COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR ALL
February College Success Newsletter
Stay Warm Out There!
This month’s newsletter focuses on topics many of the topics that come up during the college journey: course planning, choosing a major, navigating test-optional admissions, and how the laws and rights shift when students enter higher education. Each article is designed to help students make thoughtful, realistic decisions without unnecessary stress or pressure to be “perfect.”
“Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase.” Scott Allen
Take a look at what’s inside—and as always:
We're here to support you every step of the way!
Topic of the Month
High School Course Registration
Course Registration: Making Smart Choices
Course registration can feel exciting, overwhelming, or somewhere in between. You’re being asked to make decisions that seem like they matter a lot, and in some ways, they do. The good news is that you don’t need a “perfect” schedule. You need a thoughtful one that fits you. Start by understanding your graduation requirements. Every high school has specific courses students must complete to earn a diploma and be eligible for college admission. Checking in with your school counselor each year helps ensure you’re on track and avoids last-minute surprises.
A strong schedule balances challenge and manageability
Taking advanced classes can be a great idea, but only if you can handle the workload while maintaining solid grades and your well-being. Teachers are valuable guides; they know your work and can help you decide whether honors, AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses make sense. Try not to be influenced by your peers. As you move through high school, your schedule should reflect gradual growth, not instant perfection.
Ninth grade is about adjustment and building strong habits
Focus on learning how high school works and finding your footing academically. Complete core classes at a level where you can be successful, and don’t feel pressure to take all the hardest options right away. Progress matters more than piling it all on at once.
Tenth grade often brings more exploration and a step up in challenge.
If ninth grade is going well, this may be the time to consider honors or AP courses
Pay attention to prerequisites and keep experimenting with electives. Notice what feels energizing, what feels manageable, and what might be too much as activities outside the classroom increase.
Junior year tends to be the most demanding and requires careful balance
This is when rigor, time management, and future goals all collide. Choose electives in subjects you enjoy or may want to study in college. Lean into your strengths while protecting time for rest and recovery.
Senior year still matters—so finish strong
Meet with your counselor to confirm you’re on track to graduate. It’s important to finish strong if you’re planning on postsecondary education. If you plan to apply to competitive colleges, this is not the time to drop rigor levels significantly, take a minimum schedule, or start underperforming. Colleges will look at senior year rigor and ask for mid-year grades! Take classes that are meaningful, develop skills you'll need to be successful in college, and help you transition to college-level work without a shock. Plan a schedule that keeps you challenged, healthy, and provides the balance you need to manage extracurricular commitments and the college application process.
Colleges look for steady growth, appropriate challenge, and consistency over time. Thoughtful planning, not perfection, is the goal.
Major Spotlight
Environmental Studies
If you care about climate change, clean water, protecting wildlife, or creating healthier communities, environmental majors offer real ways to turn that concern into a career. Students interested in preserving natural resources and addressing environmental challenges often find themselves choosing between two closely related majors: environmental science and environmental studies. While the names sound similar, the focus of each program is different, and the best fit depends on how you want to make an impact.
Environmental science programs are grounded in the natural sciences and focus on understanding how the physical world works. Students study biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences to investigate environmental problems and develop solutions. Coursework includes classes in ecology, geology, hydrology, atmospheric science, and environmental chemistry, combined with labs and fieldwork that provide hands-on experience. Because much of this work involves collecting and interpreting data, students also build strong technical skills, learning to use computer programs for data analysis, digital mapping, and geographic information systems (GIS).
Graduates work as environmental consultants, water quality specialists, wildlife biologists, conservation scientists, and sustainability coordinators. Entry-level positions are available with a bachelor's degree, though many research or academic roles require a master's degree or Ph.D.
Environmental studies programs take a broader, more interdisciplinary approach. In addition to studying natural sciences such as biology and geology, students explore social sciences and humanities, focusing on how human behavior, policy, economics, and culture shape environmental issues. Students might analyze climate policy, study land-use planning, examine environmental justice, or explore the ethical questions behind conservation and sustainability.
