The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts

We’re bringing back our popular series, Meet an Admissions Counselor, where we introduce students and families to a different member of the College Coach admissions team. Drop in to see what we’re reading, where we went to school, and our strategies for beginning the college essay. As you work with us to find an educational consultant who best fits your needs or the needs of your child, we will help you consider the personality and working styles that will bring out the best in you or your student. Today we introduce Sally Ganga, who works with students both remotely in our Westport, CT office.

Applying for college is a confusing and overwhelming project, one that is already challenging for students lucky enough to live in school districts that offer well-funded college counseling offices at their local high schools.  Students who attend less well-funded high schools, or who are taking a non-traditional path to college, often fall through the cracks.  Here at College Coach, we believe deeply in the power of education, and we are committed to helping everyone access it.  To that end, we developed a Community Support Committee a few years ago and are always looking for opportunities to help under-served populations with the college application process by working with the non-profit organizations that serve them. 

Most students picture opening the envelope or their email, and finding the announcement of their admission to the college of their choice: the ultimate fulfillment of their dreams as a high school student.  In general, I find students don’t think much beyond this moment, aside from imagining how great college will be.  (For the record, college is pretty great!)  Most parents, however, realize that this celebratory moment is just the beginning.  The transition to college is really exciting on paper, but it is also one of the most challenging moments in the life of a student and her family. 

I was really pleased to hear Tufts University’s announcement that they will be offering a funded gap year program for students. As someone who deferred college for a year to attend a Youth For Understanding (YFU) program in Belgium and benefitted enormously from the experience, I’ve never understood why more U.S. students don’t take gap years.

A recent article from WBUR Boston described the terrible tragedy of three Newton South High School students who recently committed suicide.  Newton South High School is known as an excellent school with a high-achieving student body and a very rigorous curriculum. The article, written by a Newton parent who is also a professor of psychology, asked what high school administrators and faculty could do to address the enormous stress of the student experience.

This past month, I drove down to White Plains, New York to give a presentation on “Beating the Admission Game” to the White Plains Football Association on behalf of College Coach.  The association was formed to help football players learn more about deadlines, standardized tests, financial aid, and other admission basics with respect to selective colleges and universities.  The association’s organizers determined that mentors who work with students and families are crucial in making sure everything gets done right in the application process.  I was brought in not only to inform families about the college admission process but to energize students, their families, and mentors, as to higher education possibilities.

Earlier this month, my College Coach consultant colleagues Mary Sue, Lisa Albro, and myself, had a wonderful experience presenting to four small groups of 10 to 20 middle and high school aged students and their American Express Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors.