Here’s one formula we’ve found that’s scarily accurate in predicting admissions chances to the most prestigious colleges.
The amount of time a student spends obsessing about what will get him into a “prestigious college” is almost always inversely proportionate to his chances of actually getting in.
Curiosity, hard work, committing to activities you enjoy, being a nice person people like having around—that’s what makes you an engaged, likeable and interesting person colleges want. Basing every decision on "what will look good to Harvard" doesn’t accomplish any of those things.
The key? Spend less time looking for a magic formula and more time doing this.
Bob says
I wonder if this is something everybody says but no one really believes. I’m thinking of people like Tiger Mom, who obsessed over her daughters’ educations and qualifications since birth and eventually wound up getting them into Harvard. Do you really believe the average Harvard freshman (and his or her parents) didn’t spend at least a decade strategizing their enrollment into the Ivies?
I truly wish I didn’t have to worry, but aren’t grade grubbing and looking good on paper just facts of life?
Kevin McMullin says
Tiger Mom was an anomaly. The press never would have written about her if every kid with a Tiger Mom ended up at Harvard. The kids who get into the most selective colleges don’t get there by strategizing and grade grubbing. And even if they did, I don’t think that would make it worth doing. I hope kids and parents can be better than that.
Bob says
Excellent points and thanks…