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You can't distinguish yourself from others by doing what they do.

You can't distinguish yourself from others by doing what they do.

Distinguish-   to notice or recognize a difference between people or things. 

It can work both ways- distinguish oneself well or be indistinguishable.

Indistinguishable- not able to be identified as different or distinct.

The world rewards people who distinguish themselves favorably, which is probably just 1 in 10 kids and adults alike.

High school and college students who distinguish themselves favorably will win college acceptances and desired job offers. You will hear their celebrations.

The others who default to being indistinguishable will be left wondering what happened. You will hear their excuses.

To be certain of being distinguishable, adopt this mindset:

• Get up early to get your day going
• Live each day with meaningful intention
• Have a defined purpose for your interests
• Become a better writer
• Become better able to express yourself
• Validate others genuinely
• Show up every time well-prepared
• Follow up with precision timing
• Become globally minded and aware of the world in which you are living   

This is how you will become better recognized as worthy of additional consideration and improved outcomes. 

Do you want improved outcomes? Be distinguishable. Let's talk!

Many college policies are in place to enhance their ranking, not enhance the student experience nor outcome.

"Hans, we've done our homework. This college is ranked higher than..."

Homework? That's not homework.

I hear this way too often as the reason for choosing a college, and it's a wrong reason. Why?

Because College Rankings are a farce! 

Here's clear evidence for my point. Look at the Top 7 weighted factors that go into the U.S. News & World Report Rankings- 

1. 20%- peer review from other colleges; really, peer review? #1 factor? 20% weight? No way!
2. 17.6%- 6-year graduation rate;  6 years? Who does this serve? It's not the families!
3. 10%- money spent per student; who does this matter to? Not me!
4. 8%- average class size, smaller is valued more than larger; isn't this just a personal preference?
5. 8%- 6-year grad. rate of Pell Grant recipients; where does this come into play for you? 
6. 7%- faculty compensation... what does this matter to students and parents? 
7. 5%- SAT/ ACT scores of incoming freshmen; SAT/ACT scores are still very important.

These 7 items make up 75% of a college ranking; it's preposterous!

Here are my top 7 factors. Wouldn't these much better represent a college's quality and value? 

• The 4-year graduation rate
• The college job-placement rate
• The average salary of first-year jobs 
• Internship opportunities
• Research opportunities
• Study-abroad opportunities
• Breadth and depth of study programs

Wouldn't these factors serve you far better? Shouldn't this list be the focus of college rankings?

Here's the farce. You won't find any of these 7 factors in the calculation of college rankings.

Yet, people continue to chase and pay premiums for a college's ranking. It's why colleges make it a focus of their attention. It's reflected in their policies and student outcomes.

It's further reflected in parents' frustration as time goes by and expected outcomes are not delivered.

Why are the rankings done this way? Because the powerhouse colleges can manipulate those numbers to their advantage. Whereas, they can't manipulate my top 7!

Have I proven my point?

Do college rankings influence your thinking? If so, let's talk!

Most applicants have credentials, few have substance.

"Hans, I don't understand why my son was deferred while his best friend with a lower GPA was accepted."

I hear this all too often this time of year. The presumption that GPA stands alone as the primary qualifier for admissions is a pure fallacy.

SAT/ ACT tests- applying "test-optional" is a major compromiser of a student's credentials. A 3.65 GPA coupled with a 1400 SAT, or 31 ACT, is a far superior applicant than is a 3.80 GPA applying test-optional.

Rigor- a 3.65 unweighted GPA with 5 AP classes that give it a 4.05 weighted GPA (rigor value-.40) is a superior applicant over a 3.80 unweighted GPA with zero rigor value.

GPA, test-scores, and rigor values are three quick upfront variables that can be assessed within one minute of opening an application. These variables represent the initial academic credentials for which admission counselors will use to make a quick decision in disfavor of an applicant...and why not? You would do the same if you were them. 

A favorable decision requires more than that.

State Universities will primarily make decisions based on an applicant's academic credentials along with their choice of major and state of residence. They need to fill majors and courses, along with adhering to "state-resident" policy. Their decision can be made in under two minutes allowing them to move quickly to the next application. 

