Programs For Education

Some Students Strike Out Everywhere; Others Find ‘Safety’ Starts Looking Pretty Good

By ALVIN P. SANOFF

Erica A. Seldin finished in the top 5 percent of her class at Cherry Creek High School in suburban Denver, while taking a demanding curriculum that included 10 Advanced Placement courses. She received the highest score possible — five — on most of her AP tests. Ms. Seldin was also president of the school’s Thespian Society, acting in and directing a number of plays. So when it came to applying to college two years ago, she aimed high.

Ms. Seldin compiled a college list that she says included “one reach school, two good matches, and two safeties.” Her reach was Columbia University, to which she applied early decision. Her good matches were Amherst College and Washington University in St. Louis, and her safeties were Brandeis University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. “My counselors and teachers indicated my list was fine,” she recalls.

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Dear Class of 2011,

One of the most popular humor magazines when I was in high school was MAD magazine. Are you familiar with it? Staring out on each issue’s cover was the silly looking young man above. He was Alfred E. Neuman with his perpetual gapped tooth grin and his now universally known exclamation “What! Me worry?” It was a timeless teenage sentiment. Can you identify with that? If you have just completed your sophomore year, congratulations, you are now a high school junior ~ the largest; most competitive college bound class in American history! Do not worry.

But do pay attention. You may now be in the same place I was “way back when”. Perhaps you are fifteen or sixteen years old with vague college aspirations? You may not have any specific reason to go to college other than “it is the expected thing to do, and/or everyone else is doing it.” Well, not everyone is planning on college and some of your classmates will probably not go to college. That is, not a four year liberal arts college. They may want to get technical training education or some sort of certification, however.

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