Why Bother Planning for College Admission?

While 30 percent of adults in the U.S. hold a bachelors degree, today 65 percent of all high school seniors are applying to four-year colleges, both illustrating the cultural and economic necessity of higher education and further compounding the college admission challenge. And many students and their families are ill prepared for the process of college application, let alone planning.

A unique approach to college counseling based on student history and identity, strategic communication throughout the application process, careful analysis of target schools’ applicant pool and current study body, and specific admission needs and goals. Robin Mamlet, former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford, recently noted that the applicants offered admittance displayed talents and academic excitement that fit perfectly into the Stanford community. With so many students applying for college today, admissions offices increasingly use this criterion in the final cut: Who are the students who would fit best and benefit most from what their schools offer. Unfortunately, this is an area frequently overlooked or under-examined by many applicants today.

Starting the planning process earlier and using an education consultant to develop a communications strategy, a student's chances for admission to a college of his or her choice can be improved dramatically - in some cases by as much as 50 percent. It is more important than ever to understand each student’s strengths, weaknesses and passions in order to apply to the appropriate range of colleges.