One Milestone at a Time

I once had a student proclaim that it was Pepperdine University or nothing.  He knew that it was a reach school for him, but he claimed if Pepperdine rejected him, he’d attend a two-year college and transfer.  He didn’t even want to apply to any other colleges.   

So often I hear my students lamenting the fact that their favorite school falls into the “reach” category.  I understand that the news can be disheartening.  But I find it even more disheartening when these high school juniors and seniors decide to prematurely throw in the towel based on this fact.  At the wise old age of 16, some of my students concede that they can only be happy at one college.  They want to apply to just one, accept their fate, and attempt to transfer from a community college after two years if the expected rejection letter arrives. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the community college route.  But it shouldn’t be the knee jerk reaction to discovering that your chances of acceptance into your dream school are slim.  To refuse to even investigate (and apply to) other college options, to me, is allowing one pesky reach school to rob you of the option of four amazing undergraduate years.

It’s all about options.  Instead of determining your future based on the possibility that you’ll receive a rejection letter from your favorite college, why not entertain the idea of falling for a few other schools in your reach?  After some prodding, my Pepperdine-or-bust student allowed himself to get acquainted with Pt. Loma Nazarene University and California Lutheran University.  After visiting both campuses, he was smitten with Pt. Loma’s stunning views and Cal Lutheran’s cozy size.  In April, acceptance letters from both arrived in the mailbox, but Pepperdine didn’t have a place for him in their freshman class.  Overall, it was good news.  Two schools really wanted him.  And who doesn’t like to feel wanted?  He considered his options and, in the end, he stuck with his initial plan.  But by allowing himself to have the options, he put himself in control of this process and his future.  And he made a well informed decision to start at a community college.  He—not his reach school—determined his college fate. 

High school has become a pressure cooker these days.  Too many teenagers are projecting ten years into the future, associating lifelong success with the name of a particular school.  They’re neglecting to enjoy the present moment and they’re not realizing that college is so much more than the job they’ll find after graduation.  I urge teenagers to slow down.  Enjoy each milestone—like finding colleges, visiting, applying, and eventually deciding where to go.  You’ll have more options, and a lot more enjoyment, along the way.