Thursday, January 26, 2012

College Flight Plan for Helicopter Parents


Anytime I mention "Helicopter Parent" to a parent of a high school kid, they are quick to deflect any possible affiliation with that label.

My response, I think that a parent who isn't a "helicopter parent" during the college process hurts their child.

Now let me first delineate between the two types of helicopter parents.

There is the helicopter parent who provides their child low ground cover.

And there is the helicopter parent who provides their child
low ground control.

The former parent helps their student manage the stress that comes with the college process.

The latter parent contributes to their student's stress that comes with the college process.

And there will be inevitable stress.

Recently in The Chronicle of Higher Education, there was an article on how pets experience stress during the college process. The study revealed that pets aren't petted enough by their owners during the waiting period, which as a result, heightens the pet's stress level.

So if pets experience stress during this process, you can bet that parents will. And certainly the student.

Too often we forget that this is the first foray for many of these kids into the "adult world". This will be the first time they are critiqued, judged, evaluated, accepted, or rejected. In our hyper therapeutic, self-esteem culture, our kids have grown up being told how amazing they are. It's like the kid who sings in the living room to an audience of family members one day and the next day is standing in line to audition with 20,000 other living-room singers for American Idol.

It's one thing right to sing in front of Aunt Bethany and Uncle Fred and Grandpa Glenny. It's quite another thing when it's Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson.

This summer I had a chance to sit under the teaching of Dr. JoAnn Deak. Dr. Deak is the leading field researcher at The Ohio State University on adolescent brain development.

In her session on "Understanding the Adolescent Brain," she opened by saying point blank: "You are going against neurobiology. The adolescent brain is not equipped to handle the stresses and strains that 17-18 years old are put under, especially when it comes to the college process."

Dr.Deak explained how the Corpus collosum is under massive construction during the teenage years. Dr. Deaks compared the Corpus collosum to a 10-lane highway, like I-5 in LA. In order for teens to be able to think, organize, judge, and make morally sound, non-destructive decisions, "all lanes" on the Cc have to be open. What often happens though is that stress causes the Amygdala (feeling center) to swell, which then triggers a suppression of the Prefrontal cortex, which then causes the "highway to shut down". What ensues is a series of emotional, academic, and volitional "crashes".

This series of events often happens more in boys than girls. Ever wonder why your 17 year old boy acts like a 5 year old? Now you know.

So what the new brain research shows is that adolescence is the worst time for organization. Many times kids are trying to juggle 10 balls with one hand and a finger.

This is then why we need to help create a flight plan that prevents our kids from crashing into a mountain.

So with that said, let's look at 6 ways we can help our kids navigate through the turbulence and around the mountains that are sure to come.

1. Map out timeline(s).

There are three timelines you want to help map out for your student.

Standardized Test Timeline. You can sign up your student to take the ACT by clicking here; the same for the SAT I/II here. Remember: students are responsible for sending all test scores to colleges. You get 4 free schools to send scores to and then you pay for additional schools. (My advice is for you to send all test scores). The goal is for the student to take both tests once, and one of the test a total of three times. Students applying to highly selective schools will want to take 2-3 SAT II Subject Tests in May or June.

College Visit timeline. Map out dates/times during breaks that you can visit schools. Parents should take the lead on coordinating visits. College web sites have information regarding tour times. They also have info regarding state/school admission rep. For the "tourist season", you will want to catch a tour and try to schedule an informal meeting with our rep (email rep to schedule time). For the "buyers season", the colleges often contact you to try and get your student out for a "shopper's preview".

College Application time line. The key is to get down where the student will apply, when they will apply, and what kind of application they will submit. We encourage our students to apply to "rolling" schools (often public universities) in Sept/Oct, then focus on "Early" applications (whether Early Decision [ED], Early Action [EA], or SCEA [Single Choice Early Action]) in Oct./Nov., and then "ED2"/Regular admissions (2nd Early Decision round - schools like Vanderbilt, American, NYU, Davidson offer this).

