TIP: Don’t Underestimate the Competition. It’s Real.

TALE: Most of my phone appointments are with parents with a high school sophomore or junior. Once in a while I get a call from a parent who went through the process with the older sibling and they fortunately or unfortunately learned the tough lesson of just how competitive this process is, and seems to get worse every year. 

In this case, the sister had applied to a wide range of highly selective colleges. And, while she was admitted to some top schools, she was not admitted to any of the most selective on her list. The father wanted to avoid this predicament for his son. 

The son had taken all the right courses and achieved a near perfect gpa, but didn’t have any clear evidence of leadership. After our initial call, I listed the “gaps” in his resume, but suggested there was still time to make a few adjustments to his game plan so his application would pop off the page. I coached the son through the process and together we curated an appropriate college list, with a wide range of colleges. Ultimately he was successful in being admitted to Cornell, Georgetown, Northwestern, and many others. 

TRUTH: If you are shocked and surprised at just how competitive it is now to get admitted to what was once considered a target or even a “safety” school, you are not alone. If you’ve been thinking you need to make a plan, you do. I can help you get started. Do not make the mistake of underestimating the competition. It is real and it is here to stay.