation here. Take it as a brief overview rather than something even one atom definitive or professional — save diagnoses and prescriptions for the experts.

1. Talking calculators

   Both the visually impaired and the learning disabled can greatly benefit from these simple devices, which relay mathematics via audio. For those with dyscalculia, such a gadget renders it much easier to check and double-check assignments.

2. Electronic worksheets

   Students struggling with properly lining up words and equations using standard pencils and paper sometimes use electronic worksheets when completing assignments. Some even come with text-to-speech or speech synthesizing capabilities, depending on what assistance is necessary for academic success.

3. Word prediction software

   iPhones and Androids haven’t won word prediction programs much mainstream favor, but for the learning disabled, it can prove an absolute godsend. Those grappling with reading and spelling, such as the dyslexic, or difficulties writing and typing use these fantastic technologies to help complete assignments to their satisfaction.

4. Text-to-Voice

   Just like the talking calculators, text-to-voice devices and software make classwork much more tolerable for learning disabled students. They do an excellent job of assisting individuals struggling with checking their spelling and grammar in addition to improving reading and writing comprehension skills.

5. Free-form databases

   When used along with word processing software, free-form databases organize notes for students grappling with disorganization. All they need to do is type out the necessary information and use a quick and easy search function to browse through everything.

6. Personal FM systems

   Personal FM systems come in a few different varieties depending on student needs and school resources. Some of the most sophisticated transmit audio directly from instructors’ microphones directly into a hearing aid!

7. Digital Pens

   Different digital pens each feature different perks, but ones equipped with audio recording and the ability to convert handwriting seem to be particularly valuable. Best of all, learning disabled students need only write on traditional paper to reap the full benefits!

8. Variable speed recorders

   Whether the devices use tapes or some other sonic equipment, students with learning disabilities involving auditory processing issues from variable speed recorders. Depending on their needs, sound can be slowed, hastened and sometimes even pitched up or down in order to render classwork more accessible.

9. Abbreviation expanders

   Students who find typing extremely difficult use this neat software in conjunction with word processors. Along with some possible presets, they can customize their own unique abbreviations, which automatically expand into longer specified words.

10. Graphic organizers

    Considering so many types of graphic organizers exist out there, anyone requiring assistance will more than likely find something perfectly suitable. The one thing they do have in common, though, is their ultimate goal — helping users better sort and browse their notes and assignments.

11. Portable word processors

    These extremely valuable gadgets usually cost less than a laptop, but still provide all the essential word processing learning disabled students need to get work done. Some even come equipped with text-to-speech capabilities, talking calculators, word prediction programs and other fantastically useful features.

12. Alternative keyboards

    The learning disabled with specific visual, ergonomic, spatial and/or other requirements have plenty of viable options available. Whether they have to have larger keys or an arrangement other than QWERTY, technology has them pretty well covered.

13. Alternative mice

    As with alternative keyboards, different styles of mice have been developed to help learning disabled students complete their assignments. Joysticks, head mice, touchpads, rollerballs and other options address a plethora of different movement, spatial and/or cognitive impairments.

14. Speech recognition

    If alternative keyboards still prove unwieldy or otherwise unviable, speech recognition software might prove the better fit. Like the name says, these technologies convert talking into typing, making them ideal for the learning disabled struggling with movement or visual conditions rendering it very tough to click at the keyboard.

15. Switches

    Usually attached to the head or a hand, switches allow users remote access to various computers and other devices with far more ease than a mouse or keyboard. Like many other wondrous assistive technologies, they come in a staggering variety of structures in order to address the widest number of needs possible.

16. Optical character recognition

    Learning disabled students requiring assistive technology to help them with reading, grammar and spelling can turn towards these seriously cool devices, which come in a variety of forms. All of them, though, allow users to scan different documents and convert text into something more digital and interactive; some even provide text-to-speech capabilities as well!

17. Communication Access Realtime Translation

    Also referred to as CART, this technology is meant to reach an audience rather than a single student, making it a perfect fit for classrooms with multiple learning disabled individuals — provided they have similar requirements, of course. A swift-fingered typist inputs what’s being said, which in turn ends up displayed on a screen for easy reading; it’s essentially real-time subtitling benefiting the hearing-impaired.