Coursework often includes environmental policy, energy systems, environmental law, economics, ethics, and urban planning. Because programs vary widely by college, students should carefully review each school's course catalog. Some programs lean heavily toward policy and advocacy, while others balance social science with applied environmental work.
Graduates pursue careers as environmental policy analysts, park rangers, urban planners, environmental educators, nonprofit program directors, and sustainability managers. Some positions are available with a bachelor's degree, while graduate study opens doors to specialized roles like environmental law or policy leadership.
Many students pursue double majors or combined degrees that blend both fields, allowing them to develop scientific expertise alongside policy and communication skills. This combination can be particularly valuable in careers requiring both technical knowledge and the ability to work with communities or policymakers.
Students interested in environmental majors can start preparing in high school by taking biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and math courses, including calculus or statistics. AP Environmental Science or AP Human Geography can provide valuable exposure. Volunteering with local conservation groups, participating in outdoor education programs, joining environmental clubs, or completing a science research project can help students explore their interests and build relevant experience.
Whether you're drawn to hands-on scientific research or to shaping environmental solutions through policy and social change, environmental science and environmental studies both offer meaningful ways to make a difference. The choice comes down to whether you want to focus on the technical side of understanding environmental systems or the human side of creating change through policy, education, and advocacy.
Career Paths for Environmental Science/ Studies Majors
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Agricultural agent
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Animal scientist
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Aquarium or science museum director
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Biochemist
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Ecologist
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Environmental activist
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Environmental attorney
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Environmental consultant
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Environmental planner
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Environmental researcher
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Environmental scientist
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Forest ranger
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Government regulator
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Natural resource specialist
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Outdoor adventure educator
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Pollution engineer
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Range manager
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Soil scientist
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State park resource ecologist
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Toxicologist
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Waste management technician
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Wildlife biologist
The Time is Now
Taking the SAT or ACT in a Test-Optional World
Over the past several years, hundreds of colleges have adopted test-optional, test-flexible, and test-blind admissions policies. For many students, that shift has brought relief. For others, it has created confusion. If colleges don’t require test scores, why take the SAT or ACT at all?
The reality is more nuanced. Test-optional does not mean test-blind, and for some students, submitting scores can still be an advantage. For others, skipping the test is the smarter choice. The key is understanding how scores are actually used and when they add value.
At test-optional schools, students can decide whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. If scores are not submitted, colleges evaluate the application only using grades, course rigor, essays, recommendations, and activities instead. While that sounds straightforward, admissions officers are still trying to assess academic readiness, and standardized tests remain one tool that some colleges view as important for evaluating potential success in college.
One advantage of submitting scores is that a strong result can reinforce academic ability, especially for students whose transcripts may not fully show their potential. A solid test score provides an external point of comparison. It’s also important for families to understand that this is not a one-time, all-or-nothing decision. Students can choose to submit scores to some colleges and not others, using them strategically where they strengthen the application and opting out where they do not add meaningful value.
It’s also important to look at how test-optional policies play out in practice. For example, Duke University is test-optional, yet recent Common Data Set data show that roughly 85% of admitted students submitted SAT or ACT scores. That tells students that while scores aren’t required, most successful applicants felt their scores strengthened their applications. By contrast, Northeastern University reports that closer to 40% of admitted students submitted scores.
Test scores can matter beyond admission. Some colleges use SAT or ACT results for merit scholarships, honors programs, and academic opportunities, even if they’re test-optional. Policies vary by school, so skipping tests may unintentionally limit options.
That said, there can be real disadvantages to testing. Students with test anxiety, learning differences, or limited access to preparation may find their scores do not reflect their true abilities. In those cases, submitting scores can weaken an otherwise strong application.
The most important takeaway is this: choosing whether to submit test scores is not about gaming the system. It’s about making a thoughtful, strategic decision based on where a student’s strengths are and understanding that test scores are just one piece of a much larger picture.
Support Corner
From High School to Higher Ed:
Shifting Roles and Rights for Parents of College Students with Disabilities
For parents who have been deeply involved in their child's education and managing any disabilities or special needs, it can be a jarring transition when that child turns 18 and legally becomes an adult. This transition often raises questions for parents about their involvement and rights concerning their child's educational records and health information, particularly for students with disabilities attending college. Let's delve into how these rights shift and what it means for communication between college disabilities offices and parents.
