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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?
The Hidden Purpose: What is the Purpose of Going to High School? More Than College Preparation
In the previous post, we examined how college offers far more than job training or prestige. This second installment of “The Hidden Purpose” series will focus on uncovering how high school similarly contains hidden values that go unnoticed when viewed merely as a college admissions strategy.
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.
Prestige Is a Scam
It’s not a mystery that most students equate the “best college I can get into” with one that is prestigious or well-known by others. And I empathize with those who want to feel like their hard work in high school is validated by admission to a college that feels like a just reward.
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.
Learning from Economists – Experience Good
In economics, the term “experience good” describes a product or service that is difficult to evaluate until after it has been consumed. Thus, the word “experience.”
3 Shades of Gray of Early Decision
For the record, I’m not a big fan of early decision plans. Applying for early decision requires young people to make a big decision in junior year (or early senior year) of high school to choose the one perfect university they will commit to.
The Story Behind the Story
No matter what you read online or hear from others, there are no simple formulas to craft a great essay. However, some fundamental components of the personal statement can give you confidence that you are on the right track.
Leave Your Passion Project at the Door
A wave of students is convinced that they’ve found a powerful secret to give them an advantage in the race to their highly selective dream school. I’m not sure where this trend comes from, but I suspect some private counselors or websites of questionable value are spreading the word to get clients or clicks.
4 Types of Personal Statements
Writing the personal statement for a college application can feel like a daunting task. How do you start? What is the right format? How do you find the one topic that will get you admitted to your dream school?