Admission Terms:

Rolling: non-binding; public institutions; apply July-May; quick turnaround with results.
ED: Early Decision; binding; public/private schools; usually Nov. 1 deadline; mid-Dec. results.
ED 2: Early Decision; binding; usually a Jan. deadline; mid-March result.
SCEA: Single Choice Early Action; non-binding > May 1 to decide; apply to only one school (public universities are excluded); Nov. 1/15 deadline; "bear trap" watch out! ("hook" students only).
EA: Early Action; non-binding > May 1 to decide; usually a Nov.-Dec. deadline.
Regular: non-binding; May 1 to decide; usually a Dec-Jan deadline.

2. Do your homework/have a plan for highly selective schools (25%-6% admit rate).

Click here to view Early Admission results. Click here to view Regular Admission application volumes at 50 highly selective schools. It's important to do your homework:
  • Application requirements: SAT Subject Tests - how many? required/or recommended? Teacher recommendations (1-2)? Peer recommendation? Interview?
  • Early vs. Regular admit statistics (app.volume/accept %)
  • Colleges within University admit statistics (engineering vs. liberal arts)
  • Mid-50% range for test scores (Early vs. Regular admission)
  • Hook: What is my hook? (Legacy, athlete, underrepresented minority, 1st gen, underrepresented gender)
  • Application Type I: Common App. Universal App., Institutional App.)
  • Application Type II: Early Action (EA)? Early Decision (ED)? Early Decision 2 (ED2)? Single Choice Early Action (SCEA)? Regular?
  • Supplemental essays (click here to find what students were recommended/required)
Have a plan:
  • Create Contact History - email/visit non-binding (EA or SCEA) schools
  • Apply to 3-4 schools other than ED 1 early (1-2 rolling; 1-2 early action) I compare this strategy to a archery target. If your "ED" school is the small bulls eye, then add a couple target rings that are easier to hit. That way your student gets a handful of "Yes" letters before or during the time they receive good or bad news on their "bulls eye school".
  • Additional recommendation letters (alumni, local dignitaries, youth pastors, people beyond school that can speak to character, leadership, excellence).
3. Be both a "cosmetic consultant" and "content consultant" on applications.

Examples of cosmetic consultant: grammar, punctuation, spelling, family information [employment, job title, email, name and year of college] on the application, etc. I have found that our texting, Twitter, and Facebook generation tends to slip into those modes of writing on applications. I can't tell you how many times I've had to "touch up" acme on the face of an application that is peppered with i's and u's.

Examples of content consultant: the overarching goal in revealing a student (not packaging) involves what I call the "framework work" in the application: this framework work involves narration (telling the student's story well), synthesis (connecting-the-dots of major themes, points of excellence, salient traits), and distinction (elevating that student from the pack; revealing what separates them from the massive blob of high test scores and numbers; and hurdling any preconceived "stereotypes" [i.e. the preppy rich kid; the ditzy blond; the dumb job; the brainy textbookcentric Indian kid; the poor black kid on scholarship, etc.]). This is never an easy task. And no student (or counselor) can create this framework without the parent's insights.

So what I encourage parents to do is help identify the major "spheres" of their child's life, and then help the student and counselor identify "narrative moments" that have a colorful "word picture" within that moment that we narrate. Winston Churchill once said, "The ear is 1/10th the organ of the eye." College admissions need more than reasons to accept a student. They need visions. We want to connect then not only with the admission officer's mind, but their imaginations. Too often we forget that the mind is not so much a debating hall as it is a picture gallery. So help think of key images, frozen "action moments", and metaphors that the student and counselor can pull into their essays, interviews, rec letters, etc,

4. Aim for 75/25. To your left is a picture of a class discussion from my Honors English class last week. Modeled after the Harkness Table, we have days in class where the students dialogue about the text we are reading, and I chart the threads of conversation between them. What I've found is that our Harkness Table days are my best days as a teacher. And it is not so much because of what I'm saying or doing, but because of what I am not saying or doing. My silence isn't absence; it's presence. And in my silence my students can hear the words, "Take ownership of your education. Make it an extraordinary experience. Take the conversation in directions that challenge, fascinate, and energize us for going further up and further in.




So here is the point: The more your student can “own” the college experience, the more satisfied they will be with the journey and end destination. Aim then to foster an environment where the student does 75% of the “college talking” – in meetings with college counselor or college reps, on tours, in info sessions, and in post-tour conversations.


