A doctor can have all the best training, pedigree, and skill to treat patients. But if she’s rude, dismissive, or otherwise not all that pleasant to be around, many people will take their business and their health care someplace else. But the doctor who takes the time to thoroughly explain, who listens and patiently answers your questions, who makes you feel like you matter—she may not necessarily be practicing better medicine, but you’ll feel better after the interaction. Turns out that bedside manner is pretty important.
One of our goals at Collegewise—with every meeting, every speech, every email or phone call or other interaction—is to send the family away feeling better. There’s plenty of anxiety and fear in college admissions. Anything we can do to lessen that serves our larger goal of helping families enjoy this process. Our bedside manner isn’t right for every family. But we try to make it clear from the very first interaction how they’re likely to feel if they stick around.
If you’re hiring test prep companies, college counselors, tutors, or anyone else to help you manage the college admissions process, how do those interactions make you feel—before and after you officially retain their services?
Do you like their tone and approach? Do you like how they treat you as a customer? And most importantly, do you feel better after each interaction?
What’s better for you may not be better for someone else. But this is your family’s process. Find the bedside manner that gives you the “better” you need.
P.S. It’s also true for the friends you choose to associate with during this time.