18. Outlining software

    Students struggling with organizational issues might want to look into software that automatically generates outlines and allows them to play around with them. Similarly, mind-mapping and brainstorming programs provide them with other opportunities to turn great ideas into great assignments.

19. Personal data managers

    Whether carried around as a PDA or installed onto a laptop, the learning disabled needing memory assistance have some excellent options open to them when it comes to finding the right personal data manager. Even some of the simpler varieties available offer up plenty of amazing ways to better sort through thoughts, schedules and classwork alike.

20. Phonetic spelling software

    Dyslexics and others with learning disabilities disrupting reading and writing assignments might want to consider this very useful assistive technology. Some with the condition find anything other than phonetic spelling a challenge, and tools designed to automatically convert their typing into the proper words will undoubtedly render their lives easier.

21. Visual systems

    Although not used exclusively for students on the autism spectrum, such an arrangement is most often used when assisting them. Visual systems, as one can probably assume, use effective images (obviously customized to the individual’s unique requirements) to relay information about schedules, instructions and plenty more.

22. Videotaped social skills

    Another very useful tool for autistic students comes in the form of prerecorded social interactions, meant to help them better absorb necessary life skills without inadvertently acting inappropriately. Such a concept, however, extends beyond improving interpersonal skills — videos are also used to address linguistic, emotional, academic and self-help issues.

23. Scholastic keys

    Many common classroom software programs come with scholastic keys administrators, teachers and parents can implement to simplify their interface. This allows learning disabled students easier access to Microsoft Office and other tools; as an added bonus, many of them work fine with other assistive technologies, such as text-to-speech.

24. Audiobooks

    They’re nothing new, obviously, but audiobooks will always remain a staple of assistive technology — even if their formats change over time. With so many free and low-cost works available on a staggering variety of platforms, it’s never been easier to bring great literature to learning disabled students.

25. Low-tech solutions

    Just because so many assistive technologies embody digital, emerging and advanced mechanics doesn’t mean simpler, more low-key solutions should go entirely ignored. Learning disability experts can and have rendered education more accessible to students using resources as simple as highlighters, note cards, construction paper and anything else imaginable. Viable solutions, no matter what form they come in, should never be dismissed because they lack slick, shiny digital pizazz.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you feel that you are at your wits end?
2. Do you feel you or your family is in danger?
3. Do you feel like something needs to be done now?
4. Do you feel out of control with your child’s actions?
5. Do you feel out of control with yourself?
6. Do you feel hopeless and no one will understand?
7. Do you feel completely alone in dealing with this child?
8. Do you feel you lack the capability to make the right decision?
9. Do you feel your child is running your life and the household?
10. Do you feel Desperate?

Are you at your wit's end?

The feelings of desperation are very real and very painful, however it is not the time to make rash decisions. In most cases, the dysfunction has taken months if not years, to come to pass. It will not be resolved in an instant decision to “send your child away” the quickest and easiest way. This is the most important time to stop, think, research, evaluate and conclude what is best for your child and family.

If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, it is time to reflect and begin planning your alternatives. It is not time to make any decisions. We feel that if you are working with a Psychologist, Therapist or Doctor, they should always be consulted first. Once it is determined residential treatment is needed, it is time for your research to start.

Information and resources will be a valuable asset. When calling the schools and programs, be sure they are looking for your child’s best interest. Any program that is quick to enroll your child is not in your best interest. Always keep notes, and document every conversation.  When contacting a program; does the Admissions Director ask you questions about your child or do the go directly into how their program can help them? How do they know they can help, if they haven’t taken the time to listen to your child’s needs?

As a parent, your heart and gut will tell you when you have found the right placement for your child. Again, the advice of a Professional (i.e. Doctor) is always beneficial, but not always the end result. Most Doctor’s are not familiar with the many residential treatments centers throughout the country, but can give you advice as to what your child’s needs are.

In some cases urgency is needed. Especially with some legal matters, however many can go into a local Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital for 2-3 days (usually insurance paid) until you can do your homework. Make the most of the 24-36 hours with your research. This can buy you time to find the most appropriate placement for your child.

When your search starts, use caution to a desperate sales person. Many Admissions Personnel are paid per enrollment. Although everyone is entitled to make a living, when it comes to your child, there should be a division.  It is more beneficial to speak with a program owner, Director or therapist at the facility.  These people are usually not sales people and want their program to succeed.  They will screen their potential students to be sure they are a fit for their program.

