From the article, “Jeff Bezos’ [founder of Amazon] brilliant advice for anyone running a business”:
“If you want to build a successful, sustainable business, don’t ask yourself what could change in the next ten years that could affect your company. Instead, ask yourself what won’t change, and then put all your energy and effort into those things.”
This business strategy works well in college admissions, too.
The source of many families’ anxiety with college admissions is the feeling of how complex and uncertain the process is. They wonder if they’re making good choices or making mistakes. They worry that they’re missing something, that some element of a mysterious formula will remain unfulfilled and keep them from getting into colleges they’re excited about.
Parents, many of whom took the SAT just once, applied to a short list of colleges, and got in, will point out that the process is much more complicated today. And they’re right. Honors and AP courses, multiple standardized tests (sometimes required, sometimes not), early decision and early action—the process is more complex than it used to be.
But here are a few things that always make you a stronger candidate, none of which have changed since I started Collegewise in 1999:
- Take the most challenging classes you can reasonably handle.
- Work hard in your classes. College is school, after all.
- Commit yourself to activities you enjoy, and work hard to make an impact.
- Seek advice from the right sources (start with your high school counselor and the colleges themselves).
- Find the right colleges that fit you, and don’t forget that affordability is part of fit.
The process may be more complicated than it used to be. But you won’t go wrong when you focus on what won’t change.