Dates: September 17th & 19th

Counselor Boot Camp  is designed specifically for high school guidance counselors with less than two years experience in a school counseling position. This virtual camp will introduce you to and increase your knowledge of the multiple tasks that may be required throughout the academic year. In addition, you will hear from veteran counselors and college admissions professionals in a Q&A session. Topics include the following:

• Best Practices and Job Descriptions
• Admissions, Diversity & Special Needs
• First and Second Semester Expectations

THE Guide to Christian Colleges and Universities is a great resource filled with college options, success stories and helpful information to assist in the college search. This is an excellent tool  high school students and their parents.

Request copies of THE Guide 2025 to be sent to you at the end of August in preparation for any special events or to simply hand out – they are FREE!

Order THE Guide

A few Fridays ago, I awoke to discover my NCAA basketball March Madness bracket had blown up! For days I had been at the top of our family’s competition group but fell five places as a result of three poor picks from Thursday night’s games. So what?! That was Good Friday morning, its life giving significance leaving in the dust the pettiness of worrying about my basketball bracket. “Brackets” are temporal and as such, games, really, of chance. But the cross Christ dragged to HIS crucifixion and resurrection Good Friday is eternal without any such chance of truth and outcome. Can you imagine the confused madness of the moments of Christ’s MARCH to HIS crucifixion?! The madness of the betrayal and abandonment HIS humanness surely experienced but HIS deity gave over to peace. 

Also, just this morning my ongoing look at what is happening in our profession as defined by this world, I read about further ongoing FAFSA delays and interventions for the eighth straight morning. I read even more about speculation concerning the role of standardized testing in determining “readiness” for college admission and predicting success - however that is now defined. And embedded there were the various “creative” responses some colleges are taking to how best such testing serves well their admission missions - trying at the same time to appreciate how some of these testing approaches primarily benefit the students God has called us to walk alongside in what is more a pursuit of where it is best for them to further their Kingdom building prowess rather  than college codifying financial earning and “prestige” prowess.

And, of course, with each “mad” March comes the daily email announcements of (mostly selective admission) schools posting in terms of “will they like me” and admit me? The madness of “where they go” to college as how this world perceives them is a reality of our co-navigation with them that requires we approach each day through the prism of Good Friday - with an attitude of hope and purpose and service and turning the negative to the positive of this daily madness the evil one works hard to dump into our and their souls. The cross promises perpetual hope over the evil one’s negative portrayal of it! The angel rolled away the stone not to let Jesus out but to let us into HIS everlasting presence. Help us hold onto Easter! 

To you, my brothers and sisters in HIM, the madness - March or otherwise - can be overwhelming, but we  need to be overwhelmed by HIM! In encouraging you across the miles and madness, Mrs. Moss and I thank you for prayers for healing and hope as we continue to lean into HIM in our cancer battle. Our God both weeps - and bleeds - for us all in our pain. In the madness of it all, join us in gazing at the person of Jesus on the cross more than being fixated on the cross absent the Savior. Ours is so much more than the madness than can be college prep guidance - it is life prep! God’s got the next move. Jesus is alive and doing mighty things. 

Let’s weather it all with grace and gratitude. Let our gaze at HIM be so focused as to pierce the madness. Help me to draw my strength from You so I can withstand Satan's deceptive maddening attacks. Give me spiritual eyes to see what is really going on so I will know how to respond. Teach me how to effectively use the spiritual weapons You have given to me.

Ephesians 6:10–11 

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Even prior to working for NACCAP, I recognized the advantages of an affiliation with a professional organization. In 2009 I first learned of NACCAP, and thought it was not only a great opportunity, but instinctively realized the value and importance of this membership. I distinctly remember feeling a sense of relief knowing that there was an organization my school, and particularly my office, could join. I could tap into a network of counselors and college admissions professionals from Christian schools, apply Principles of Good Practice, and, most importantly, enjoy the faith culture. I no longer felt alone. I belonged to an invigorating and thriving community! And that is a good thing.

Network:

NACCAP serves as a “place” where Christian school counselors converge to exchange ideas, resources, and experiences… networking. This K-12 network within the organization becomes a vital and thriving hub in our small, professional world. When we collaborate, it proves the old adage “we’re better together” because we really are always better together! I consider this network to be our very own super power. It’s a good thing.

