This fall I worked with a wonderful young man. He is so friendly and kind-hearted. A good student and a good kid. He earned good grades in high school, scored
pretty well on the SAT and ACT, and had a nice resume. He enrolled in Selective College Acceptance
Counseling in the fall of his senior year.
When students enroll with us at that point, all we can do for them is
help them put together the most compelling application possible given their
backgrounds, experiences, academic records and test scores. We cannot change these facts or add anything to
the resume. We cannot help students
recognize, realize or actualize their potential. We cannot help them identify
their passion and purpose. We cannot create a strategic plan to help students
reach their goals. We cannot provide academic advisement. All we can do is wrap
the box which has already been filled. We
cannot help to shape or fill the box unless students enroll with us much earlier.
When we met this student he and his parents had already
identified eight target colleges and engaged us solely to help with the
application process. As we began working
with him, we discovered that he did not have a clear plan or goal for the future.
One of the college supplements we worked on asked “What sets your heart on
fire?” His answer: “I have NO idea!” He isn’t sure what he wants to study in
college and really doesn’t really care where he goes. He just wanted to apply to some colleges and
see where he was accepted and then decide.
But, he also wanted plenty of time to make his decision so he applied
early action to each college. The
result? Four deferments to regular decision
and four acceptances. All the deferment notification came in before the first acceptance
letter, so the student and his parents called me in a panic. They could not understand why this was
happening.
Now even though our obligation to this student was over
(based on the program he purchased), I saw an opportunity to teach him
something that could change his life. It
turns out that he did admire two of the colleges that had deferred him. But he was thinking that they didn’t want him
because they had not admitted him early.
He was ready to withdraw his application from those schools and just choose
from the colleges that had accepted him.
I could hear the self-doubt and discouragement in his voice
as we chatted on the phone. I recalled that on one of his college applications
he had used the word “content” in every single essay. (I made him chose another
word) He wrote a college supplement about his preference to cooperate with and
help his classmates and peers rather than compete against them. I told you he is a good kid. He has a positive outlook and will make the
best out of his college years no matter where he ends up. Of this I am sure.
However, I saw the situation as opportunity for this young
man to learn the cosmic value of desire.
I firmly believe that we cannot get what we want out of life until we
know what we want. In fact, all of my
students who had applied early decision to their dream colleges had been
accepted. The difference? They had clear
goals, they were focused, and they did whatever it took to get in. For the first time in this kid’s life it
looked like he might have to make a deliberate choice and make an extra effort
to obtain a desired outcome. I asked to
meet with him and asked him one question: “Do you want to be a good man, or a great
man? Good men wait and see what happens
and make the best of things. They do not complain. Great men decide what they want and do not
stop until they get it. Good men are
patient; great men are persistent. It’s not the competitive mindset that drives
truly great men; it is their determination to create the best life possible for
themselves and their families. It is the desire to reach their full potential
that separates great men and women from good men and women.
We worked together to write follow up letters to the two
schools he most admired in which he reaffirmed his sincere desire to attend. We sent in his first quarter grades, an
updated resume and an additional recommendation. We will not know the result until March, but
I am willing to bet that he will ultimately gain acceptance to both these
schools because he finally demonstrated true passion and a willingness to go
the extra mile in terms of attaining his goal.
No matter what happens, this student, his parents and my team are
grateful for the lessons we learned through the process.
At Selective College
Acceptance Counseling we inspire kids to greatness! I talk to parents all the time who tell me
their kids are doing well and they aren’t sure if they need our guidance or
support. I always ask: Are they living
up to their full potential? Are they
doing the BEST they can do? Have they
discovered their passion and purpose in life?
Do they have clear goals that shape their choices and motivate them to
consistent daily effort? Are they good
students or are they great students?
I believe that EVERY human being has the potential for
greatness. It just needs to be
discovered and cultivated. College used
to be the place to go to “find yourself.” One used to be able to earn any
undergraduate degree and have an advantage in the job market, but times have
changed. Our economy has changed and the
job market has changed since parents went through the college application process. Half of new college graduates are unemployed
or underemployed. 27% are back living with their parents*. In short, a liberal arts degree from a
no-name college does not open doors. Who is succeeding in today’s job market?
Students who have earned specialized degrees from top-notch colleges. As the undergraduate degree represents the
single largest investment you will make in your child’s education and
development it is imperative that they have a clear direction and focus before
they enter college. At Selective College
Acceptance Counseling we guide students through a process of self-discovery and
personal development, which enables them to recognize, realize and actualize their
potential beginning in sixth grade.
Spring Session begins March 3, 2014 for students in entering
grades 6-12 this fall.
Email info@getaccepted.org or
call/text (585) 233-9502 to schedule a FREE 20 minute consultation.
Selective College Acceptance Counseling is located on the first floor of the East Cap Building in Brighton. 919 S. Winton Rd. Suite 111, Rochester, NY 14618. Office hours by appointment.
