Ditch The Distractions In College Selection 

By Jill S. Goldsmith, J.D., LAC, NCC

            Every fall, high school seniors begin the college application process, which can be daunting and overwhelming.  Students should consider many factors in college selection, and more importantly, avoid three distractions that can be costly and anxiety producing: the lemming effect; the “designer handbag/ sports car effect;” and the marketing effect.  By recognizing these mistakes early, families can save themselves time, money, and anxiety and focus their energy on finding the right fit.

            The Lemming Effect

             Lemmings are small rodents that follow each other, even over a cliff to their deaths.  High school students often behave like lemmings in college selection; they follow the lead of others who have come before them or blindly follow their peers.

           Some students behave like lemmings in college selection; they apply to the colleges and universities that their friends are choosing or their parents attended.  Rather than thinking critically and independently, students often assume that if others are applying to or have attended a school in the past, it must be right for them too.  This strategy ignores each student’s unique needs and values.

            The Designer Handbag/Sports Car Effect.

            Some women buy designer handbags, clothes, and jewelry because they believe that it is important to dress to impress.  For example, some women believe that buying an expensive designer handbag means they are worthy and wealthy.  Some men buy fancy sports cars for the same reason.

            Similar to decisions about handbags and cars, high school seniors often boast about their applications to “designer” schools to impress others.  Rather than evaluate whether an Ivy League school is really right for them, they boast about their applications to one or more Ivy League schools so that others think that they are smart.  Indeed, many believe that applying to an Ivy Leagues means the student is smart.  

            This strategy ignores the fact that anyone can apply to any school.  Applying to Harvard or Yale does not increase a student’s IQ or academic success; it only proves that the student can fill out an application and pay the application fee.  

            The Marketing Effect

            Schools engage in a wide variety of efforts to increase the pool of applicants.  After all, the more applications a school gets, the more they can reject, which results in a lower acceptance rate.  Like the business principal of scarcity, a school is more desirable, if it is less attainable.

            Some schools offer “teaser” scholarships so the student feels wanted and is encouraged to apply, even though the scholarship covers only a small fraction of the cost of that college.  Marketing efforts may put a college or university on a student’s radar, but these types of marketing efforts should not drive a student’s decision.

            Students should not be distracted by these common mistakes, even if everyone around them is making them.  Consider these factors instead: whether the school fits the student’s academic and career goals; student to faculty ratio; size; location; cost/financial aid offers; research and internship opportunities; extracurricular activities; environment; and the gut feel a student experiences while visiting the campus. 

            Every fall brings a frenzy of sorts on high school campuses across the country, fueled by the distractions identified above.  Smart students avoid these distractions and focus on factors that help a student identify the colleges or universities where he or she will succeed and thrive.