Principles of Good Practice:

In our academic world, ethical principles are a professional requirement. NACCAP’s Principles of Good Practice provides a critical layer of practices that allows our work to be considered excellent, straightforward, and honest. They uphold educational integrity. In a nutshell, Principles of Good Practice:

• Adds validity to counseling office practices 
• Builds stakeholder confidence 
• Provides a layer of accountability 
• Allows a reasonable response to unreasonable requests

Another unique advantage of NACCAP's principles is that member higher education institutions also adhere to them. The additional benefit is the confidence that our colleagues in higher education admissions also acknowledge and realize the benefits of these principles of good practice.  

By embracing and relying on these principles, we all contribute to the overall elevation of academic standards. And that is a good thing.

Faith Culture:

For counselors in search of a professional community that is distinctly Christian, NACCAP is that organization. The membership criteria for all applicants ensures that we are of the same Christian faith. I believe that it is why we value fellowship (network), as well as excellence, straightforwardness, and honesty (standards of practice). And it’s why we confidently promote our member higher education institutions. This is most definitely a good thing… maybe even the best thing!

Conclusion:

The membership values listed above are real. The actual experience of membership is so much more than just a network, principles of good practice, or a common faith community. It’s encouraging, invigorating, a community of colleagues that are good friends, gives us confidence in what we do, allows the opportunity to serve with and get to know Christian higher ed institutions, and it always gives us the opportunity to look forward to being together… to state just a few experiences. It really does make us better… and that really is a good thing.

Janet L. Pargeter, M.Ed, CGP

K-12 Member Coordinator
janet@naccap.org

Reflections on the Value of a College Education

Recently, one of our juniors asked me, “Do you think the value of a college degree is diminishing? Tuition is rising rapidly, and many college grads seem to have trouble finding jobs.” His question gave me pause.

Each day I invite students into conversation about how important it is to give attention to existential (college as part of a pattern of lifelong learning, etc.), spiritual, and pragmatic dimensions of college planning. All are worthy of consideration when choosing a college. And yet, I wondered, how fully had I discussed with these same students my own beliefs about the “value” of a college education? As I see it, college counseling discussions with students should unfailingly include a foray into what they value -- for one cannot make sound decisions about college on the basis of pragmatic concerns alone.

I’d like to share my answer with those of you who, like me, “sell” the value of a college education each and every day.

Dear Ryan,

Thanks for your good question! The operative word in your question is “value.” What do we value? What should we value? Why does what we value vary from person to person? To what extent does or should your faith impact what you value? And, in turn, what makes a college degree valuable? With these questions in mind, I share with you two primary reasons why I believe a college degree offers value:

1. The pursuit of an education in an institution of higher learning will facilitate your process of “becoming.”

What is this “process of becoming?”

• You will learn about who you are and whose you are -- your identity -- in profound and new ways in college. During the college years, your brain will continue to develop in such a way as to move you quietly (and often unnoticeably) from adolescence to adulthood. And as an (emerging) adult of faith, you will have the opportunity to “walk a mile in another’s shoes” as never before. Sacrifice and “taking up your cross” will take on new meaning as you consider the needs of those you are called to protect through your life’s work.
• You will have a more complete understanding of the consequences of your decisions while grappling with the uncertainty of life’s circumstances directed by our Lord. You will learn that you cannot change circumstances, even by deciding differently, and you will learn to faithfully respond while attempting to make the best decision possible.
• Within a college setting, you will encounter amazing, highly intelligent people who are incredibly different from you, and will be surprised at how much they can teach you.
• You will begin to see and understand intangibles (things like altruism, justice, honor, courage, and evil) like never before, and you will make decisions about your life’s work in response to a newly developed vision, wisdom, and understanding. Your faith will be profoundly impacted by your developing vision of God’s call on your life.

2. During your time in college you will be given ample opportunity to learn the skills/knowledge needed to do a job well.

How does a college teach knowledge acquisition and skills needed to “do” a job well?

