Research + News

College Students Say Ditching Their Smartphones For A Week Changed Their Lives

College students went one week without their smartphones. Read the article here.

What I Did Right – And Wrong – In My Son’s First Month At College

Kara Powell shares some of her parenting errors to help parents avoid 3 mistakes she made during her son’s first month in college. Read her blog post here.

Tips To Sleep In College Dorms

The statistics about college students’ sleep are grim. Read some help tips here.

Farewell, Valedictorian?

Should high school students be competing for the highest grades? Read the article here.

College Quest: Teens Go To Great Lengths To Find Perfect School

For most kids, parents may offer a helping hand and some guidance in the process. But in the end, the pressure, the work and the final decisions belong to the teenager. Read the article here.

Better Sleep Habits Lead To Better College Grades

Data on MIT students underscore the importance of getting enough sleep; bedtime also matters. Read the article here.

8 Questions To Ask Your High School Senior This Fall

This might be the first time you’ve raised these conversation topics with your child or stepchild, and that’s okay. The last year of high school is a natural opportunity to restart and revise your communication rhythms. Read the blog post from Fuller Youth Institute here.

The One Question You Never Want To Hear From Students

Tim Elmore blogs about teh college admissions scandal and questions we get from our kids. Read the blog post here.

Young Life Voted Off Campus At Duke

While the college ministry continues to operate without recognition, another university officially objects to its sexuality policy. Read the article here.

Helping Teens Deal With College Stress

High school is stressful, but when you add in the pressure to get into college then the stress can skyrocket. Read the article here.

Tell Me More: 8 Conversations To Start (And Continue) With Your College Freshman

Fuller Youth Institute overs some helpful conversations to have with those who have just begun college. Read the article here.

Survey Results: Today’s Students Are Skipping College

Tim Elmore takes a look at some of the generational differences between Millennials and Gen Z and their views on higher education. Read the post here.

Three Ways To Help Students Choose The Right Major

Narrowing down a college major is challenging because of several 21^st century factors. Read Tim Elmore’s blog post about this here.

Lose Your Faith At An Evangelical College? That’s Part Of The Process

Research shows that students at CCCU schools are more likely to face a religious crisis than their secular counterparts. Read the article here.

Mental Health Concerns On The Rise For College Students

Serious mental health concerns – like suicidal thinking, severe depression, and self-harm behaviours – more than doubled among college students between 2007-2018. Read the article here.

Woke Totemism

Multiculturalism has the characteristics of a primitive religion, albeit a confused one. Read the article here.

Stressed Teens Fret Over How Much To Relax During The Summer

For many teenagers, summer break has become a multiple-choice pressure cooker, when they must decide whether to: (a) rest and recharge, (b) work and make money, or (c) rack up activities that stand out on college applications. Read the article here.

College Financial-Aid Loophole: Wealthy Parents Transfer Guardianship Of Their Teens To Get Aid

Education Department, universities are investigating the practice, which has been used in the Chicago area. Read the article here.

Failure To Launch: Parents Are Barriers To Teen Independence

While most parents say they are doing enough to prepare their teen for adulthood, they gave low rankings of their teen’s ability to handle basic tasks. Read the article here.

What Should I Do After High School?

Greg Forster answers the following questions:

What would you say to someone who doesn’t have a clear idea of their vocation after graduating high school? Go on to college and pick a generic degree? Trade school? Gap year? Something else?

Read the article here.

The Demon In Middlebury

What happens when liberal democracy increasingly resembles communism, especially in higher education. Read the article here.

‘Failure To Launch’: Poll Finds Many Older Teens Still Too Reliant On Parents

Most parents think they are doing enough to prepare their teens for adulthood, but they’re wincing a bit as the time comes for their young to leave the nest. Read the article here.

America’s Youth Think They Can Save The World And Get Rich

From tech to finance and the arts, college students and recent graduates believe they can have it all. Read the article here.

Looks Like Guys Are More Prone To Pack On The ‘Freshman 15’

A study revealed that freshman boys saw bigger increases in terms of waist size and overall fat mass than girls. Read the article here.

All School And No Work Becoming The Norm For American Teens

From the article:

“Many factors are at play in the decline of teen labor force participation, including increased school enrollment, seasonal employment, decreased returns to work, reduced demand for low-wage work, minimum wage hikes, and competition from older workers or immigrants. Time pressure is another driver of reduced teen participation. Teens have many demands on their time and those demands fundamentally differ between the academic year and summer.”

Read the article here.

Five College Admissions Myths

College admissions can stress out even the most cool, calm and collected of students (and parents). Read the article here.

