I am in the heart of “application season” with my seniors. 

We have worked hard over the past few months to pick the colleges they will be applying to based on my four criteria for good fit colleges (academic, social, financial, and athletic/passions), and now it’s time to fill out the applications.  Right about now, I often have my families asking me about additional colleges that perhaps should be added to the list, possibly fearing that they may have missed that “one” college that could be “it” for their student.  This is a natural question and one that I welcome (to an extent) because after all, it’s their child’s future education - as well as their bank account - that is at the heart of the matter. These last minute questions often range from “What about x college, my neighbor tells me their kid got a lot of money to attend?” to “Will x college offer better chances for my student to get a job once they graduate?”

My dilemma here is often about dispelling myths or bringing a family back down to reality as we discern whether we really do indeed have the right mix of colleges on their student’s list. Here are some things to be cautious about as one considers all choices.  Much of this information is borrowed from my favorite college admissions blogger Peter VanbusKirk of BestCollegeFit.com. Apparently Peter has had many of the same challenges that I have had!

1) Be wary about assertions regarding the “real” cost of attendance.

Colleges are prone to such statements and the media likes to frame “best value” in related terms. While it is true that just about every student at a college might be paying a different amount due to either merit-based or need-based financial aid discounting, it is also true that colleges want to enroll as many students as possible whose families can afford the full amount.

Statements made in the abstract about students only paying X% of the sticker price are often misleading. Yes, many students pay the discounted amount—or less. If, however, you want to be one of those students at a given college, you need to be able to prove your value as a candidate (what does the college gain by admitting you?) in order to receive that type of discount.  It is an important part of our process in working together, then, to discern where your student fit’s on a college’s competitive playing field and to have a realistic sense as to how their all of their credentials will be regarded.

2) Allow a healthy dose of cynicism in the face of those who seem to have all the answers regarding the admission process at your favorite college.

Students (and their parents) who have been admitted to high-profile schools tend to become “experts” (and I’ll bet you’ve met a few!) about the selection processes that they successfully navigated and are all too happy to proffer advice. A similar phenomenon can be found in many high schools, workplaces and backyards as well where the “word on the street” about college admission takes on a life of its own. At times, the “noise” can be deafening, yet not many facts come from such conversations!

Perhaps the best advice I can give you in this regard is to stop listening to your friends!  I spend a lot of my time talking my families down from misinformation gained from “water cooler chitchat”. Even predicative algorithms and apps are of limited value because they are unable to capture the potential synergy between a student, their interests, talents and perspectives and a highly nuanced admission selection process. And if I can be frank here, many people, shall we say “gild the lily” a bit when talking about how well their kid did in the college admissions process. 

3) Don’t take everything you hear from colleges at face value. 

Institutions spend millions of dollars to create good impressions—to promote their brands. When you think about it, like any business, they’re trying to justify their sticker prices through various kinds of marketing.

As a result, you will be treated to a “show” at every turn along the way from tours and information sessions to websites and literature. Stories abound about small classes, close interactions with professors, and great internships as it seems like colleges are intent on being all things to all people. Be discerning, though, as you take it in. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

4) Data shows it’s NOT better to squeeze into the best possible college a student can get into. 

First of all, how does one define “the best possible college”?  My answer to that is that the US News & World Report (or other similar) rankings are not the most credible source for defining the best possible college for your child.  What is a great college for one student, may not be the best college for another.  The best possible college for your child is one that will provide the kind of education your child wants, with the appropriate level of rigor where they will have the best chance to graduate in the top 25% of their class, with the kind of community that feels like “their peeps”, and for the right price.  Malcolm Gladwell did a fascinating study on the subject of what he calls Elite Institutional Cognitive Disorder and while I have recommended this previously, this feels like an appropriate time to list again - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UEwbRWFZVc
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In the final analysis, you need to remember that the college process is all about finding the best college opportunity for your student. There are no reliable shortcuts. Don’t expect answers or outcomes to be handed to you. Keep asking questions, challenging assumptions and pressing for information that will enable you to make smart – and realistic - decisions about your student’s future.