What rights change when a student turns 18?
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), when a student turns 18 or attends a postsecondary institution at any age, they become an "eligible student," and all rights previously held by the parents under FERPA transfer to the student, preventing colleges and universities from sharing any information from a student's educational records with anyone - including parents - without the student's consent. This applies to grades, attendance records, class schedules, and any other protected information.
What does FERPA mean for communication with disability offices?
College disability offices ensure students with disabilities receive proper accommodations. However, FERPA restricts these offices from sharing any information about a student's disability, approved accommodations, or academic records with parents. This policy protects student privacy and promotes independence in managing their education.
How can I stay informed about my student's progress?
Since FERPA prevents parents from obtaining academic information directly from the school, the best way to learn about your student's grades and status is to ask them directly. Families should discuss expectations and decide how much the student wishes to share. Rather than a barrier, this can facilitate important discussions about responsibilities. Colleges and universities also have release forms students can sign, granting specific permissions for the disability office to share information with parents. The scope of this release is up to the student - they may allow general status updates, or a more comprehensive academic profile to be shared.
If a student signs a FERPA waiver, will their information automatically be shared with me?
No, a signed FERPA waiver simply allows the college to release information to parents if requested. Parents would still need to specifically request grades or other records - they won't automatically be sent. It is important to note that colleges have varying policies on actually releasing this information to parents when allowed, so parents and students need to speak directly with the learning disabilities office at the college to find out what their policy is.
What happens with HIPAA when my student turns 18?
Similar to FERPA's regulations on educational records, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs the privacy of health information. Once a child turns 18, parents do not have automatic access to their child's health records, including information related to disabilities unless the child provides consent or other specific circumstances apply. This regulation ensures the confidentiality of the student's health information, encouraging them to take responsibility for their healthcare decisions.
How can I stay involved and informed?
So what level of parental communication can you expect with the disability services office after your child turns 18? The bottom line is - very little, if any, direct communication without explicit approval from your student each semester. Once enrolled, the student becomes the sole owner of their disability information and accommodation plan. That said, colleges do encourage open conversations between students and parents.
Discuss Consent
Before the student starts college, have a discussion about their preferences for parental involvement and what information they are comfortable sharing. Establish a mutual understanding and respect for boundaries. Parents and students can have a conversation about the benefits of sharing certain information, especially related to disabilities and accommodations, to ensure a supportive home environment.
Encourage Self-Advocacy
Parents can support their children in developing the ability to communicate their needs, understand their rights, and advocate for themselves effectively with the disability office and professors.
Release Forms
Utilize release forms judiciously. If the student wishes to share information with parents, have them complete the necessary release forms with the disability office and update them regularly.
If the student signs a FERPA release form, you may be able to receive information about your student’s progress by contacting the learning disabilities office, but the policy of the schools vary and scope of this release is up to the student - they may allow general status updates, or a more comprehensive academic profile to be shared.
With a digital or paper copy of a universal HIPAA release form, college students can designate a parent or both parents as trusted individuals who can access their medical information. It can be particularly helpful for parents to have access to medical records if a college student needs help managing a chronic condition or if they experience an acute flare-up at a university far from home. In such instances, having access to relevant medical information can enable parents to provide informed support and make informed decisions, ensuring their child receives the best possible care.
Understand the Boundaries
Recognizing the legal boundaries regarding privacy can help parents respect their child's autonomy while finding ways to be supportive.
Open Lines of Communication
Even without direct access to records, parents can continue to support their child by maintaining open lines of communication and encouraging them to share updates and concerns as appropriate.
Embracing the Transition
In summary, the changing laws and FERPA regulations can be frustrating for college parents who feel they need and should have access to their student's information. However, it's important to remember that college students are working towards increased independence and responsibility. Allowing them to determine who receives their academic information is a part of that growing independence. Open communication between parents and students is crucial during this transition to ensure a smooth experience for everyone.