College Smart Start

When it comes to highly selective schools having perfect stats and scores alone doesn't make a student truly exceptional– to be competitive for admission for those highly selective schools, students need to find a way to be truly exceptional and unique.

Now that decisions are starting to roll in, the hard part is over– or is it? Choosing between multiple school options is a good problem to have, but it's STILL a problem. Learn some ways to help determine and decide which school is the one for you.

The application process isn't necessarily hard, but it can be annoying. There are a LOT of small and very important moving parts to this process. Once a student has completed their application, they are NOT quite done– each school will have some additional documentation that they need in order to consider an application complete.

Less hard work than you think and a LOT more detail work than you'll expect

Pull as much forward as you can

College application season is a STRESSFUL time for everyone involved, but most especially for students. While, as parents, we want what's best for our kids– sometimes the way we go about it is all wrong and can even backfire. Learn some ways that you can support your student(s) without overwhelming them from someone who has been there/done that, both as a college advisor as well as as the parent of two– soon to be three– college students.

Every year, rankings change– but the schools, typically, don't change– or at least not in meaningful ways. The only ranking that truly matters is what is the best school for YOU– not what US News, Forbes, or the Wall Street Journal might think is best.

You're overwhelmed because the college admissions process is overwhelming, not because you're incapable. Be sure to reach out to your support system: your school counselor, your college advisor, the schools themselves. Make a list and start getting things accomplished, you've got this!

Going to a top tier school doesn't guarantee success. Not going to a top tier school doesn't guarantee failure. Students will be successful because of who they are, not because of where they go.

So much is tied up in this process. There are SO MANY ways to be successful, Ivy Leagues and super selectives absolutely offer a lot, they guarantee nothing.

Many students believe that having near-perfect stats is all they need to get them into any school of their choice. While near-perfect stats are required for top institutions, they are not always sufficient for highly selective schools. In today's episode, we talk about how admissions is not always a math equation and how other factors determine whether you get an acceptance or rejection.

Top 20-50 schools, some have single digit admissions rates.

Reverses about by the time you reach #100 or so to where 80-90+% of students get in

High stats and scores are required but not sufficient for top, selective schools– also looking for unique, interesting, and impactful applicants that meet their institutional priorities (talent (athletes, music, etc), majors, geography, full pay/meet need.

40K+ valedictorians and not even 40K spots TOTAL at HYPS GPAs can be recalculated and calibrated depending on your school and your coursework– standardized test scores might be required or strongly preferred– or not considered at all (at test blind schools). Ensure that you're not just chasing prestige and ignoring the other criteria that are important: academics (specifically in your major), finances (though sometimes highly selective schools can end up being a better financial fit/opportunity than even state schools), fit, location, and everything else.

For specific majors/professions being able to secure direct entry into a program is game changing, especially for highly selective programs. Not all of these programs are the same and require research. In today's episode, we are going to discuss these programs and which ones may be worth applying to.

Law, Med, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing

For many majors/professions, securing DIRECT ENTRY is KEY. Especially for programs that are highly selective such as PT, OT, Nursing, and a few others.

How guaranteed is that spot? Is it benchmark based? Does it require an interview? How does merit/cost work? Is it different for the undergraduate portion vs graduate portion? Are you able to apply to other schools? AVOID DEBT– for many of these professions, there's no boost in salary for 'better ranked' schools. For some programs, such as Law or Business/MBA, where you go MIGHT matter A LOT– the average starting salary for some law/business schools is a fraction of what it is for the T14 or M6 schools. It might be worth the "investment" to go to a higher ranked school– not that it means that you'll get a better education necessarily, but that there might be a ROI.

Different criteria

Honors colleges can provide a LOT of really nice perks: scholarship, additional academic advising and supports, including smaller classes and priority registration. In today's episode, we discuss why it might make sense to consider applying to honors colleges, especially those within larger universities.

• Honors colleges does not mean harder

• Honors colleges have a lot of variance

• They can be highly selective, they might have multiple entry points, typically both when you initially apply as a senior in high school and potentially once youre on campus no later then the end of your freshman year

• Some honors colleges have tremendous perks: better housing, earlier class selection, better advising

• Some also require additional work such as: an honors thesis

• Some even charge additionally for the perks that they offer

• Like many things you need to look at each school individually to determine whether or not the honors college is the right place for you

• It can make a big school smaller

• Provide access to additional scholarships and perks

• Certainly worth considering, not always worth pursuing.