High school and private counselors are likely familiar with this scenario. You have seniors who don’t want to discuss, apply to, or even remotely entertain the idea of safety schools. They believe that a school where they’re virtually guaranteed admission inherently makes that school less worthy. And they want to spend their time, money, and application energy pursuing more selective schools, many of which are those where they stand the least likely chance of being admitted.

If you’re facing any version of that challenge with any of your seniors, high school counseling thought-leader Patrick O’Connor comes through again with his timely and helpful advice, this time with his post “The End of the Safety School.”