• Anthony doesn’t participate in sports—should he join the tennis team?
• I heard from my friend that volunteering abroad is important to colleges. Is this true? • I want Nancy to spend her summer going to SAT classes all day long, because without a good score she won’t get into a good school.
The most frequent questions I get from worried parents is what their student “needs to do” to get into a good college—as if there were a golden ticket that assures admission into an elite institution.
While some counseling companies would have you believe that there are insiders “tricks” for getting admissions committees to sit up and take notice, the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all formula that will work for every student and every school.
Colleges don’t want algorithms. They want individuals—young people who have challenged themselves academically, pursued their strengths and genuine interests—both inside and outside the classroom—engaged with their community, and maybe even taken some risks. Whatever else these students know, they first and foremost know themselves.
In my seven years of college counseling, I have taken great joy in getting to know each of my students and helping them know themselves better, too. Together we explore their core values, assess their genuine strengths, and identify what they are truly interested in pursuing. Whether their passion is music or medicine, I can help students find a fulfilling volunteer position or a summer program that may spark life-long intellectual passions.
Of course, academics and test scores matter, too. I have helped students of all levels put forth their greatest effort and do the best work they are capable of. For some students, this has meant concentrating on time management and study skills; for others, it’s managing the stress of a schedule crowded with APs and extracurriculars. I work closely with students to plan their course schedules and standardized tests. I monitor their academic progress, encouraging them to participate fully in their classes and cultivate great relationships with their teachers so they get the most from their high school years.