Pre-Tour: Encourage student to research schools before they visit campus or visit with rep (on campus or at Casady).


Pre-Tour: Have your student write down 5 questions in their Phone to ask the tour guide.


Tour: Encourage students to jot down “Notes” on phone of major impressions, cool programs, specifics.


Post Tour: Ask reflective questions:


"What did you learn about yourself on this college visit?"


"Why do you think this school may or may not be a good fit for you?


"What are one or two specific things you liked about this school?



5. Help "lower the red line" (aka "stressed out big time"...aka "neurobiological crash"... aka "meltdown mode").

Senior Academic Schedule - consider allowing the senior to substitute out one class they don't look forward to taking in their senior year. Still aim for 5 core classes with upward traction rigor-wise in at least 4 of them.

College Application "Class" Schedule - help students think ahead and set aside a couple major blocks of time to work on college applications. It's amazing what a 3-4 hour, uninterrupted morning or afternoon sessions will do to help students get stuff done.

Create "Decompressor" Spaces - make sure to create time and space for non-college conversation and activities that are fun, relaxing, and stress relieving.

College Application Volume - You've heard the maxim: "Eight is enough." Try to cap the application volume at eight*. And aim for balance - 1-2 Reach Schools, 2-3 Target Schools, 1-2 Financial Likely Schools (these are getting tougher to find).
* Casady seniors averaged 4.7 apps in 2011.


6. If you place a premium value on affordability, then you need to consider "going merit-based", "going private", and "going high".

To "go merit" means you look at schools that are merit-based and not need-based. Most schools that are "highly ranked" and "highly selective" give only need-based aid.

To "go private" means you look primarily at private institutions where you will find more merit monies. State schools are not going to "show you the money" based on massive budget cuts (click here to read recent Times article on the emerging crisis). Most state schools will only give students money based on strict objective criteria (GPA; test scores).

To "go high" means to look at schools where your student's academic credentials (GPA; test scores) are higher than most in application pool (top 25%).

In closing, parents who provide this kind of "low ground covering" will help this student make what is often the most difficult and challenging transition in their life.

From childhood to adulthood.

God knows I needed my parent's help when I went through this tumultuous transition.

And I'm so thankful that they were there to help navigate me through to a safe landing.

Below is the "Prezi" I used for my presentation to parents.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

11th Grade College Night - Parent Breakout Sessions

11TH GRADE COLLEGE NIGHT
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH 7:00-8:30 PM
PARENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Johnston Math Building)




FORMAT: We are offering three rounds of breakout sessions. Each session will last approximately 18-minutes with a 2-minute pass period. We ask that if you want to chat with a presenter that you wait until the last breakout session ends.

SCHEDULE:

7:30 pm – 7:48 pm BREAKOUT SESSION #1
7:48 pm – 7:50 pm PASSING PERIOD
7:50 pm – 8:08 pm BREAKOUT SESSION #2
8:08 pm – 8:10 pm PASSING PERIOD
8:10 pm – 8:28 pm BREAKOUT SESSION #3

SESSION TITLE/PRESENTER:

“Trends/Strategies for Selective College Admissions” (Wes Waggoner, Dean of Admissions at SMU): This session will explore topics related to “selectivity reality”, major factors in admission decisions (the “Big 3”), other admission factors (essays, recs, resume), waitlists and why selective schools use them. There will be time for Q&A after presentation.

“The Small(er)/Private College Experience” (Rodney Grilliot, Assistant Director of Admissions at OCU): This session will explore myths that often derail students/parents from exploring smaller/private schools , as well as discuss the benefits/values of small/private college experience.

“College Athletics 101” (Jen Warden, Former Division I Coach): This session will orient parents to the different types of college athletics (D-1, D-2, D-3, NAIA) and effective strategies for getting on a “coach’s radar”. Expect ample Q&A time with Coach Warden.

“Standardized Testing 101” (Melissa Bruner, Princeton Review Territory Manager): This session will orient parents to the format, strategies, and testing programs available for the standardized tests (ACT, SAT 1, SAT II) used to evaluate applicants at most colleges/universities.

