Steve Jobs is famous for saying (and showing) that simple can be harder than complex: “You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” That’s why I was so impressed when Dr. Jim Malone drew upon his decades of experience as a College & Career Counselor to distill the college admissions process down to its essence. According to Dr. Malone, the bewildering array of choices and challenges every family must contend with in the hunt for higher education can be broken down to the 3 C’s of College:
1. CREDENTIALS
Colleges consider many factors in admissions, but will rarely discover an applicant’s interests and character if the numbers are not in order. Grades and test scores matter more than you might think.
2. CAREER
What a campus looks like pales in importance compared to what is taught in its classrooms. Smart students learn about their interests and intended majors so they can find their best fit schools.
3. COST
In case you haven’t heard, college can be expensive. REALLY expensive. Too many students grow attached to schools their families cannot afford. Savvy shoppers always consider cost and look for ways to save.
Manage the admissions process by considering each choice through the lens of these 3 C’s of College:
- Do I have the credentials to be accepted by this school?
- Will this school provide the right education and experience for my anticipated career?
- Can I even hope to afford this school if accepted?
Of course, you don’t have to handle this process alone. If you’re not sure of the answers to your credentials, career, and cost questions, we can help! Jim Malone also happens to be the Director of College Coaching and Training at NextStepU. We at Chariot Learning are excited to be partnering with NextStepU to offer what we call our 3 C’s of College Package. This comprehensive suite of test prep and admissions services is as exciting as it sounds, so check it out!
Mike Bergin