Parents’ Universal Resource Experts does not engage with  admissions and/or enrollments. We always encourage parents to contact the programs directly to determine if the program is appropriate for your child’s needs.  We do, however help educated you in this “big business” of teen help.

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Help Stop Teen Cough Medicine Abuse

Talking to teens about drug abuse is never easy. Did you know teens that learn about the dangers of drugs from their parents are 50 percent less likely to abuse drugs? As parents, we must work together to educate our teens and create awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, including over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse.

In 2007, five moms from around the country were brought together to share information with other parents about the largely unknown trend among teens of abusing OTC cough medicines to get high. Since then, the Five Moms campaign has reached more than 24 million parents to help educate them about preventing teen cough medicine abuse, spreading awareness to parents, schools, and communities. And now they want your help! The campaign recently launched the Are You the Next Five Mom? search to look for a new Mom to join the fight against cough medicine abuse.

Are you a mom who is passionate about working with teens? Do you have experience working with teens and substance abuse? If you are interested in being a part of the Five Moms campaign, they are looking for someone who:

• Has experience or a passion for working with teens;
• Has past or previous involvement in teen programming or issues affecting teens;
• Has experience working with teens and/or substance abuse;
• Has raised awareness of cough medicine abuse in their community or is a community leader;
• Works with teens on a daily or weekly basis a coach, teacher, guidance counselor, youth group leader, etc.;
• Uses social media to reach parents and educate them about teen substance abuse;
• Is involved with community organizations that center around pre-teens and teens;
• Developed an original idea or event to educate others about cough medicine abuse; or
• Has distributed Five Moms and/or cough medicine abuse information to their children, peers, community, etc.

For more information on how to enter the Are You the Next Five Mom? search, and for the official rules and regulations, visit FiveMoms.com. To learn more about over-the-counter medicine abuse, visit StopMedicineAbuse.org.

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1. No more paper textbooks As e-books become increasingly popular and physical books seem more and more inconvenient, it’s only logical that the bulkiest and most expensive of books, the textbook, would be replaced by technology. Many colleges already offer electronic options for cash-strapped students, and with education budget cuts in effect, more K-12 schools are bound to adopt the technology. Some already have; various high schools and even elementary schools across the country are having their students use Kindles or iPads in the classroom rather than books. South Korea has plans to get rid of all textbooks and convert to digital by 2015. U.S. adoption of e-textbooks is predicted to be much slower; by 2014, digital textbooks are expected to make up just under 19% of higher education textbook sales.
2. 
   

   No more middle school

   The idea behind K-8 schools is that moving middle-school-age children to a new environment is disruptive to their learning, backed up with statistics showing that a kid’s performance in school declines once he reaches middle school. The transition to middle school is thought to have a negative effect on pubescent tweens. Rather than shuttling kids between three, sometimes four, different schools by the time they graduate, the K-8 option allows them to go to only two: the lower school through eighth grade and high school for the rest. Across the country, more schools are turning to this model, leaving behind the idea of junior high and integrating older children with younger ones. Many education experts believe this could be becoming the standard model for grade structure. And a few think that grade-based learning will be left behind altogether in favor of a school organized by interest groups and capabilities.

3. Robot teachersRobot teachers may seem decades out of reach, but they, or at least robot teaching assistants, aren’t too far from being a realistic addition to our classrooms, according to some education scholars. In fact, robots have already been added to some classrooms in South Korea and Japan in the past couple of years. In South Korea, the egg-shaped robot with an LCD screen that shows a human face teaches elementary students English, reducing the need for thousands of foreign English teachers. In Japan, the robot teaching assistant helps with basic classroom tasks, like taking roll and scolding misbehaving students. Using this technology as a springboard, the U.S. could be following in the footsteps of these innovative nations in fewer than 10 years, according to some experts.Though the robots may not be ready to teach full lessons and interact with students at length, they’re expected to be quickly advanced enough to provide teachers with user-friendly aid.
4. Online classes will replace traditional schoolsOnline learning is on the rise, in college settings and in K-12 schools. The number of students receiving higher education through the Internet is astonishing; in 2009, 30% of all college students were enrolled in at least one online course. The demand is still growing, and 75% of public colleges say online education is a component of their long-term strategies. And online course work is becoming more accepted in primary and secondary school, as well. Thirty states have a virtual school program, and half the districts in the U.S. offer online courses. Though the trend right now is to have a blended learning approach, using both online and face-to-face classes, some in the education field predict that all learning in the U.S. will someday be done on the Internet.
5. User-generated content will become an essential education tool