“College Flight Plan for HP’ers” (Josh Bottomly, Director of College Counseling): This session is meant to provide “helicopter parents” (positive connotation) with practical ways to help their students manage the stresses and strains of the college process.

Monday, January 23, 2012

College Flight Plan for Helicopter Parents


Anytime I mention "Helicopter Parent" to a parent of a high school kid, they are quick to deflect any possible affiliation with that label.

My response, I think that a parent who isn't a "helicopter parent" during the college process hurts their child.

In other words, taking a "satellite dish" parenting approach - distant, remote, "hands off", signaling to their kid once in awhile - is not helpful.

Now let me first delineate between the two types of helicopter parents.

One is good.

The other is bad.

There is the helicopter parent who provides their child low ground cover.

And there is the helicopter parent who provides their child low ground control.

The former parent helps their student manage the stress that comes with the college process.

The latter parent contributes to their student's stress that comes with the college process.

And there will be inevitable stress.

Recently in the Chronicle of Higher Education, there was an article on how pets experience stress during the college process. The study revealed that pets aren't petted enough by their owners during the waiting period, which as a result, heightens the pet's stress level.

So if pets experience stress during this process, you can bet that parents will. And certainly the student.

Too often we forget that this is the first foray for many of these kids into the "adult world". This will be the first time they are critiqued, judged, evaluated, accepted, or rejected. In our hyper therapeutic, self-esteem culture, our kids have grown up being told how amazing they are. It's like the kid who sings in the living room to an audience of family members. When they finish, the family showers praise upon the kid. A few weeks later that kid and their parents are waiting in line to audition for American Idol...along with 20,000 other kids with their parents who have been told how amazing they are while singing in the living room.

It's one thing right to sing in front of Aunt Bethany and Uncle Fred and Grandpa Glenny. It's quite another thing when it's Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson.

This summer I had a chance to sit under the teaching of Dr. JoAnn Deak. Dr. Deak is the leading field researcher at The Ohio State University on adolescent brain development.

In her session on "Understanding the Adolescent Brain," she opened by saying point blank: "You are going against neurobiology. The adolescent brain is not equipped to handle the stresses and strains that 17-18 years old are put under, especially when it comes to the college process."

Dr.Deak explained how the Corpus collosum is under massive construction during the teenage years. Dr. Deaks compared the Corpus collosum to a 10-lane highway, like I-5 in LA. In order for teens to be able to think, organize, judge, and make morally sound, non-destructive decisions, "all lanes" on the Cc have to be open. What often happens though is that stress causes the Amygdala (feeling center) to swell, which then triggers a suppression of the Prefrontal cortex, which then causes the "highway to shut down". What ensues is a series of emotional, academic, and volitional "crashes".

This series of events often happens more in boys than girls. Ever wonder why your 17 year old boy acts like a 5 year old? Now you know.

So what the new brain research shows is that adolescence is the worst time for organization. Many times kids are trying to juggle 10 balls with one hand and a finger.

This is then why we need to help create a flight plan that prevents our kids from crashing into a mountain.

So with that said, let's look at 6 ways we can help our kids navigate through the turbulence and around the mountains that are sure to come.

1. Map out timelines.

There are three timelines you want to help map out for your student.

Standardized Test Timeline. You can sign up your student to take the ACT by clicking here; the same for the SAT I/II here. Remember: students are responsible for sending all test scores to colleges. You get 4 free schools to send scores to and then you pay for additional schools. (My advice is for you to send all test scores). The goal is for the student to take both tests once, and one of the test a total of three times. Students applying to highly selective schools will want to take 2-3 SAT II Subject Tests in May or June.

College Visit timeline. Map out dates/times during breaks that you can visit schools. Parents should take the lead on coordinating visits. College web sites have information regarding tour times. They also have info regarding state/school admission rep. For the "tourist season", you will want to catch a tour and try to schedule an informal meeting with our rep (email rep to schedule time). For the "buyers season", the colleges often contact you to try and get your student out for a "shopper's preview".

