The Goldilocks method

Do you remember Goldilocks and the three bears? To find what “fit just right” she checked out the cabin, tasted bowls of porridge, sat in chairs, and slept in the comfiest bed for her. She had to experience the food and use the furniture to find a good match. 

 

Parents typically take their children to visit colleges before the start of senior year, to help them figure out what “feels just right.” As stomachs grumble, students will follow the delicious scent of well-known colleges which typically hold the most appeal. Alternatively, they will explore a college that a friend mentioned or plans to attend. Friends choose colleges. 

 

Some colleges are too big, too small, too near home or too far from home, too selective, not hard enough, too spread-out, or too plain! There are so many colleges and so many choices that it’s best to nail down the family values and conditions that are important to the student. 

 

I tell my families to check out the campus, eat in the dining hall, and most importantly, register for the information session. An admissions representative will provide the latest admission statistics and clarify who looks good to them. 

 

Take all with a grain of salt, though. College campuses look splendid in summer. A professor once told me the groundskeepers have more to do with whether a student will enroll than the quality of teaching and learning!

 

Sometimes, students’ eyes are bigger than their stomach, and since they can’t try out every college, may end up choosing a bowl of porridge that is too large and hot for their stomach. Other times, what parents had in mind for their child doesn’t align. In this case, the best solution is to allow their student to have their feelings, and really listen. The buy-in from the student is essential.

 

Typically, parents are interested in knowing the strongest programs of study, career opportunities upon graduation, and the level of admission selectivity. For example, students may apply for a highly selective major but it might be easier to get accepted into a different major.

Once they perform well in the first year, students can transfer into the more selective program.

 

One may argue that it’s better to gain acceptance to a program straight from high school than to seek the back door entry into a more selective college after enrolling. Both direct-entry and back-door entry can work if students assess their academic abilities realistically.

 

While in college it’s important to schedule time to have fun too, so students need to check the hangouts. Do students remain on campus on weekends and are there planned activities? 

 

There are many other variables that make for a good match. These depend on the academic abilities and social needs of each student. Students may have specific cognitive learning preferences that need to be considered in college. If they qualified for a 504 or IEP in high school, they need to check out the learning supports available at each college. This will be better explored by visiting the learning center and meeting with the learning specialist well before applying for admission.

 

There are students who will do well at any college because they have strong social and academic skills. However, most students are happier in a setting where their natural learning preferences are in line with what the college values. 

 

To get to the bottom of what colleges are about, reading their mission statement can help. Parents and students should feel free to kick the campus tires even if the three black bears may become irritated! There’s nothing better than making an informed decision. 

 

C. Claire Law, M.S. Daniel Island Educational Consultant, helps teens find the right educational setting for their innate personality preferences. For more insight, visit eduave.com.