I Challenge “College Fit” in the Admissions Process.
My latest college travel adventure took me back to Scotland, specifically to learn more about the University of Glasgow, Stirling, and Aberdeen. This was my second trip to Scotland, and my third solo trip across the pond visiting universities. Traveling alone to learn about universities is something I have grown to appreciate more and more. This act is something that has helped me grow personally and professionally. I plan and travel to each destination on my own, learning to navigate internationally, usually while sleep deprived, something our students will eventually have to do if they choose to study outside of the US too. The trips are with other counselors, and even though we are with them during the learning parts on the these trips, we often have opportunities to explore on our own too. I often extend the trip a day or two to gain as many experiences or college visits as I can. When we are all together we do share our ideas, thoughts, and best practices with each other. I learn something new and meet amazing people on every trip. Yet the experience and the impression I have about a place is my own. The universities we visit and cities we explore change our minds and imprint on our hearts. We grow too. Just as our students do when they get out of their comfort zone.
High School students will often feel connected to a handful of colleges during the college search process, maybe because they enjoyed their tour guide while visiting, or they found the admissions rep knowledgeable and charming. Maybe it was the weather that day when they were on campus, or perhaps it has the top ranked biomedical engineering program in the country. Whatever their personal reason for connecting with a college, finding “a good fit” is too often based on their personal comfort. In other words, they felt comfortable there, so it is where they think they belong, and where they think they will fit in.
I propose a challenge to all high school students and their parents. Venture into the college admissions search with an open mind and a clean slate. I challenge you to look for colleges and experiences that will take you out of your comfort zone. To explore options that will give you opportunities for personal growth, and for gaining confidence. Whether you take a gap year, get or keep a job, 2 yr or 4 yr college (near or far) get out of your comfort zone.
When students and parents begin searching for colleges and deciding on which ones to apply to, they often are focused on all the buzz around university rankings and perceived prestige, rather than on their own personal growth and enrichment. This is something that we are all too aware of these days, especially after last week’s bribing and cheating scandal plastered across the news around college admissions. They hear from their friends, their relatives, and their teachers about usually a narrow list of colleges and majors and with sometimes damaging ideas. Some phrases I often hear from them are, “Go to the best university you get accepted to” & “You can do better than that college.”
Which is the best university anyway?
This myopic view of what education is for, and that higher education is a commodity and something to gain, something to brag about, is what is holding our students back from truly learning and growing. This belief is keeping them in a box, from challenging and expanding their world views, and getting out of their comfort zone.
The visit days are long and full of activity. During these college visits, the universities try to expose us to much appreciated doses of culture and place while we are there as well. This time we visited a distillery, an estate, and a museum, among all of the site seeing. While visiting The University of Stirling, we did something a bit different. We learned a traditional Scottish dance called Ceilidh. This is not something that I would normally be keen on doing, but I am always happy to push myself a little more when I am out of my element and especially when I am traveling. When in Scotland, right? It was hard, it was tiring, and yet, it broke down all barriers in our group. We were vulnerable, silly and sweaty, and having fun. 24 adults got out of their comfort zone for an hour, all while wearing velcro kilts and embracing the moment. I am so glad I did too, because it had a big impact on my whole perspective about the trip.
The moments that change us in life are when we experience something that is hard and new, when we are challenged, nervous, and scared. Yet with practice, we succeed. When we step out of our comfort zones, mess up, and eventually get it, we grow.
The trips can be rote as well, but not in a boring way! I learn a lot about the majors, courses, programs, housing, transportation, scholarships, societies and clubs, the food, the weather, and many things a university student experiences when they attend college. Universities always provide counselors with the opportunity to meet with students who’ve made the decision to study internationally too. We hear about how they are doing academically, socially, and emotionally. This part always helps me to visualize my students there too.
My goal is to show students they too can expand their search horizons. I want them to believe that they can do it too. They can get out of their comfort zone, explore a new country, state, or city, meet new people, and grow.
University abroad seeks a global minded, self starter, proactive, mature, resilient, culturally responsive, adventurous and brave student to join its academic environment.
My College Travel Instagram & a full list of Colleges I have visited.
