From the Los Angeles Times, the influence of California on the future of standardized tests.  “California’s universities are playing national leadership roles in weakening the SAT/ACT in college admissions,” said Jay Rosner, executive director of the Princeton Review Foundation, a nonprofit advocate for fair testing.
New Blow to SAT Empire Shows California's Role
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The University of California has seen a significant increase in applications, while the Californian State University systems has had a decrease.  Highly selective colleges, like the Ivy League, have seen huge increases in application, yet many other college are reporting decreases like the CSU's.  This is definitely a unique application season and many educators feel lower income students may be left behind. 
Inside Higher Ed:  Admissions Cycle Favors Institution with Prestige and Money

We often hear a lot about student debt for a college education, but not much about parents who take out large loans to help pay for college.
From the New York Times, A Parent Trap