Private schools will look much deeper into an application before a favorable decision can be made. However, they too can make a quick decision in disfavor of an applicant if the initial credentials do not meet the college standards. 

Upon the applicant passing through the initial evaluation, the process will move into the Activities, Common App Essay, and Supplemental Essay sections of the application for consideration.

They will look for and evaluate a student's substance from which they will make an admissions decision.

Herein lies the challenges and frustrations of colleges. It's not credentials that applicants lack, rather, it's their substance! 

While student's credentials are on them to build, their perceived "substance" is on me. Let's see how.

Substance reflects upon a student's

• deep internal passions, meaningful interests, and purposeful activities
• experiences, community involvement, and global-mindedness
• mindset to learn from the perspective of others
• ability to write and verbalize their interests
• contribute towards a community-culture
• willingness to live outside their comfort zone.

This forms the foundation for a student to have and demonstrate real substance. It's what colleges look for in their applicants. It's a precursor for graduates to demonstrate value to possible employers!

All told, substance is a predictor of a student's realistic likelihood to succeed in achieving their true ambitions and internal desires; driven by an authentic and meaningful purpose; having the experiences, personal skills, and mindful approach to support it. 

Substance is a really big deal. It's also the most common missing component in college applicants.

The Price of College Prestige-

Paying $125,000 for the chance that a rabbit will pop out of the hat.

The root definition of "Prestige" is Presto- suddenly as if by magic.

"Presto" represents the end of a successful magic act.

"Prestige" represents the beginning of the magic act.

Prestige is purposefully created  to allure people to falsely believe there's some level of magic involved during the act. 

Many colleges have mastered this creation over many years to their financial gain. To "prestigious" colleges, the "rabbit" is their diploma. They get parents to believe in the added value of the diploma; that the "rabbit" assures their child's success will be magically granted upon them...presto! 

There is clearly a layer of cost associated with the perception of prestige, be it for colleges, homes, cars, restaurants, and other items.

For colleges, I estimate the cost of "prestige" to approximate $25,000 per year.  

So I ask, does paying $100,000 more make for a better college experience and outcome?

Does paying $30,000 more for a car make for a better driving experience? 

I don't think prestige makes for better college experiences and outcomes nor better cars. I think prestige often serves to satisfy people's egos and sense of status. 

That doesn't work for me! There is no magic in college. Rather, the magic can only come from within the student. Success can be earned and attained. It can't be bought.

One of my roles is to turn the imaginary belief of college into a real sense of intention, driven by purpose and meaning; to understand the reality of its-

• Educational Opportunity
• Anticipated Experience
• Desired Outcome
• Real Value

Part of my responsibility to student-families is to get them away from chasing the notion of prestige. Why? Because it's a misleading variable for success. 

What's real is that success and satisfaction is created by a student's mindset. It's driven by their willingness to be involved, engaged, responsible, and accountable in creating their unique path forward towards living the life they want for themselves. 

I will use Syracuse University as my example. 

Very few people include Syracuse in their initial thoughts about college. Rather, I frequently hear- Northeastern, Boston College, BU, NYU, Villanova, UVA, George Washington, Georgetown, and others. 

What makes those colleges elite or prestigious, and not Syracuse?

It's not the success of its graduates. It's more associated with college rankings, acceptance rates, tuition cost, intensely pressured Early Decision enrollments, and fortified by an arrogant attitude.

It all serves to get parents to beg for their child's acceptance and their willingness to pay the full price. It's the strategic-hype of colleges that people buy into for the bragging rights that come with it. 

Those bragging rights will soon cost $400,000 for a four-year degree at many colleges.

That's not what I look for in the college experience for my CollegeLogic students and their parents, and it's not what Syracuse University is all about. 

I safely say that students attending Syracuse, and many other similar colleges, can gain an equivalent education, inspirational experience, and improved outcome (jobs) as students attending other so-called prestigious colleges. And the parents don't have to pay the extra 100K in hopes that a rabbit will pop out of the hat.

I work to get families to replace their belief in the hype with a clear perspective for the reality.