   Instead of learning from textbooks created by corporations or from teachers with limited ways of explaining ideas, students will begin to learn from peers and other users of a service, according to some scholars. Borrowing from the ideas of YouTube, where you can find tutorials for thousands of skills, and the Khan Academy, which offers free videos explaining math and science concepts, education in the future will provide students with lessons from people who talk and think like them and allow them to share their own explanations with others. Whether this will be a service offered through a traditional classroom or part of an online-only strategy is to be decided, but education authorities say user-generated content is going to rise in popularity. This also means Wikipedia — despised by teachers in the past — could finally become an acceptable learning tool.

6. Colleges will go bankrupt and close

Even during the worst of the recession, traditional college tuitions were rising to new highs. Since 2005, private four-year universities have hiked tuition 5.6%. Many experts say they’ve gotten away with it this long because people affected by layoffs or pay cuts have turned to higher education as the solution to their worries. But after graduating, those same people are finding they can’t land jobs even after shelling out thousands of dollars for a degree. Now, more and more students are turning to online colleges, which are less expensive and often suit their needs better. Others are forgoing higher education altogether, hoping that work experience right out of high school will give them an advantage. Without the income, many brick-and-mortar universities are losing money and eventually will have to find a way to provide education more efficiently or close their doors for good. This first steps will likely include layoffs of staff and even tenured professors and less money spent on new, unnecessary facilities that don’t contribute to education.

7.  The average age of higher-ed students will rise drastically

As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age and the number of younger students entering college grows at a slower pace, it is expected that adult education will become prevalent. Though students under 25 are still enrolling in larger numbers every year, the rate is slowing and is expected to drop in the next few years. Between 1997 and 2007, enrollment for those 25 and older had only grown by 13% while the younger students saw an increase of 33%. But by 2017, the trend is likely going to shift, with the older group growing at a rate of 19% and the under-25 group slowing to 10%. As time goes on, education probably won’t be dominated by retired people, but lifelong learning is going to catch on, according to predictions, and the average age of the students is going to keep increasing

8.  No more homework

Teachers will probably miss hearing the creative excuses from students for why they can’t turn their homework in on time, but authorities on the subject say that getting rid of homework will benefit everyone in the education system. Some schools have already implemented the no-homework policy and found that it makes kids like going to school more, causes them to watch less TV at home and decreases conflicts with their parents. Proponents of the movement say that if teaching is done effectively, all the learning will take place at school and there will be no need to send work home with students. The brain will retain information better if classes go over the things they learned in the morning once again in the afternoon. Other scholars who predict that homework will soon be a thing of the past believe it’s due more to the changing role of technology. The boundaries between school and home may become blurred with the rise of online education, so students will manage their own time and work at their own pace, eliminating the need for traditional homework. But then, what will your dog eat?

9.   Standardized test scores won’t keep you from getting into college

For decades, getting a low SAT or ACT score in the mail meant that you were destined for community college or trade school, even if you had your heart set on a four-year university. These tests have roots dating back to 1901, and they are starting to show their age. Hundreds of schools across the country have dropped the tests as requirements for admission after studies revealed that the test favors wealthier students and that the scores don’t reflect whether a student will be successful in college. Others still require the SAT or ACT as one component of admission, but it won’t be long before the tests have disappeared completely. One potential replacement for test scores in admission decisions is a digital portfolio where students showcase their best work from high school.

10. A new “Manhattan Project” will save education

The original Manhattan Project was a research project during the 1940s that pooled all the great minds and essential resources from the U.S. and its allies in order to win World War II. It resulted in the creation of the atomic bomb. The new Manhattan Project, being championed by many education supporters, would bring together the great thinkers of our time to solve the problems with education today. Some believe it should focus on closing the racial achievement gap that has plagued our system; others think it should address the weaknesses in our systems in general, the most pressing of which are the cuts being made in school funding across the country. As teachers continue to get fired and schools remain short on staff and equipment, there’s no doubt that educators and parents across the country will demand that our education system receive the resources and attention given to winning a war.