In This Issue

Remember when summer was a time to forget about school for three months, spend hours at the pool or vacation at the beach? A time when you had no worries, no anxieties, no lingering problems. The last seniors have received their diplomas and for counselors and admission officers, summer should be a time to take a break and reflect on the hard work of the past year.

But despite this small respite, this summer will not be without its worries. Many may question the direction the economy is taking and how it will affect students’ ability to pay for college. In our cover story, “The Impact of Cost on College Choice: Beyond the Means of the Economically Disadvantaged,” Dr. Michael Lillis and Dr. Robert Tian examine how cost can greatly limit the number of postsecondary opportunities for lower-income students and how students’ sensitivity to institutional support can also affect their choices.

And while we should take some time to enjoy grilling out with friends and family, we inevitably start thinking of issues for the upcoming year. This issue of the Journal targets non-traditional students and ways we, as a profession, can better accommodate their postsecondary transition. In both  “Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Factors Affecting the Academic Performance and Retention of Conditionally Admitted Freshmen” by Dr. Bob Adebayo and “Homeschoolers Entering Community Colleges: Perceptions of Admission Officers” by Dr. Kellie Sorey and Dr. Molly Duggan, the authors stress the importance of providing specialized environments conducive to supporting these specific student populations.

In the Last Word, R. Russell Shunk reflects on another non-traditional student: his 40-year old son who received his bachelor’s degree after completing rigorous coursework, while balancing family and work life. These articles remind us of the power of postsecondary education and why we fight so hard to make the opportunity available to students from all backgrounds.

In your ponderings of how to better your work in the coming year, it is also necessary to stop and applaud yourselves for helping another group of students transition to college. The students are the reason we do what we do, and to emphasize that we have developed a new section called “Voices that Matter,” which will be entirely student-written and highlight their opinions on a range of issues. We hope that on that difficult day, when you are dealing with the tougher topics that arise in this profession, this section will remind you that your efforts do not go unnoticed. In this issue Alessandra Hartkopf, recent graduate of The Ellis School (PA), recounts applying to college and gives advice to others based on her experience.

Before you know it, fall will be upon us and the cycle will continue. So before then, soak up some rays and enjoy a few lazy summer days— you’ve earned it.

Rachael Groseclose, Journal Editor