IN THIS ISSUE

It may be a little late to implement another New Year's resolution, but never let that be an excuse to change something in your life for the better. As you strive to help your students, remember that, when professional and ethical issues arise, the Journal of College Admission is, not only an outlet for your opinion, but a forum for change. Our New Year's resolution is to be the best quality print vehicle for your professional development via research, expert opinion and testimony.

The surface of the Journal looks different, but, inside, you will find the same professional fundamentals.

For example, as the SAT writing test is applied, Brad MacGowan claims that some counselors are finding that schools are having to teach to yet another test, rather than concentrating on providing a well-rounded education. He shares his opinion of the new test in our Open Forum, "The Student-Written Essay and the New SAT."

Opposite a student's aim to get the perfect test score, and, thus, be accepted into the perfect institution, is an admission officers' efforts to achieve the perfect student. In our On the Lighter Side article, "Search Letters We Hope to Never see," Mike Mills pokes fun at admission officers' over-zealous efforts.

Social and environmental factors, unique to many first-generation college students and other at-risk youths, complicate the job of college advising. Our cover story, "Knowledge for Practice: A Training Program for College-Access Advisors," by Elizabeth Tracy, et al., provides program design, and teaching topics and techniques to further sensitize advisors to social, emotional and cultural factors that impact their work.

Interviewing is daunting even to a seasoned professional. Imagine how much more daunting this process is to the introverted college applicant. Shyness may be a disadvantage when it comes to self-promotion, but it has nothing to do with how well a student does in college. Thomas A. Hanley, Jr. discusses the shy applicant's admission process in our second feature, "Shyness and the College Admission Process: Who is Being Left Out?"

Pre-college programs are not a new concept, but do they really help students matriculate? From at-risk to extra-smart, high school students don't always have the correct impression of college life. Our third feature, "Assessing the Academic, Personal and Social Experiences of Pre-College Students," by Dr. Terence Hicks, examines changes in pre-college students' impressions of college life, over a six-week transitional summer program.

Peggy Hanselman closes the Journal with a call to all counselors to work in conjunction for the sake of the student in our Last Word, "Creating Connections in Support of Students Designing Futures."

Enjoy your new year! If you'd like more information about how to submit to the Journal of College Admission, visit www.nacac.com/ news_journal.html or email journal@nacac.com.

Sarah E Smith

Sarah E. Smith

Journal Editor

Copyright National Association of College Admissions Counselors Winter 2005
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