Three Steps to a Happier College Admission Process

With myriad options, fluctuating requirements, and feelings of pressure to stand out in a competitive landscape, students and their families often find themselves overwhelmed. Steinberg was joined by Gunnar Olson, KUA’s veteran director of college advising, who discussed the targeted and tailored supports that he and colleagues provide to families throughout the application process.

 

Here are three key takeaways that families should keep in mind to smooth the road to college.   

 

1. Remember to Breathe: Despite the headlines that suggest college – and skyrocketing tuition – are out of reach, Steinberg assured parents that the college admission process is navigable. Utilizing resources such as the school’s college advising professionals will help smooth the process. “Breathing is really critical for this process,” he said. 

 

2. Understand Expectations: Steinberg recommends starting the process by writing down on a simple index card what success would look like from the parent perspective and from the student perspective. Questions for students to ask themselves at the outset include: Who am I? What makes me tick? What are my priorities? What’s important to me? Separately, parents can provide responses from their vantage point. Then, students and parents can quite literally compare notes -- acknowledging where expectations are similar and where they differ.

 

3. Keep an Open Mind: With more than 2,000 four-year colleges in the U.S. alone, families often overlook good schools by focusing only on those schools with which they are familiar with or that have “name-brand” recognition. “Really keep an open mind about some of those schools that are on that list of 2,000 that may not be on your radar but are places that the college advising office is thinking about.” Steinberg said. “Look at a college today with an open mind. Throw away all past impressions. How many colleges do you really know? A balanced list with a range of selectivity can make for a happy experience in your home.” 

 

For more on navigating the college journey, Steinberg’s book The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education offers more on researching and assembling a college list; understanding testing, essays, recommendations, and other components of the college application, and an introduction to the holistic admissions review process.  Steinberg, whose brother, Adam, is deputy director of advancement at KUA, co-authored the book with Eric J. Furda, the former dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania.