CTCL - Colleges That Change Lives

The 2007-2008 application cycle is history.  It was an extremely competitive cycle.  More high school seniors than ever before applied to college and they submitted applications to a larger number of schools.  Our students how where they will be in the fall and we extend our best wishes to them for a successful beginning of the next chapter of their lives.  We now turn our attention to our rising seniors; those students who will be applying to college in the fall of this year.  As counselors, we are busy helping our kids compile a list of potential colleges that they will research and hopefully visit before they begin completing their applications.

The primary goal of the college application process is to find the appropriate fit between a school and a student.  Unfortunately, the tremendous media attention given to the college admissions process has most high school seniors and their parents terrified that they won't get accepted to any colleges.  Not to worry.  With over 2500 four year post secondary institutions in the United States, there is a seat for any student who dreams of continuing their education after high school.  College admissions is a business and to that end a college is going to make admission decisions that benefit the college's enrollment management plan.  Students who get rejected from a particular college shouldn't take it personally.  Your application was rejected; it was a business decision.

At the end of May, Alex and I and the Donnelly's (pictured above with Marty O'Connell), a current Collegewise family, attended the Colleges That Change Lives book tour and college fair (www.ctcl.com) that is making its way across the country to spread its message of hope to students and their families.  Loren Pope's message is that you don't have to go to an Ivy or a brand-name school to get a superior education.  He has done extensive research on the 40 small liberal arts colleges that are included in his book, Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change The Way You Think About Colleges.  His research included visits, discussions with faculty, staff and students, and revisits ten years later to the schools that are included in his book.  All of the colleges are student centered and have collaborative learning environments.  Marty O'Connell, the Executive Director of CTCL, opened the evening with words of encouragement that had a visibly calming effect on the audience.  In fact, I think the majority of students and parents left the ballroom feeling that the college admissions process could actually be enjoyable.  The college fair portion of the event had enthusiastic and approachable admissions representatives from the majority of the colleges that are outlined in the book.

As our rising seniors begin the journey towards college, the most important thing that they can do is keep an open mind.  I recommend Loren Pope's book to all my families as a way to get them to think beyond the 50 brand-name colleges that most people believe is the only place you can get a quality education.  Going to college is about learning and growing.  It is about having fun and meeting new and interesting people.  It is supposed to be the best years of your life and finding the college that is the proper fit will ensure that.