Kevin McMullin is the founder and president of Collegewise, a private college counseling company. This is his blog. He also writes books and a free email newsletter, makes videos (not the music kind), speaks at high schools and conferences, and generally tries to spread the word about saner, smarter college planning. Email Kevin here.
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If you're struggling in a class, asking your teacher for help is a good strategy. But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here’s Cal Newport’s post citing common ways college kids annoy their professors when asking for help, and what those students should do instead. Each of his suggestions could just as easily—and effectively—be applied in the high school setting.
If you'd like more tips, here's a past post of mine.
In the last two years, I’ve been to a college graduation, a building dedication, and several dozen conference opening sessions that all had the same format—the first 10-15 minutes of the opening presentation was a long list of thank-you's. The organizer thanked the sponsor, the committee volunteers, the board of directors, the outgoing president, etc. It not only leaves the audience bored and disinterested, but also doesn't make anybody who's mentioned actually feel that appreciated. When you’re just one member on a long list, it doesn’t feel very special.
Since so many of the sessions I go to involve high school counselors, here are a few suggestions to avoid losing your audience's interest in a sea of thanks.
1. Put the audience first.
Whatever you promised your audience—an opening speaker, a celebration of one person’s retirement, or a free college admissions seminar—that’s what you should give them. Thanking your staff may be important to you, but it’s not important to most of your audience, and every second you spend talking about something else, you’re losing the precious attention they’re giving you. (Tip: if you want to make it all about you, start a blog).
2. Find a better way to thank people.
You should thank people who deserve it—you just shouldn’t do it at the expense of the presentation. Instead, thank them individually and sincerely. If they’d appreciate public recognition (not everybody does), do a short write-up about them and what they did that deserves thanks. Put their pictures in so people will recognize them. Add it to the conference program, or hand it out at the beginning of the session.
Now you please your audience and the people you need to thank.
Don't count on a prestigious, competitive high school to get your child into the Ivy League. I don't think attending an ultra-selective college is important, which is why this tip comes last. For those of you who do care, the data show that the more brilliant the student body of the high school your child attends, the more likely he or she will lose out in the competition for the most prestigious colleges. But those high schools will give your kid a terrific education, which is all that should concern you."
Jay Matthews
10 Ways to Pick the Right School
You don’t have to go to Harvard to behave like a successful Harvard student.
Harvard professor Richard Light wondered why some students in the United States make the most of college, while others struggle and look back on years of missed opportunities. He interviewed over 1,600 Harvard students to learn how successful students improved their college experiences and made the most of their time and monetary investment. Then he published his findings in Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds.
Two of his most significant findings about successful students were:
1. They made an effort each semester to get to know at least one faculty member well, and to have that faculty member get to know them equally well.
By the time they graduated, those students had developed close working relationships with at least 8-10 faculty members who could serve as advisors, mentors and professional references.
2. They found one activity outside of the classroom in which they became deeply involved.
They may have dabbled in many activities, but whether it was research, student clubs and organizations, community service, internships or part-time jobs—they all found one particular outside interest they were passionate about, and dedicated significant time and energy to that pursuit.
In its review posted on Amazon.com, Publisher’s Weekly offered this criticism, “…His report on the findings of the Harvard Assessment Seminars would be more accurately titled ‘Getting the Most Out of Harvard.’ Rather than reflecting the experiences of average college students, his findings are more consistent with the experiences of students who arrive at prestigious universities already primed for intellectual inquiry.”
I thought two things when I read that critique:
1. That’s true.
Students who have the intellect and work ethic to get into Harvard are likely to keep displaying those traits long after their acceptance letters arrive.
2. You can mimic the same behavior at whatever college you attend.
What you do in college will be more important than whether or not you attend a prestigious school. If you want to be a successful Harvard student, start by behaving like one no matter where you spend your college years.
Running a small business means you have the time and focus to do something "extra" for your customers. The extras are like free prizes, things they didn't expect but always appreciate. The extras are why they tell their friends about you.
Here are ten suggested extras to get you started. Try any or all, or come up with your own you know your customers will love.
My editor and I just finished all the content revisions for my next book, still tentatively titled, "The Collegewise Way." It's currently 262 pages and covers everything we teach at Collegewise about finding, applying to, and paying for college. We're on track to release it both in print and electronically in July. If you'd like to be notified when it's available, you can sign up here.
Here's the current table of contents. I'm excited about it and will share more updates about the release as we get closer.
Introduction
Basic Retraining
Finding the Right Colleges
How to determine what you want in a college
How to learn more about colleges
Prove your Academic Potential
How to show you’re college-ready
Extra-Curricular Activities
Standardized Tests
Applying
Part I: It can get personal
Part II: How and When to Apply
Part III: Completing Applications
Part IV: Writing Great Essays
Part V: Letters of Recommendation
Part VI: What to do after you submit
Interviewing
Paying for College
Handling Decisions
Advice for Parents
Ten Secrets of “Great Kids”
Parting Words
Kerry asks:
We were thinking of asking my son’s AP Chemistry teacher to write him a letter of recommendation for his college applications this fall. However, the teacher makes many spelling and grammatical errors when I email with him. Should we choose a different teacher? My son has gotten A’s in chemistry both semesters, and I think a letter from this teacher would be a great addition.”
Good question, Kerry. First, don’t worry about the teacher’s writing skills. Colleges care more about the content of the letter than they do the writing style. A good letter of recommendation shares what the student is like in class. Does he contribute to class discussions? Does he ask intelligent questions? Is he interested in the subject matter as much if not more than he is getting an “A?” That's what's important, not whether or not the story reads like Hemingway wrote it.
