I just read an interesting piece in Slate.com, written by an admissions officer, entitled “Unrigging the Admissions System.” It contains some useful guidelines about things to avoid and what to include in the college essay. The article also confirms what many of us already know: that college admissions is an unfair process, and the advantage goes to the already privileged. These privileged kids have every advantage money can buy: access and resources to pay for high-priced admissions counselors, and a high rate of legacy status at the kinds of schools to which the author refers. You know those schools–we all do.
Lacy Crawford writes about the parental-driven pressure to attend these schools in her newly-released book “Early Decision.” Here is what irks me about Crawford’s book and the Slate article: Most of us who do our research know that there are any number of great schools out there. Just because a college is an “ivy” or well-known like Duke doesn’t mean it is the best fit, or even a good fit, for your student.
When it is time to start looking for colleges for your student, spend some time looking beyond the same 20 or so schools everyone has heard of. There are many gems out there. The first step is to stop tripping over our own egos and consider your student’s priorities. As a college counselor, I am pretty up front that my job is not to get your child into Yale or Harvard. Rather, it is to get to know your child and help him/her come up with a realistic list of school choices that are good fits. The best advice I have for parents is to leave their egos at the door, and spend their time hanging out with their students–reconnecting and getting to know one another. You do not have that much time left!!!
