“Activities just aren’t my thing,” a student recently said to me. Parents and students often focus on grades and test scores, but colleges care about more than just academics – they want students on their campus who are interesting and involved. One of my students had a stellar academic record, but his non-academic profile needed some boosting. We brainstormed some new (and fun) activities for him to try out, not only for his application but also to help him keep busy during quarantine. He decided on a blog. When I asked him what his mom thought about the blog he said she wasn’t too impressed, because she didn’t think anyone would read it. Maybe not. But he posted some great articles, kept himself engaged when stuck in his bedroom and wrote about his blog in every one of his applications. Students don’t have to solve climate change or cure cancer in their free time, but they should find ways to make an impact in their community.

“I don’t care if I go to a big school or a small school, it doesn’t really matter.” Of course it does! When I work with students, we spend a lot of time discussing colleges’ characteristics – and making sure the student understands what they prioritize in their college experience and why. Recently, I had a student who seemed not to have any preferences. A large college? Sure. A medium-sized college? OK. A small college? Why not? And so it went. Finally, we played a great card game designed to help students identify their college preferences and after several card sorts we were able to hone in on what mattered most to the student. This exercise was critical to building a college list that was filled with great academic and social fits. These are hard choices for students, especially because they don’t know all the things colleges can offer. By working with me, they get a full picture of what college can be.

“I changed my mind, I don’t want a liberal arts college anymore.” I was surprised to hear this because the student was excited about a small college experience. When I probed a little I discovered she was no longer considering liberal arts colleges because a representative at a college fair said they are “socially isolating.” I reminded her of the importance of doing a deep dive into a variety of colleges so she can come to her own opinion. Some liberal arts colleges are very small, but are part of a consortium so they feel much bigger. Some liberal arts colleges are in (or very near) big cities where there are lots of other college students and cultural activities. Helping students sift through the noise to figure out what is a good fit for them is a critical component of how I guide students in the college application process.

“Kate, I really need help, everyone is telling me to find a roommate and I don’t know what to do.” One of my graduating seniors recently called me in a panic – they had to decide whether to go into the first year housing room draw “randomly” or whether they should try to find a roommate on the admitted student facebook page. Colleges have different approaches to housing first year students, with some assigning students to dorm rooms and others allowing students to choose their roommates. My student and I made a “pros” and “cons” list for each option, and they ultimately decided to “go random.” I was glad to be a resource for them, even after the formal parts of the college application process was over!

“I am just going to apply test optional.” Maybe, I thought. This student really did not want to take the SAT, especially since many colleges are test optional due to the pandemic. Their parents, however, were pretty adamant about them taking the test. After a bit of convincing, they agreed to take the test once and “see how it goes.” I explained that if they got a strong test score, they could choose to submit it, but if they were not satisfied with the score they could “throw it away.” Happily the test went well and my student now has the option to submit or not to submit. I managed to counsel the student on a sound testing plan and help keep the family dynamics intact, and the best part – my student has more options about how to apply to college.

“There is no way I am taking French next year.” Hmm not so fast! Last year a student was nearly in tears when I (strongly) suggested they continue their foreign language as a senior, even though the high school guidance counselor approved their decision to “drop” the class. They agreed, and it turned out to be one of their favorite classes! Even if a fourth year of foreign language is not required to graduate from high school, most selective colleges like to see four years of classes in all five core disciplines – English, math, social studies, science and foreign language. Providing academic guidance to students so they have the strongest possible transcript is one of the most important ways I counsel students in the college application process.

“I’m just going to say I have too much work to go!” One of my students was not looking forward to a family get-together because they did not want to be peppered with questions about college – what was their top choice, what did they write their college essay about, were they going to miss the family dog, etc., etc., etc. Together we came up with some clever responses so that they could spend time with their family without having to worry about how to handle “prying questions.” I love the counseling aspect of working with students and helping them transition from childhood to young adulthood.

“I’ve been counting on playing my sport in college since I was at least eight.” Last year one of my student’s was being recruited to a Division I university when their sport was suddenly cut due to budget constraints. This was a huge disappointment, and definitely altered the course of the college search. The student had to rethink their priorities, deciding whether playing their sport or studying international business was the primary factor in building their college list. The student was admitted to a wonderful university with an amazing program where they will get to study abroad twice! Being able to help students find colleges to be excited about is one of the most rewarding parts of helping students apply to college.