Unlocking Success: Why Focusing on Process, Not Results, is Key to College Admissions

As a college admissions consultant, I have seen many students who are solely focused on getting into the most prestigious universities, believing that this would be the key to their future success.

However, the flaws in this approach rear their ugly heads every time results season comes around: students are disappointed in their acceptances, feeling like they sacrificed their true needs and desires to conform to a mold for no good reason. They sold themselves out and don't have a "top" school acceptance to show for it.

The college admissions process is a multifaceted journey that requires a great deal of planning, preparation, and patience. From researching schools and selecting the right courses to taking standardized tests and writing essays, there are many steps involved in the process. However, the most challenging aspect to navigate is often the pressure to target and gain acceptance to the most prestigious schools. And with so much emphasis placed on getting into "top" schools, it can be easy to lose sight of what really matters.

But I'm here to tell you a secret: focusing on process, not results, is the key to college admissions success.

Instead of solely focusing on prestige, it's important to focus on building skills, understanding and living your own values, and finding inspiring and supportive mentors during your high school years. By doing so, students develop the tools and resources you need to succeed in college and beyond.

How?

Start by being open. Rather than fixating on the prestige of a college or a particular outcome and trying to be what they think those schools want to see, students who focus on process are more likely to be open to new experiences and opportunities. This openness can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth and success. Students can follow their curiosity, apply their creativity, and chart their own paths. A focus on process can help students take full advantage of the opportunities in front of them.

In the process of exploration, you can start to set clear goals - your own well-thought out goals. Identify the skills you want to develop, the mentors you want to connect with, and the opportunities you want to pursue...and here's the kicker: WHY. Knowing your why and staying connected to it as you go through the ups and downs of high school is vital to maintaining focus and growing as a person. And understanding what you value - in yourself, in others, and in life - will help with setting those goals and pursuing them.

Students who take this approach find a new and exciting sense of engagement while building a strong academic and extracurricular record. They aren't afraid to take on leadership responsibilities or pursue independent projects, because they naturally align with what the student cares about. They do what matters to them to the best of their ability. And note this does't mean they only do things that are fun - most things that are worth pursuing involve hard work, so we can't shy away from it!

Don't let the pressure to get into a prestigious school overshadow your personal growth and development. You are building yourself into a person who can achieve the goals you've set, you are building your life beyond college, and yes, by the way, you are building yourself into a rockstar college applicant.

I'll give you an example. This last year, I had a student we'll call Abby. She's always loved helping others and especially connects with her grandparents, her older relatives, and their friends. Once, while visiting the local senior center with her grandmother, she kept getting asked to fix someone's tablet or printer, or show them how to use FaceTime. Of course, she happily helped out. But then she saw a bigger opportunity - what if she could get her friends to help these seniors navigate technology? Out of her authentic desire to help more people, she started a club that hosted Tech Days at the senior center each month. Everyone loved it: students learned from their elders while keeping them company and easing their technology woes. Abby and her friends found more and more ways to support the local seniors, culminating with an oral health event with dental researchers, free products, and lots of fun.

With all she learned from this and similar activities, Abby wrote amazing essays about her motivations for building community, and was accepted to a number of those "top" schools, including Dartmouth and Tufts, because on top of a strong academic record, she lived her values in a very clear way.

It's clear that engaged, curious, and active members of a high school community become engaged, curious, and active members of a college campus, of a workplace, of a neighborhood. The college process - and specifically all the things kids can do leading up to writing their applications - is an amazing time to learn and practice applying this mindset. Kids all develop on their own timeline, so like the title says "Don't Force It!" but remember, the more they can focus on process, the less stuck they will feel.

Follow me for more on how to implement this approach with your student.