As an educational consultant, it’s my job to—well—educate. And, truth be told, fielding questions is undoubtedly the part of my job that I enjoy the most (aside from essay development, which also holds a very special place in my heart). During the fall in particular, I get tons of questions, so today I’m going over the five that I’m most commonly asked.
How can a student stand out among so many competitive applicants?
Simply put, it's a student’s activities that truly help them to stand out in a competitive admission process. And going one step further, it's the quality of those activities that matter much more than the quantity. Students should engage in meaningful, quality, fulfilling activities that allow them to deeply explore the things that excite them. I encourage my students to get creative, to make opportunities for themselves, to step outside of their comfort zones. There are so many things teens can do with their time and talent—the possibilities are endless if they’re just willing to think outside the box. If they see something lacking in their community, fill the need. If they identify a problem, initiate a project to fix it. If they have a passion, share it with others. Students stand out when they dare to be bold and when they challenge themselves to go out on a limb to make something happen. They can create change when they lead from a place of authentic interest and passion.
How much do sports matter to colleges?
Students and their parents often want to know the secret formula to college admission, but the truth is that there isn’t one. There isn’t one specific profile that colleges are looking for, no magic bullet. And specifically when it comes to sports, I find that there is a misconception that colleges “want to see” athletic involvement on a student’s list of activities.
Here’s the truth: High school sports take up a lot of time! I encourage teens to participate if athletics bring them joy and positively impact their health. If a teen doesn’t enjoy sports, though, by all means, they should use the extra time to dive deeply into activities that allow them to explore their interests.
What does it take to get into a good school?
Did you know that there are over 4,000 colleges and universities out there? I teach students to think about fit—that is, to think about “good for you” as opposed to “good” (to impress everyone else). That involves determining the best fit schools with qualities that allow a student to thrive on a campus. Students can start to determine their best fit schools by taking inventory of their own learning needs, education and career goals, and social preferences. Then comes diligent research and (if possible) campus visits, which are the absolute best way to determine whether or not a college is going to be a good fit.
So what does it take to get in? Well, that’s a complex answer that involves a variety of factors, but at its core, getting in involves a match between the student and the institution. It means that what the student is looking for and what the college offers are a fit.
What’s the best way to figure out a student’s major?
Some students start their work with me knowing exactly what they want to major in (and they’ve known since they were 8). More often, though, students have a much more difficult time determining what it is that they want to study—and that's okay!
In the FutureWise Collective, we go over structured steps and a personal inventory to determine one’s major, and I offer a bunch of resources and tools to explore what’s out there, but one resource that I love is the Book of Majors, put out by College Board. It’s a treasure trove of tools and resources for students to learn about what’s available to them, what they’ll learn with certain majors, the classes they’re likely to take, at which colleges each major is offered, and the directions they can go once they graduate.
How can I support my teen during the college admission process?
It was once pointed out to me that LISTEN and SILENT have the same letters, just in a different order. This truth has always stayed with me.
So that’s where I’d start. As parents, we have so many hopes and dreams for our kids, but in this process in particular, I think the best place to start is to listen. And listening means closing our mouths, refraining from too much commentary, and truly hearing what it is our kids want for themselves. How do they excel? Where do they think they’ll thrive? What do they need to succeed?
It can also be helpful to have some very intentional conversations early on in the process. Here are a few discussion points to get you started:
What is the financial picture that your family is facing? What are the expectations as they relate to paying for college?
How does your teen envision their role vs. your role? For example, do they want your input on essays or would they prefer to get advice from another trusted adult? Who will plan campus tours?
What do they imagine a “good fit school” looks like? What are the qualities that they are looking for?
College admission is opaque. It can amount to nothing short of a mystery. My hope is that these FAQs offer some answers as you navigate the nuances of college admission. Want more questions answered? Join us in The FutureWise Collective!
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