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Many parents think college admissions is about getting accepted. In reality, the application process is a fantastic place for students to practice communication skills they will need to use in internships, job interviews, and the rest of their careers. Here is why those skills matter. Imagine your student is in a job interview. The interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”&nbsp; Does your student answer: &nbsp; “Um, I’m a senior at XYZ University and … um…” &nbsp; OR &nbsp; “I’m a senior at XYZ University studying economics, and over the past year I’ve been really interested in how businesses make decisions. I’m interested in this job because…” &nbsp; The reality is, Answer B is more likely to result in an offer. However, many students are not taught to share their accomplishments so directly.&nbsp; &nbsp; One thing is true across both college admissions and the workforce: Once an applicant has demonstrated that he/she can do the work, the ability to explain their accomplishments is often the difference-maker. In both admissions and hiring, decisionmakers want to understand candidates’ actions, impact, and thought process: what they did, why they did it, what they learned, and how they will contribute to their college/workplace. &nbsp; Am I saying that humility is bad? No, not at all. However, students should not “let their work speak for itself” in either college admissions or in their early career because they will simply be passed over for someone who communicates their experiences more effectively. &nbsp; The college admissions process is a fantastic time to begin practicing the skills of self-advocacy and communication. During this process, students need to ask their teachers for letters of recommendation, describe their activities on the Common Application, and possibly even complete an interview. These are often the first time they are asked to “brag.” However, “bragging” can be reframed to connecting the dots for the reader, who simply wants to know what your student did, what he/she learned, and how he/she will contribute to their future college campus. &nbsp; Whether your student ultimately attends Harvard, Penn State, or another university, he/she will need to interview for internships (and even club positions), ask professors for help, and communicate effectively with future managers in the workplace. College admissions is just one of the first times students are asked to practice those skills.

The One Skill That Helps Students Get Into College — and Get Hired

In speaking with many parents from different countries, here is what I wish parents knew about college admissions and entry-level hiring in the US:<h3> Prestige is important, but it’s not the only way to get an entry-level job. </h3>Yes, it can be helpful to have a degree from an Ivy League university. However, graduating from a top university is no guarantee that your student will have a job at graduation, or acceptance at a top graduate school. Likewise, attending a university outside the Top 20 may result in better job outcomes for a student. Why? Employers care not just about where your student attended college, but also what they did there. Your student needs to finish college having completed internships, gotten involved in clubs, and/or having worked a part-time job on campus.&nbsp; Sometimes, the best university for your student is not the one that others recognize, but rather the one that teaches your student his/her strengths and weaknesses, how to network, and how to tell their story.<h3> There are colleges that would love to offer scholarships to your child.</h3> I regularly see students simply assuming that they cannot afford certain universities and therefore only planning to apply to one or two Ivy League universities and then their state flagships (like UMass Amherst or UC Berkeley). However, there are many colleges, including private ones, that would be willing to offer up to tens of thousands of dollars to students. The issue is that students can’t know what their scholarship offer will be if they do not apply, and they cannot apply without knowing about the university in the first place.For example, at some universities, even though the "sticker price" to attend is $80,000/year, every student receives a merit scholarship, effectively bringing the price down by at least $20,000/year.<h3> The best applicants incorporate their natural strengths</h3> Students often participate in certain extracurricular activities out of the belief that they “need volunteering to get into college,” or “need leadership to get into college.” However, the best applications come from students who truly love what they do inside and outside of school. Why? Because when students write their essays and activity lists, their enthusiasm (or lack of it) can come through in their writing. Admissions officers, like all human beings, are moved by stories, and that includes writing about their activities with emotion. If a student truly enjoys his/her activities, it is much easier for that student to achieve the scope, reach, and impact that will stand out to admissions officers.

What I wish parents knew about college admissions

Parents often ask me what their early high school students should do over the summer, especially now that it’s May and summer program deadlines have largely passed. The good news is, students do not need an expensive or prestigious summer program to have a meaningful summer from a college admissions perspective. Here are some ways students can spend their time:<h3> Volunteering</h3> Colleges often value students who care deeply about causes greater than themselves. Some colleges’ applications ask students to write about times they worked with people different from themselves, and one way for kids to get this experience is to volunteer. The experiences can be simple: stocking items at a food pantry, serving customers at a pet shelter, shelving books at the library, and more.<h3> Visiting colleges</h3> The summers after 9th and 10th grades are great times to begin touring nearby colleges. This can give kids a sense of what a big versus small school feels like and can make it easier to decide which colleges to apply to later on. At some colleges, demonstrated interest can play a role in admissions decisions.<h3> Preparing for the SAT/ACT</h3>Summer can be a great time for students to get ahead on preparing for the SAT or ACT before junior or senior year get busy. I generally recommend that students achieve the score they want by the end of junior year so that they can focus on their application essays over the summer and fall of senior year. In short, summers can be used strategically for admissions, even if the opportunities are not "prestigious."

Three ways 9th and 10th graders can spend their summers

Prospera Education Consulting

Boutique college admissions consulting firm offering comprehensive services to students from immigrant backgrounds: activity planning, suggesting a list of colleges, essay brainstorming and editing, and more.

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The One Skill That Helps Students Get Into College — and ...

What I wish parents knew about college admissions

Three ways 9th and 10th graders can spend their summers