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Kids are made to absorb their college experience, good or bad.

Give that a little thought, and then ponder this-

What college experience do you want your child to be absorbed by?

This is a life-defining question, yet, very few parents consider it.

Rather, most parents proceed ahead under the false belief that the rankings and high cost of college with all of its glory and prestige assure parents that it's right for their child. 

The reality is that college is a transformational bridge, taking a kid/ teenager into becoming a young adult. The successful journey of college will ultimately be determined by how the child absorbs the total experience. 

When a child chooses a college or a parent directs their child's choice, they choose an experience the child is made to absorb. It's not just rankings and prestige that count, which I don't think counts for a dime.

Rather, the college experience includes-

• academics and learning opportunity
• various influences and influencers
  
• cultural and social settings of the college
  
• its inspirational value, or possibly the weight of overwhelming expectations
• good friends along with bad relationships
  
• a student's successes and disappointments.

When it's all done, rankings and prestige will not have mattered in the slightest. 

What will live on forever is the experience. Good or bad, students are made to absorb their experience. 

With all that's riding on the line, as college choices are being made, can we choose the best college experience over choosing college prestige?

If you'd like to discuss what college experience is right for your child or a friend's child, let's talk!

You can't distinguish yourself from others by doing what they do.

You can't distinguish yourself from others by doing what they do.

Distinguish-   to notice or recognize a difference between people or things. 

It can work both ways- distinguish oneself well or be indistinguishable.

Indistinguishable- not able to be identified as different or distinct.

The world rewards people who distinguish themselves favorably, which is probably just 1 in 10 kids and adults alike.

High school and college students who distinguish themselves favorably will win college acceptances and desired job offers. You will hear their celebrations.

The others who default to being indistinguishable will be left wondering what happened. You will hear their excuses.

To be certain of being distinguishable, adopt this mindset:

• Get up early to get your day going
• Live each day with meaningful intention
• Have a defined purpose for your interests
• Become a better writer
• Become better able to express yourself
• Validate others genuinely
• Show up every time well-prepared
• Follow up with precision timing
• Become globally minded and aware of the world in which you are living   

This is how you will become better recognized as worthy of additional consideration and improved outcomes. 

Do you want improved outcomes? Be distinguishable. Let's talk!

Many college policies are in place to enhance their ranking, not enhance the student experience nor outcome.

"Hans, we've done our homework. This college is ranked higher than..."

Homework? That's not homework.

I hear this way too often as the reason for choosing a college, and it's a wrong reason. Why?

Because College Rankings are a farce! 

Here's clear evidence for my point. Look at the Top 7 weighted factors that go into the U.S. News & World Report Rankings- 

1. 20%- peer review from other colleges; really, peer review? #1 factor? 20% weight? No way!
2. 17.6%- 6-year graduation rate;  6 years? Who does this serve? It's not the families!
3. 10%- money spent per student; who does this matter to? Not me!
4. 8%- average class size, smaller is valued more than larger; isn't this just a personal preference?
5. 8%- 6-year grad. rate of Pell Grant recipients; where does this come into play for you? 
6. 7%- faculty compensation... what does this matter to students and parents? 
7. 5%- SAT/ ACT scores of incoming freshmen; SAT/ACT scores are still very important.

These 7 items make up 75% of a college ranking; it's preposterous!

Here are my top 7 factors. Wouldn't these much better represent a college's quality and value? 

• The 4-year graduation rate
• The college job-placement rate
• The average salary of first-year jobs 
• Internship opportunities
• Research opportunities
• Study-abroad opportunities
• Breadth and depth of study programs

Wouldn't these factors serve you far better? Shouldn't this list be the focus of college rankings?

Here's the farce. You won't find any of these 7 factors in the calculation of college rankings.

Yet, people continue to chase and pay premiums for a college's ranking. It's why colleges make it a focus of their attention. It's reflected in their policies and student outcomes.

It's further reflected in parents' frustration as time goes by and expected outcomes are not delivered.

Why are the rankings done this way? Because the powerhouse colleges can manipulate those numbers to their advantage. Whereas, they can't manipulate my top 7!

Have I proven my point?

Do college rankings influence your thinking? If so, let's talk!

Most applicants have credentials, few have substance.

"Hans, I don't understand why my son was deferred while his best friend with a lower GPA was accepted."

I hear this all too often this time of year. The presumption that GPA stands alone as the primary qualifier for admissions is a pure fallacy.

SAT/ ACT tests- applying "test-optional" is a major compromiser of a student's credentials. A 3.65 GPA coupled with a 1400 SAT, or 31 ACT, is a far superior applicant than is a 3.80 GPA applying test-optional.

Rigor- a 3.65 unweighted GPA with 5 AP classes that give it a 4.05 weighted GPA (rigor value-.40) is a superior applicant over a 3.80 unweighted GPA with zero rigor value.

GPA, test-scores, and rigor values are three quick upfront variables that can be assessed within one minute of opening an application. These variables represent the initial academic credentials for which admission counselors will use to make a quick decision in disfavor of an applicant...and why not? You would do the same if you were them. 

A favorable decision requires more than that.

State Universities will primarily make decisions based on an applicant's academic credentials along with their choice of major and state of residence. They need to fill majors and courses, along with adhering to "state-resident" policy. Their decision can be made in under two minutes allowing them to move quickly to the next application. 

Private schools will look much deeper into an application before a favorable decision can be made. However, they too can make a quick decision in disfavor of an applicant if the initial credentials do not meet the college standards. 

Upon the applicant passing through the initial evaluation, the process will move into the Activities, Common App Essay, and Supplemental Essay sections of the application for consideration.

They will look for and evaluate a student's substance from which they will make an admissions decision.

Herein lies the challenges and frustrations of colleges. It's not credentials that applicants lack, rather, it's their substance! 

While student's credentials are on them to build, their perceived "substance" is on me. Let's see how.

Substance reflects upon a student's

• deep internal passions, meaningful interests, and purposeful activities
• experiences, community involvement, and global-mindedness
• mindset to learn from the perspective of others
• ability to write and verbalize their interests
• contribute towards a community-culture
• willingness to live outside their comfort zone.

This forms the foundation for a student to have and demonstrate real substance. It's what colleges look for in their applicants. It's a precursor for graduates to demonstrate value to possible employers!

All told, substance is a predictor of a student's realistic likelihood to succeed in achieving their true ambitions and internal desires; driven by an authentic and meaningful purpose; having the experiences, personal skills, and mindful approach to support it. 

Substance is a really big deal. It's also the most common missing component in college applicants.