You also mentioned, “We were thinking of asking…” Make sure your son—not you—does the asking. He’s the one applying to college. Teachers, counselors and admissions officers respond best when kids take charge of the process. It’s fine to be a supportive cheerleader and maybe even offer some organizational help for a disorganized teen. But make sure you don’t do the work for him.
Thanks for your question, Kerry. If you've got a question of your own, email me at blog [at] collegewise [dot] com. If I pick yours, I'll answer it here on our blog.
Even in colleges of the liberal arts and sciences such as Harvard, an emphasis on majors believed to land a good job, or to favor being admitted to law, business, or medical schools, is usually justified by an appeal to 'utility,' to a supposedly clear-sighted appraisal of what the 'real' world demands of college graduates. This has become a dominant myth of much American higher education, and some of its strongest advocates are parents. If it is assumed that these 'occupational' courses and majors are superior preparation for adult life, and if no one steps forward to challenge that assumption, then they will seem more attractive. In today’s fast evolving world, leaders across the spectrum of vocations and professions need a broad imaginative and critical capacity, not a prematurely narrow point of view. In terms of the actual world, a solid liberal arts and sciences education will generally prove the most practical preparation for many demanding, high-level careers, or for the several careers that an increasing number of adults will eventually pursue. No particular concentration or area of study is inherently a better ticket to security, leadership, or personal satisfaction than another. Students should be encouraged to follow their passions and interests, not what they guess (or what others tell them) will lead to a supposedly more marketable set of skills."
James Engell
Professor of English and Comparative Literature
Harvard University
Students at Sarah Lawrence College interview the professors before choosing classes. It’s the college's way of allowing students to take charge of their education—to make informed decisions about what they learn and who will teach them.
There’s no reason you couldn’t do the same thing in high school.
Sure, you don't have as many course options to choose from as you will in college. But if you’re nervous about AP Chemistry next year and want to make sure you’re prepared, talk to the AP Chem teacher and get a sense of the class.
If you love English and will be taking a class with your favorite teacher next year, visit her before you take the class and ask for some summer reading recommendations.
And if you struggle in Spanish and want some advice about what material you should review before taking the next level in the coming year, have a chat with your future Spanish teacher.
Be sincere in your interest and respectful of the teacher’s time, and you’ll not only make a more informed decision, but also be demonstrating to the teacher—before you even take the class—that you’re a mature and engaged student.
Scott Berkun, author of “Confessions of a Public Speaker,” was on NPR yesterday offering advice for commencement speakers. While it focused on speaking at a college graduation, the advice holds true for any high school student speaking at your graduation next month. You can download the audio file below. And here's a past post with more advice.
I once toured a college over the summer and noticed that one of the high school students in the group was wearing a jacket and tie. I’m guessing he was planning to take the school up on the offer to do an on-campus interview during his visit. But it was a scorching summer day, and by the end of the tour, the poor kid looked like he’d just finished playing a game of full-court basketball.
For any college interview, you can certainly wear your dress duds if you feel comfortable. But there’s no need to go quite so formal. Here’s a past post with some advice on the appropriate attire.
Also, if you’re touring a college over the summer and want to take them up on an on-campus interview offer, consider scheduling the interview before the tour if you can. You’ll not only be able to show your best self before you generate any post-tour perspiration, but you’ll also enjoy the tour a lot more if you’re not stressed about the interview to follow.
If the only option is to interview after the tour, try to give yourself a little breathing room before the two events to collect yourself and cool down. And remember that the best interviews are relaxed conversations. College interviewers aren’t out to get you. Try to enjoy yourself.
Seth Godin and Mark Cuban, two pretty successful guys with an uncanny ability to predict the next big thing, have each written blog posts about the coming meltdown in college education. Both of them point out:
I think they’re right. The last generation knew that virtually any sacrifice they made to attend college would pay off. Today’s students don’t enjoy that guarantee. So here’s my advice.
1. Families should be cautious about taking on large debt to send a student to college.
From student loans (there is currently more outstanding debt for student loans than there is for auto loans or credit card loans), to parents borrowing against their homes, that’s a financial gamble that many families can’t afford to take. If you want advice about how to attend college debt-free, check out Zac Bissonnette’s Debt-Free U, the best book I’ve read on the subject.
2. It’s more important than ever for students to have remarkable college careers.
Every student should take road trips, go to great parties, and have plenty of good old-fashioned fun while you’re in college. But there’s no reason you can’t do those things and also graduate with four years of remarkable learning and a resume full of experience to help you land a good job. And you don’t necessarily need to attend a prestigious or expensive college to do it. Here’s a past post profiling a student who’s a perfect example of this.
I’m not arguing you shouldn’t go to college or pay to attend an expensive school. But like any investment, your college education is one that should be made with caution. And unlike other potentially expensive investments, the student can and must do a lot to influence the return.
It’s not the name of your college or the price of your degree that will make you successful. It’s what you do while you’re there.
Here's a good example for private counselors and other small businesses who maintain an email newsletter list. Allison in our Irvine, California office received this email from The North Face yesterday.
I love this because:
I’m surprised how many students sign up for test prep courses or tutoring before they’ve ever taken a full-length practice test. Don’t do it. Even if you know you struggle with test-taking, take a full length exam before you make a decision about how to prepare. Your result—and how it compares to the average scores of admitted students at the colleges that interest you—can help you make good decisions about just how intensive your test prep needs to be.
The College Board offers a free full-length practice SAT exam that can be taken online or printed out. If you want to get the most out of it, treat it like a real test-day. Don’t do a few sections, call it a day, and come back next week to finish it. Set aside the 3 ½ hours and have someone time you, just like the real thing.
It’s not a fun way to spend an afternoon, but the more representative your result, the better prep decisions you can make, and the closer you’ll get to making the SAT a part of your past.