College Application time line. The key is to get down where the student will apply, when they will apply, and what kind of application they will submit. We encourage our students to apply to "rolling" schools (often public universities) in Sept/Oct, then focus on "Early" applications (whether Early Decision [ED], Early Action [EA], or SCEA [Single Choice Early Action]) in Oct./Nov., and then "ED2"/Regular admissions (2nd Early Decision round - schools like Vanderbilt, American, NYU, Davidson offer this).

Admission Terms:

Rolling: non-binding; public institutions; apply July-May; quick turnaround with results.
ED: Early Decision; binding; public/private schools; usually Nov. 1 deadline; mid-Dec. results.
ED 2: Early Decision; binding; usually a Jan. deadline; mid-March result.
SCEA: Single Choice Early Action; non-binding > May 1 to decide; apply to only one school (public universities are excluded); Nov. 1/15 deadline; "bear trap" watch out! ("hook" students only).
EA: Early Action; non-binding > May 1 to decide; usually a Nov.-Dec. deadline.
Regular: non-binding; May 1 to decide; usually a Dec-Jan deadline.

2. Do your homework/have a plan for highly selective schools (25%-6% admit rate).

Click here to view Early Admission results. It's important to do your homework:
  • Application requirements: SAT Subject Tests - how many? required/or recommended? Teacher recommendations (1-2)? Peer recommendation? Interview?
  • Early vs. Regular admit statistics (app.volume/accept %)
  • Colleges within University admit statistics (engineering vs. liberal arts)
  • Mid-50% range for test scores (Early vs. Regular admission)
  • Hook: What is my hook? (Legacy, athlete, underrepresented minority, 1st gen, underrepresented gender)
  • Application Type I: Common App. Universal App., Institutional App.)
  • Application Type II: Early Action (EA)? Early Decision (ED)? Early Decision 2 (ED2)? Single Choice Early Action (SCEA)? Regular?
  • Supplemental essays (click here to find what students were recommended/required)
Have a plan:
  • Create Contact History - email/visit non-binding (EA or SCEA) schools
  • Apply to 3-4 schools other than ED 1 early (1-2 rolling; 1-2 early action) I compare this strategy to a archery target. If your "ED" school is the small bulls eye, then add a couple target rings that are easier to hit. That way your student gets a handful of "Yes" letters before or during the time they receive good or bad news on their "bulls eye school".
  • Additional recommendation letters (alumni, local dignitaries, youth pastors, people beyond school that can speak to character, leadership, excellence).
3. Be both a "cosmetic consultant" and "content consultant" on applications.

Examples of cosmetic consultant: grammar, punctuation, spelling, family information [employment, job title, email, name and year of college] on the application, etc. I have found that our texting, Twitter, and Facebook generation tends to slip into those modes of writing on applications. I can't tell you how many times I've had to "touch up" acme on the face of an application that is peppered with i's and u's.

Examples of content consultant: the overarching goal in revealing a student (not packaging) involves what I call the "framework work" in the application: this framework work involves narration (telling the student's story well), synthesis (connecting-the-dots of major themes, points of excellence, areas of excellence), and distinction (elevating that student from the pack; revealing what separates them from blob of high test scores and numbers; and hurdling any preconceived "stereotypes" [i.e. the preppy rich kid; the ditzy blond; the dumb job; the brainy textbookcentric Indian kid; the poor black kid on scholarship, etc.]). This is never an easy task. And no student (or counselor) can create this framework without the parent's insights.

So what I encourage parents to do is help identify the major "spheres" of their child's life, and then help the student and counselor identify "narrative moments" that have a colorful "word picture" within that moment that we narrate. Winston Churchill once said, "The ear is 1/10th the organ of the eye." College admissions need more than reasons to accept a student. They need visions. We want to connect then not only with the admission officer's mind, but their imaginations. Too often we forget that the mind is not so much a debating hall as it is a picture gallery. So help think of key images, frozen "action moments", and metaphors that the student and counselor can pull into their essays, interviews, rec letters, etc,

To your left is a picture of a class discussion from my Honors English class last week. Modeled after the Harkens Table, we have days in class where the students dialogue about the text we are reading, and I chart the threads of conversation between them. What I've found is that our Harkens Table days are the best days. And why? Because they are taking ownership of their educational experience. They are driving the discussion in directions that are interesting, fascinating, and challenging for them. My job on those days is 1) to try and keep up (sometimes I can't draw and write fast enough because the conversation is bouncing around like a pin ball in a machine), and 2) interject ideas and commentary where I think it can "kineticize" the conversation - giving it a boost of renewed energy to go in a fresh direction.