• While in college, you will engage in focused study which allows your knowledge level in your area of interest (or major) to increase exponentially.
• If you pursue a degree in a professional area of study (e.g. education, engineering, nursing), you will be taught both theory and skills; the theory you learn will inform the way you think and will directly impact your skills application. You will become someone who does much more than simply follow directions.
• If you pursue a degree in the liberal arts, you will engage in sustained study that provides opportunity for you to think, reflect, analyze, synthesize, problem solve, learn communication skills, read, and read some more. This type of “guided” thinking and learning will spill over into the way you work and interact with others for the rest of your life.
• No matter if you choose the liberal arts or a professional degree, you will learn that to do a job well, you must be willing to commit to lifelong learning. The types of jobs that are available today may not be even in the picture 20 years from now. In other words, you will emerge from college with a fuller, deeper understanding of the importance of remaining teachable and engaged in our ever-changing world. Choosing to be “salt and light” in the world requires that you continue to engage and remain faithfully present in visible ways that include a willingness to learn.

• For example, when I pursued a school counseling degree in the 90's, there was little to nothing in my training regarding the use of technology (e.g., RenWeb, Naviance). Transcripts were typed, copied, and mailed. I didn't know what it meant to “upload” and I certainly would not have believed that with a push of a button I could send your transcript to a college across the nation and they'd have it within seconds.
• I did not learn about developing, maintaining, or sending transcripts while in college, nor did I receive technical training in all that the world of electronics has created for these types of tasks. What I did learn was how vital it was for me to stay relevant and aware of best practices in any number of areas, and this has allowed me to provide care for others and to complete the tasks to which I am called.

A college degree has value (despite the difficulty some grads encounter as they look for a job) because during the degree-seeking years you will have the opportunity to “become” and to learn skills and acquire knowledge. A time of sustained study will teach you the vastness of God’s creation, and you will begin to understand your role within the community of believers who, together, labor for good in this world. A college education is a valuable investment that can provide both tangible and intangible, life-long dividends.

I hope you find my answer helpful, and I look forward to continuing the conversation with you over the next year and a half.

It seems to me the end of the calendar year and the end of the semester and the unbridled sprint from Thanksgiving to Christmas have a remarkable way of cluttering our minds - and hearts - so as to distract us from the present of immeasurable gratitude and the celebration of our Savior’s birth. Add to our worldly workday the new “better” FAFSA rollout, campus unrest, digital PSAT/SAT challenges, the growing phenomenon of direct admission, new discussions that reparations will replace affirmative action as an equivalent rationale, and Regular Decision deadlines competing for our last ounce of energy and empathy for this year’s seniors, and it is easy to understand that we all might be singing in unison, “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!” No doubt, Satan craves our tendency to get so busy with and overwhelmed by so many distractions that we don’t - or cannot- even notice the present. That’s why I think Satan also loves Christmastime!  

As we enter what feels like an end-of-the-year train wreck that so easily blinds us to seeing and experiencing the present, may we all insist of ourselves to pause and breathe in this life-giving time of the year. Anything that replaces God is out of place in any season, and the busyness of this time has the capacity and tenacity to replace God. We don’t intend that to be the case but as the noise grows louder and the “to do” list grows longer, we drift toward replacing HIM with immediacy. But the great thing about our shared faith is that we have a great God for our great need! And HE is available to us - especially in our seasons of great distraction. Quit reading for a moment and go add “time with God” to your too lengthy “to do” list. I promise your list will get shorter!  

In moments of crisis and crunch the popular phrasing became, “What would Jesus do?”  - but the more productive phrasing ought to be, “What is Jesus doing in the present?” A new year may shortly be upon us, but HE is the same God. We may feel we are at the end of our rope, but our awesome God excitedly anticipates it, knowing we will reach out to HIM. God does not expect us to be great, but to depend on HIM greatly. I’ve learned in this unexpected season of my life that in our powerlessness HIS power is demonstrated and glorified. If we rely on our self-sufficiency at year’s end - or any season in life- we would never know or need HIM.  

Let’s each day employ an “I Spy” God habit so we notice and experience HIS presence in the present. Noticing HIM is a worship-filled experience. As this year winds down and 2024 embraces us, let’s lean into instead of being distracted from Jesus. Let’s not edge HIM out but seek HIM out that we might have as much faith in HIM as HE does in us! If we are worth dying for then HE is worth living for. 

Fend off the noise so you can serve your students, one another, and our Lord well so that HE will be shown and known through you in that small, narrow space between this world and heaven. Walk in kindness, for all is well. 

Joy to your world. 

Ron Moss