Making The Most Of College: Business, Balance, And Learning To Live

Have you decided on the limits of your career? Read the article here.

Why ‘Follow Your Passions’ Is Bad Advice For Graduates

Four countercultural insights for outgoing students. Read the article here.

The Unintended Consequences Of Academic Pressure

Where did academic pressure come from? Read the blog post from Tim Elmore here.

SAT To Score Students’ ‘Disadvantages’ To Try To Even The Playing Field

The College Board has been testing a tool that could give the millions of students who take the SATs every year a score measuring their economic hardships and other disadvantages. Read the article here.

A New Normal: Kingdom Collaboration On Our Campuses Like Never Before

The EveryCampus coalition indicates we may be nearing a revival. Read the article here.

Millennials Bring Ambition And Optimism To Their Work

It’s graduation season again, and as more members of Gen Z transition out of high school and into their college years, they’ll do so with high expectations for their future careers. Read the article here.

7 Underrated But Essential Life Skills To Teach Teens Before They Go To College

Schools will teach your teen about important subjects such as math and science, but there’s another school parents and teachers may forget in their quest to encourage exam success: the school of life. Read the article here.

As College Debt Rises, So Does Interest In Teaching Financial Literacy

After languishing for a few years, support for teaching money-management skills to high school students has reignited, financial literacy advocates say. They attribute much of the newfound interest to worries about mushrooming student debt. Read the article here.

Teens Ponder How To Pay For College, But Not Much

When it comes to paying for college, most teens like the idea of not taking on debt, according to a new survey by Junior Achievement. Overall, however, teens haven’t given much thought on how to fund their educations. Read the article here.

What We Can Learn About Leading Students From Instagram

How should some recent experiments and changes on Instagram inform our leadership? Read the blog post from Tim Elmore here.

Some College Students Fall Into Vicious Cycle Of Drug Use, Stress, Poor Academics

The adoption of one harmful behavior, such as heavy alcohol use, can lead college students into a vicious cycle of poor lifestyle choices, lack of sleep, mental distress and poor grades, according to a new study by researchers at Binghamton, State University of New York. Read the article here.

Should You Follow Your Heart?

“Follow your heart” is a phrase that we hear in our culture often. But is that a good idea? Watch a video addressing this issue from Impact 360 Institute here.

Perceptions & Realities of Paying For College

Ascent Funding’s 2019 national study of students and parents explores their perceptions before starting college and the impact of reality once the college experience begins. Read the report here.

14 Skills Your Kids Should Have Before Moving Out

Tim Elmore discusses some skills that you should work to develop in your teens before they move out of the house. Read his blog here.

Campus Coercion

The First Things podcast features a conversation with Mark Bauerlein and Charlie Copeland to discuss the decline of free speech on the college campus. Listen to the podcast here.

Who Are These Emerging Adults?

Each generation produces a cultural shift, some more impactful than others, but this generation of young adults has undeniably brought on such a significant shift in the cultural mindset that it’s challenging for those of us in previous generations to understand. Read the rest of this blog post from Jim Burns of HomeWord by clicking here.

The Augsburg Concession

Augsburg College—now Augsburg University—has gone from “awakened” to “woke.” It has arguably conceded more to the secular progressive agenda than any Lutheran college or university in America. Read the full article here.

Stop Asking Kids What They Want To Be When They Grow Up

The question forces children to define themselves in terms of work. Read the article here.

Helping Students Beat Test Anxiety

Fear of failure can prevent students from showing what they know on big tests—but a 10-minute writing exercise can help. Read the article here.

What Do Young Americans Really Think About Trade School?

There has been a gradual decline over the past few years in students enrolling in occupational education programs, trade schools, and apprenticeships. Read the article here.

What If Instead Of Taking The SAT You Got To Play A Video Game?

L.A.-based startup Imbellus plans to upset the SAT and ACT’s monopoly with a test it says accurately gauges critical thinking. Read the article here.

Christian U Flip-Flops On Gay Relationships

Azusa Pacific University, an evangelical Christian institution that last fall notably removed its ban on same-sex relationships only to reverse course a few weeks later, has once again flip-flopped to allow gay relationships on the California campus. Read the article here.

Higher Income May Prove Elusive For Many College Grads

Many college graduates with a four-year degree find themselves struggling to earn enough money to achieve their version of the American dream. Read the article here.

U.S. College Admissions Scandal: How Did The Scheme Work And Who Was Charged?

Wealthy parents were part of the biggest college admissions scam ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, prosecutors say, accused of conspiring to get their kids into elite colleges through bribery and cheating. Read the article here.

Is Higher Ed Ready For The Tech Expectations Of The Teens Of 2022?

