Posts by Dr. Steven Mercer
Building Meaningful Momentum So Your Extracurriculars Shine
In my last post, I borrowed a little wisdom from Yoda and made the case that the biggest mistake students make with their extracurricular profile is simply waiting — “frozen” in inaction. Waiting for direction, waiting for the perfect opportunity, or waiting for someone like me to hand them a… Read more Read More
Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try.
Yoda never applied to college. But if he had, I suspect his extracurricular profile would have been exceptional.
The old Jedi master’s most famous piece of wisdom—“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”—turns out to be surprisingly good college admission advice. A common pattern I see in my work… Read more Read More
Authentic Excellence: Why Finding Your True Interests Trumps “College Resume Building”
In my years as a college admission counselor, I’ve witnessed countless high school students approach my office with the same worried expression. They present meticulously crafted lists of extracurricular activities—often an impressive but exhausting array of clubs, volunteer positions, and leadership roles. And then comes the inevitable question: “Is this… Read more Read More
“I’ve Never Heard of It, So It Can’t Be Good” – Why Overlooking ‘Unknown’ Colleges Could Be a Mistake
After more than 20 years as a college admission counselor, I’ve heard countless variations of the same disconcerting refrain from students and families. “My dad won’t let me apply to that college because he’s never heard of it,” or “I haven’t heard of those schools you suggested, so they couldn’t… Read more Read More
The Hidden Purpose: What Is the Purpose of College Counseling? A Partnership for Authentic Growth
Many families approach college counseling with the misconception that an advisor’s role is to simply tell the student what to do to gain admission to a “better” college than they could if they were to apply on their own: Which extracurriculars will give them an edge? Which colleges should they… Read more Read More
The Hidden Purpose: What is the Purpose of Going to High School? More Than College Preparation
Many families approach me with a singular focus when their children enter high school: “What does my child need to do to get into a prestigious college?” This mindset views high school exclusively as a stepping stone—a means to an end rather than a meaningful chapter in their child’s development.… Read more Read More
The Hidden Purpose: What is the Purpose of Going to College? Beyond Job Training and Rankings
When families sit down in my office to discuss college planning, I often notice subtle but important differences in how they view the purpose of higher education. Many arrive with firmly held beliefs that college is primarily job training, that it’s an investment with a measurable ROI, or that attending… Read more Read More
Prestige Is a Scam
No matter the goals of the students I am working with, one of the most common qualities they focus on when choosing colleges is a “good” school. They frequently say something like, “I’m pretty open-minded about where I go to college. I know that one college isn’t necessarily better than… Read more Read More
College Admission for Mere Mortals
I recently met with a potential student client and their family. The student was serious about their academics and had many compelling ideas about their future. They enjoyed school but were honest about their strengths and weaknesses in different classes.
The student had a list of exciting and enjoyable extracurricular… Read more Read More