So here is the point: The more your student can “own” the college experience, the more satisfied they will be with the journey and end destination. Aim then to foster an environment where the student does 75% of the “college talking” – in meetings with college counselor or college reps, on tours, in info sessions, and in post-tour conversations.


Pre-Tour: Encourage student to research schools before they visit campus or visit with rep (on campus or at Casady).


Pre-Tour: Have your student write down 5 questions in their Phone to ask the tour guide.


Tour: Encourage students to jot down “Notes” on phone of major impressions, cool programs, specifics.


Post Tour: Ask reflective questions: "What did you learn about yourself on this college visit?" "Why do you think this school may or may not be a good fit for you? "What are one or two specific things you liked about this school?



5. Help "lower the red line" (aka "stressed out big time"...aka "neurobiological crash"... aka "meltdown mode").

Senior Academic Schedule - consider allowing the senior to substitute out one class they don't look forward to taking in their senior year. Still aim for 5 core classes with upward traction rigor-wise in at least 4 of them.

College Application "Class" Schedule - help students think ahead and set aside a couple major blocks of time to work on college applications. It's amazing what a 3-4 hour, uninterrupted morning or afternoon sessions will do to help students get stuff done.

Create "Decompressor" Spaces - make sure to create time and space for non-college conversation and activities that are fun, relaxing, and stress relieving.

College Application Volume - You've heard the maxim: "Eight is enough." Try to cap the application volume at eight. And aim for balance - 1-2 Reach Schools, 2-3 Target Schools, 1-2 Financial Likely Schools (these are getting tougher to find).
* Casady seniors averaged 4.7 apps last year.

6. If you place a premium value on affordability, then you need to consider "going merit-based", "going private", and "going high".

To "go merit" means you look at schools that are merit-based and not need-based. Most schools that are "highly ranked" and "highly selective" give only need-based aid.

To "go private" means you look primarily at mostly private institutions where you will find more merit monies. State schools are not going to "show you the money" based on massive budget cuts. Most state schools will only give students money based on strict objective criteria (GPA; test scores).

To "go high" means to look at schools where your student's academic credentials (GPA; test scores) are higher than most in application pool (top 25%).

Below is the "Prezi" I used for my presentation to parents.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Myth of Procrustes, College Rankings, 5 Fingers, and Kevin Durant: What We Are NOT Going To DO With You in our College Counseling Program

I need a volunteer.

Anyone will do.

Thank you. Come stand next to me. Don't worry about the sword I'm holding in my left hand (it's a nerf sword by the way - something my 5 year old swings with at his kid sister). Nothing to worry about there...as long as you answer my questions correctly.

Now I want to tell you a story.

It comes from Greek mythology.

Anyone familiar with the myths of Zeus and Poseidon...anyone see the Clash of the Titans?

Okay, good. An educated bunch in the ancient classics.

So there is this mythic figure named Procrustes. He's the son of Poseidon, which should tip you off that he's not a good dude.

His nickname was "The Stretcher".

See what Procrustes liked to do was rob people and then perform a very sick, R-rated surgical procedure on his victims.

The story goes that Procrustes would take his victims, "stretch" them on a table, and then lop off their limbs with his sword. And why? So that the victims perfectly fit the size of the table.

Pretty awful stuff, right?

Now what Procrustes did to his victims is NOT what we are going to do to you at Casady in our college counseling program.

We are NOT going to come up to you next year and ask you where you want to go to college, and if you answer OU, for example, take our sword and whack you.

In other words, we are NOT going to have you hold the Best Colleges in the US News and World Report in your hand and recite the colleges ranked #1-#10 on the first page of ranked schools.

"I will attend either Harvard,(whack) Princeton,(thwack) Yale, (lop) Columbia, (chop) MIT, (crunch) Stanford, (severe) U of Chicago, (slice) Penn, (swoop) or Duke" (smash).