What will these teens expect of tech based on their current experiences? Read the article here.

The Stigma Of Choosing Trade School Over College

When college is held up as the one true path to success, parents—especially highly educated ones—might worry when their children opt for vocational school instead. Read the article here.

Recovering From The Disconnect With Your Teens

We need to talk seriously about the disconnect between parents and teenagers before kids hit college campuses. Read the article here.

Why Generation Z Is Passing On College

Tim Elmore says that students “feel less dependent on adults to get them ready for the career they’ll choose to enter.” Read his entire blog post here.

Most Teenagers Drop Out Of Church As Young Adults

Church pews may be full of teenagers, but a new study says college students might be a much rarer sight on Sunday mornings. Read the article here.

Attention, College Shoppers. These Schools Are Slashing Their Prices.

As soaring tuition scares off many families, a growing number of private colleges have embraced a marketing tactic associated more with selling airline tickets or flat-screen televisions than higher education: a price cut. Read the article here.

The Top Reasons Young People Drop Out Of Church

Even with 1 in 4 leaving over politics, college kids are more likely to return after a hiatus than leave for good. Read the article here.

Penn State Updates Course On Drinking And Sexual Violence, Aiming To Keep Students ‘Safe & Aware’

Penn State recently revamped its online course for incoming freshmen. Students learn about alcohol safety and sexual violence. Read the article here.

Preparing Your Kids For College

Jim Burns from HomeWord offers his perspective and tips on preparing kids for college. Read his blog post here.

College Students At 3.5 Times Higher Risk For Meningitis B

College students ages 18-24 are more than three times at risk for the potentially deadly serogroup B meningococcal disease (meningitis B) when compared with non-college students, according to a study published in the January 2019 issue of Pediatrics. Read the article here.

Homeless For Holidays: Some Colleges Keep Needy Students On Campus

About one-tenth of college students say they’re homeless, according to Goldrick-Rab’s research.Read the article here.

Better Sleep Can Improve College Academic Performance On Finals

As the college semester nears the end, an innovative experiment has shown the benefits of averaging eight hours of sleep for five nights during final exams week. Read the article here.

Why ‘Passing On The Faith’ Fails Our Kids

Young adults often leave the church after high school. The problem lies close to home. Read the article here.

Colleges Strain To Keep Up With Students’ Mental Health Concerns

As stigmas surrounding mental health issues have eased, more U.S. college students are seeking help for emotional problems, a new study finds. Read the article here.

Why So Busy? Our Flawed College System Takes Toll On Families Years Before Tuition Is Due

Families jam their schedules and fret over finances to prepare their kids for college. But all this craziness comes at a cost to parents and children. Read the article here.

More College Students Seeking Mental Health Care

Anxiety, depression and panic attacks are sending U.S. college students to mental health clinics in record numbers, a new study finds. Read the article here.

Why Youth Stay In Church When They Grow Up

What is it that sets apart the kids who stay in the church? Read the article here.

English Prof: ‘My Students Can’t Write To Save Their Lives’

From the article…

“English professors have turned to a feelings-oriented approach to their craft. Instead of being the sage on the stage, they have become the guide on the side. They place greater emphasis on the thoughts and feelings or political ideas students put into their works than whether or not students are following – or even knowing – the grammatical rules of writing.”

Read the rest of the article here.

1 In 3 College Freshman Faces Mental Health Woes

More than one in three first-year college students around the world struggle with a mental health disorder, new research suggests. Read the article here.

Is The Big Standardized Test A Big Standardized Flop?

Since No Child Left Behind first rumbled onto the scene, the use of a Big Standardized Test to drive accountability and measure success has been a fundamental piece of education reform. But recently, some education reform stalwarts are beginning to express doubts. Read the article here.

1 In 5 College Students So Stressed They Consider Suicide

Among more than 67,000 students surveyed, over 20 percent said they experienced stressful events in the last year that were strongly associated with mental health problems, including harming themselves and suicidal thoughts or attempts, researchers found. Read the article here.

Parents, Take Note: Kids, Teen, College Student Mental Health Problems On The Rise

Adding to a wave of recent studies highlighting the unique mental health challenges that teens and young adults face — oftentimes alone — a new report from the World Health Organization finds that one in three college students worldwide have a mental health condition. Read the article here.

Do Christian Students Want Spiritual Growth From College?

Is spiritual and moral development primary, or even secondary priorities of one’s education? Read the research from Barna here.

Tinder Is Rolling Out A College-Only Service, Tinder U

The functionality is exactly the same as regular Tinder, although the UI looks slightly different: a badge depicting users’ universities will be displayed on their main profile image. Read the article here.

