STUDENT-CENTERED SOLUTIONS FOR COLLEGE PLANNING

I am often approached by parents expressing concerns about students who have less than stellar academic records and/or who can’t seem to find the motivation to start the college planning process. These are very natural concerns. As parents we want the best for our children and such wishes are easily projected into expectations for the college experience. When the expectations are not immediately or visibly shared by our children, however, panic can set in.

The following is a conversation that took place following a presentation of “The Admission Game” I made to students and parents not long ago. It speaks to parents’ anxieties and may provide useful perspective for families with students who are reticent about the process and/or are concerned about academic profiles that might compromise their competitiveness in the admission process.

Parent:  It seems like most of the college admission talks I attend skew the discussion toward the more selective schools. How can I relate it to students that are not in the upper 1/3 of their class? Case in point, my son. You mentioned that the ‘light went on’ for your son in his junior year of high school. For my Junior, that has not happened yet.

PVB:  The light goes on for each young person at a different time in life and, often, in response to very different stimuli. The problem is that it rarely happens according to the timetables we have in mind for our kids! It is important, then, that he be guided in calibrating his planning for the future in a way that is respectful of his learning path. If college is in the picture, he should look at places that will see the potential within him and demonstrate a willingness to help him develop it.

Parent:  Okay, so what can we do next? What is the process for a kid who will graduate in the lower half of his class with fair SAT scores, and has some decent community service involvement? My son has many excellent qualities—most people think he is a ‘great kid!’ He plays varsity soccer and writes for the newspaper but just doesn’t give his schoolwork the time he needs to succeed.

PVB:  Have you asked him what he wants to do? I often find that asking a young person point blank: “Why do you want to go to college?” helps provide a beginning point for the conversation. One of the most humbling experiences of my professional life took place when my daughter asked me (very sheepishly) what I thought about the possibility that she might not go to college right away! Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had been working with my agenda for her rather than checking to see what she might have in mind!

I have no doubt that your son is a great kid AND that he will find a direction that enables him to do a lot of wonderful things in life. He may just need a little space (and support) to figure that out on his own. If you go that route (of providing space), be prepared for the possibility that college may not be his first/best option right out of high school. And that’s okay. Admission officers agree that a “gap year” (or two) can be an incredibly healthy and productive choice for an 18-year old. Besides, you wouldn’t believe the number of kids who are wasting their parents’ money in college these days! Oh, they’re having a good time, but they don’t really appreciate the opportunity (to become educated) that is at their fingertips. Rather, they’re in college because they figure that’s what they’re supposed to do after high school!

If your son does articulate a desire to pursue college right out of high school, consider having him look at local community colleges or universities where he can test the water (and build his confidence) one step at a time. I’d also urge him to talk with someone (teacher, counselor in school or privately) who can objectively lead him through the reflective aspects of self-awareness before helping him to think about possible college destinations. If you focus on a student-centered orientation to college, you’ll be amazed at how well this can turn out!

Parent:  That’s helpful. It appears, though, like every college we look at online only admits kids above a 3.0 GPA or a very small percentage below that.

PVB:  Don’t be misled. Many colleges are reporting mid—points—not cut-offs—for testing and GPAs. By the way, I recommend online resources (check out www.Petersons.com) that will give your son an opportunity to enter info about himself (academic and personal) that is in turn used to identify prospective colleges for him. Again, a student-centered orientation…

Parent:  How is the process different if you are applying to transfer after a successful freshman year at a less selective school or even a community college?

PVB:  First, you must realize that the more selective schools only offer transfer admission on a space availability basis. In some years, that may mean there is little/no transfer activity. That said, the process is basically the same except the focus academically now rests on the college experience. The high school record, including extracurricular activities, has less impact. I would also observe that the “playing field” is not level with regard to money. Kids who don’t need assistance have a much better chance of getting in as transfer applicants. Finally, if he wants to transfer, her definitely needs to make the case for himself IN PERSON! An on-campus interview is a must!

Parent:  This is encouraging. Many people I know who are very successful admit to being C+ students in high school and you seem to be saying there are colleges that can see a kid’s potential and not get hung up on stats.

PVB:  You got it!  Your son will be fine. He just needs to find his way. Your support and patience will mean a lot as he explores his options.

College applicants seeking to make an impression in the admission process have a new means of expression at their disposal. According to recent news reports, a growing number of colleges and universities are inviting applicants to include YouTube submissions with their credentials. This follows the rapid growth of social media as a popular meeting place for prospective students and representatives at the colleges that interest them.

The move to include social media as an active component in the admission process has drawn mixed reviews among college access professionals. Many see the logic in reaching out to young people in the media where they spend much of their time. They also acknowledge the potential value to some students of having alternate means of expressing themselves as candidates. Students have been submitting non-performance related CDs, DVDs and videos with their applications for years. Now, with YouTube, any student can record and submit a personal statement at no cost.

On the other side of the argument, counselors urge caution for reasons both practical and philosophical. They question the use of YouTube submissions by those in the decision-making process and fear that encouraging such submissions simply opens the door to senseless voyeurism. They warn that visual presentations may reveal physical characteristics that play to the inherent biases of viewers and detract from the objective assessment of the student’s credentials. Moreover, they see privacy threats and the potential for professional coaching and editing that could tilt the playing field in favor of those with means.

Here are a few thoughts for those of you who are tempted to engage in social media as you apply to college.

1. Submit directly to the school, not to/through an open forum. When you apply for admission, you are engaging in a confidential process. No one outside of the admission committee needs to or should see the information you submit. Just as your grades, essays and letters of recommendation are confidential, your video submission should remain private as well. If you can’t figure out how to submit confidentially through YouTube, then don’t use that medium.
2. Don’t let your video/YouTube submission detract from who you are. Cameras can have a funny effect on people—they tend not to be themselves. When you hit the “record” button, be yourself. Give the viewer a sense of who you are. Tell your story. You will be most successful when the details of your physical presentation are secondary to the quality of the content.
3. Be sincere. By that, I mean you should consider the person who will be viewing your submission. If you throw something together that is frivolous or doesn’t make sense to someone who is not in the room with you, the viewer will lose interest immediately. Think about the message you want to convey. Just remember—when you hit the “send” button you can’t take it back.
4. Don’t allow yourself to be held hostage. I have yet to see that YouTube or video submissions are mandatory anywhere. You don’t have to submit them. If you are not comfortable in front of a camera, then this is not the medium for you. If the medium is a natural for you and you feel creative impulses that can be articulated well this way, then go for it.� Otherwise, don’t submit yourself to the angst and worry (and potential cost) associated with putting something together in a manner that is uncomfortable for you. It’s certainly not worth the expense that comes with coaching and production time. Focus instead on the elements of the application with which you are most comfortable.

On a related note, social networking sites have become hot locations for students (and many parents) who want to stay on top of the latest in the college application process. Such sites are the source of the latest insights (gossip) about who is getting in where and they frequently are sources of erroneous information about how the selection process works at different schools. If you frequent such sites, just remember that the sources of information are typically other applicants and/or their parents! Call me a cynic, but this is where urban legends originate around the college-going process.

Emerging technologies are rapidly changing every aspect of our lives including the college-going process. While much of the change is healthy and positive, you need to remain focused on who you are, what you want to accomplish educationally and how you can best convey these messages to the colleges of your choice.