Now those are all great schools. And we love it when our students aspire to gain admission into these highly selective schools. We love that kind of ambition. And drive. And focus.

But as far as fitting everyone of you into that mold - well that is not our way.

That's not our philosophy. And mission.

Our mission is to partner with students and parents to find the best college fit.

Now I want you to hold out your hand. I want to see all five of your fingers.

Here then is what we mean by best fit.

We mean that we are going to partner with you over four years to identify colleges that fit you in terms of 1) your passions, 2) your learning style, 3) your preferences, 4) your family's financial parameters, and 5) your academic parameters.

Pull all of those five fits together and you will have a "Tiger Woods fist pump" experience with college!

Our 74 seniors this year, for example, have submitted 292 college applications. That's what has gone out. Already our seniors have received 130+ acceptance letters from over 55 colleges/universities. So far only one application in the whole bunch has been denied. That's what has come in.


There is something else I want you to know. If you come by our office, you will find a Cyclone-Bound College Map. On it you will find 44 stickers that represent the 44 different colleges across the US where our seniors matriculated to last year.

This map of stickers debunks the myth that at Casady one size fits all.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

We take an "anti-Procrustes approach" to college counseling.

There is a final thing I want you to understand before you cross over to the upper division campus as incoming freshman.

I'm holding in my hand a college application. This application is called the Common Application. It is an application you can send to now over 500 colleges.

Now notice on page 4 of the Common Application that the first bubble you see under "Extracurricular Activities & Work Experience" is a bubble with the number 9 above it.

That number 9 stands for your 9th grade year.

What then does this tell you?

The college application begins the first day you step on our campus as a 9th grader.

Middle school, to switch analogies, is like practice and scrimmaging. It's like the two games the OKC Thunder played against the Dallas Maverickss.

High school - well that is game time. That's Christmas Day. The OKC Thunder vs. Orlando Magic. Everything counts. Everything matters. Everything has potential playoff ramifications.

I don't say that to scare you. Well maybe to scare some of you.

I say that to you to excite you. You listen to Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook during the pre-season, and all you heard them talk about was how pumped they were to start the season.

That KD and Westbrook attitude is what we want from you.

How does that sound? Can we do it?

I'm pumped for the journey ahead with you guys.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Pausing at Timberline


It's the mid-point of the year.

Which means if we analogize to traipsing up a 14,000 foot peak like Mt. Elbert in Colorado, this is the stopping point near timberline, where we sit on an outcropping of rocks, hydrate and re-fuel with Gatorade and granola, and take a few minutes just to drink in the scenery that is both beyond and below.

Where earth-meets-sky.

And where we see the trail below us, a tiny brown string against the naked elements, which represents the college journey to this point.

So far our 74 seniors have heard good news from 56 different colleges/universities.

That's 136 Yes letters. To only 1 No letter. With a handful of Maybe letters.

That's a staggeringly good start. The best in my five years in the college counseling office.

Personally, this start reflects the wise and discerning choices that students have made in the college selection process. It also reflects a senior class that has truly embraced the philosophy of best fit.

Below is a list of the colleges/universities that our students have been accepted to so far:

Auburn University
Baylor University
Belmont University
California Lutheran University
Calvin College
Clemson University
College of Charleston
College of Wooster
Drury University
Duke University (Early Decision, binding)
Elon University
Hampden-Sydney College
Hope College
Lewis and Clark College
Louisiana State University
Lynchburg College
Maryville University
Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Wesleyan College
Rhodes College
Roanoke College
Saint Louis University
Seattle Pacific University
Sewanee: The University of the South
Southern Methodist University
St. John's College
Texas A&M University
Texas Christian University
University of Alabama
Tulane University
University of Arkansas
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Georgia
University of Kansas
University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi State
University of Missouri at Columbia
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon

University of Richmond (Early Decision, binding)
University of San Diego (football signee)
University of Tulsa
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Vanderbilt University (2 Early Decision, binding)
Washington and Lee University (Early Decision, binding)
Webster University
Westminster College
Westmont College
Wheaton College
Whittier College
Whitworth University

Congrats to all our seniors on their early success!!!

Now back to the trail head.

To go further up and further in!