The Beloit College Mindset List: Class of 2022

The New Millennium Belongs to This Year’s Entering College Class of 2022 in The 21^st Annual Mindset List. Read the list here.

What I Learned In Secretarial School

There are many paths to discipline and confidence. I typed my way there. Read the rest of the article here.

11 Books Every Christian In College Should Read

So … what are the best Christian books for college students? Read the article here.

Technology, Dating, College, Career: Here’s Why Today’s Teens Are The Most Anxious Ever

What can be done to overcome anxiety? And why parents may be contributing to the problem. Read the article here.

Doing It For The College Resume – Not a Great Idea

It’s great for teens to get involved in their communities. But in addition to excelling in school, many feel pressure to overload their schedules with extracurriculars in hopes of improving the odds they’ll be admitted to the college of their choice. Read the article here.

How Our Obsession With College Prep Hurts Kids

Most schools say they’re preparing children for college and a career. Ted Dintersmith argues that today’s K-12 education is preparation for neither. Read the article here.

Why Rural Michigan Teens Are Skipping Out On College. It’s Not Grades

The road to college can be scary for small town teens. Read the article here.

How I Helped My Kids Decide What To Do After High School

Growing Leaders president Tim Elmore provides a summary of what he and his wife did to prepare their kids for their post-secondary experience. Read his blog post here.

The Value Of Education

Young people are getting paid less than their contemporaries in the year 2000. Take a look at the data here.

The Perils Of Pushing Kids Too Hard, And How Parents Can Learn To Back Off

“Ask your kids the question ‘Am I pushing you too hard?’ ” says Colleen Fawcett, Wilton Youth Services coordinator. Don’t just ask once, she says, ask it periodically and keep the line of communication open. Read the article here.

What Parents And Students Should Look For In Colleges And Majors

Tim Elmore blogs some suggestions for both parents and students as they consider different college options. Read the post here.

3 Reasons That Career And Technical Education Doesn’t Preclude College

Confronting some misconceptions about future learners.

Read the full article here.

6 Questions College Students Must Be Ready To Answer

Students must be armed with at least six apologetics to be ready to answer the hardest questions they’ll face from professors as well as fellow students. Read the article from Cameron Cole on The Gospel Coalition website here.

Is Gen Z The Most Success-Oriented Generation?

A key characteristic of Gen Z is that their expectations are largely shaped around themes of academic and career success—more so than any other generation we’ve observed. Read the research from Barna here.

College Board CEO: How Religious Education Helps Us Rethink The College Admissions Race

The “soulcraft” found in faith-based learning is just what higher ed needs right now. Read the article here.

Share Of American Young Adults Living With Their Parents Highest In 75 Years

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 33% of 25-29 year olds lived with their parents or grandparents in 2016. Read the article here.

A New Study Shows That Students Learn Way More Effectively From Print Textbooks Than Screens

While new forms of classroom technology like digital textbooks are more accessible and portable, it would be wrong to assume that students will automatically be better served by digital reading simply because they prefer it. Read the article here.

Students Want Faster Degrees. Colleges Are Responding

Colleges are offering accelerated degrees, giving students the opportunity to graduate sooner and with less debt, but is this a good idea? Read the article here.

Teens Turn To Trades To Turn A Dollar

Today’s trend-setting teens are ditching the debt load of a four-year college degree in favor of learning trades and earning technical degrees. Read the article here.

Oldest Students In Class Most Likely To Attend College

The study found that those who were almost a year older for their grade were more likely to enroll in college (58 percent) than those who were almost a year younger for their grade (52 percent). Read the article here.

College Drinking Culture In Spain, Argentina, And The USA: An Examination Of Impulsivity, College Alcohol Beliefs, And Alcohol Outcomes

Perceptions about alcohol’s role in the college experience have been spread through various media including television and movies. This study adds to the growing literature showing college alcohol beliefs are linked to harmful alcohol outcomes. Read the full article here.

Higher Education Is Drowning In BS

Christian Smith argues that higher education is drowning and that it’s mortally corrosive to society. Read the article here.

It’s Time To Tell Your Kids It Doesn’t Matter Where They Go To College

You don’t need to go to a highly selective college to have a successful and fulfilling life. Read the article here.

Preparing Your Kids For College

Jim Burns writes on preparing your kids for college on the HomeWord blog. Read the post here.

A Game Plan To Prepare Yourself And Your Child To Head Off To College

Tim Elmore suggests different themes for discussion each month from now until your student heads off to college in the fall. Read his suggestions here.

The Research On What Creates Satisfied And Successful Kids

What Did the Most Extensive Longitudinal Study Discover About Kids? Read the blog post from Tim Elmore here.