Refresh, Renew, and Recharge
By Quetzal Mama • January 12, 2014
Refresh, Renew,
and Recharge
Copyright Roxanne Ocampo 2014
Having
just read the book, “Better: A Surgeon’s
Notes on Performance” by Atul Gawande, I am invigorated and inspired. Dr. Gawande is a General Surgeon at the
Brigham and Women’s Hopsital in Boston, a staff writer for The New Yorker, and an associate professor at Harvard Medical
School and the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr.Gawande’s book is not about surgery, but on human performance. I was so intrigued by the concepts he
presented, I finished the entire book in just 4 workouts at 24-Hour Fitness. My take-away from his work is that
exceptional performance is not typically the result of one extraordinary thing.
Contrary to this notion, extraordinary performance is often the result of a
single, unremarkable thing, or several little things. It is about how we look at things, and how
we approach challenges. In 2014 I will
be focused on this new mindset as I approach many Quetzal Mama goals.
I
thought it would be an excellent opportunity to apply the “Better” mindset as we
look at the 2014/2015 college admissions cycle.
Therefore, this month’s article is intended for our current high school
juniors who will be applying to college in fall 2014. This information will help students piece
together their college candidacy by considering several smaller pieces, rather
than an overwhelming and idealized feat.
So, we will approach seven aspects for current juniors including: Reality, Reassess, Realign, Resources,
Research, Remind and Reward.
REALITY – the first step
in considering your admissions candidacy is to take a realistic look at where
you are today. I know this is an
overused phrase, but it works here: It is what it is. Whether your academic profile boasts a 4.0
GPA and an SAT score over 2000, or a 2.5 GPA with a 1200 SAT – it is what it
is. Taking a moment to do a “reality
check” is likely one of the most important steps toward your college admission
success. This reality check is critical
because, in my experience, it helps the student avoid disastrous outcomes.
In
my practice, I often see two extreme mindsets.
I see students who have idealized a particular university, without
considering whether their profile is aligned with admission to this
campus. This is devastating for several
reasons. First, the student focuses time
and energy applying to one or just a few highly selective campuses, without
considering dozens of others that are more closely aligned with their
profile. Aside from wasting time, the
student will likely miss out on financial aid opportunities from campuses they
overlooked. These students refuse to
take a reality check, and instead rely on “luck” and pure optimism. However, simply “wishing” for admission will
set up the student for disappointment, devastation, and lack of options. I’ve seen stubborn students use this
approach, only to be left with no offers of admission. With more than 6,500 colleges and universities
in the United States, why only focus on campuses like Stanford, Berkeley, or Duke? Instead, be realistic and stack the deck in
your favor. Begin looking at alternate
campuses to increase your odds of admission.
On
the other spectrum are students who critically underestimate their academic
standing and miss out on exceptional financial aid packages because they were
“undermatched.” The phenomena of “under matching,” occurs when a highly qualified Latino student does not
consider selective colleges for reasons including: perceived fees and expenses associated with a
selective college; geographical challenges; unfamiliarity with the application
process;
lack of mentorship; lack of confidence, lack of resources, or simply a lack of exposure to
other Latino students who successfully navigated the selective college process.
Under
matching is devastating because a genuinely qualified student misses out on the
opportunity to reach her/his academic potential. When I refer to a “qualified student” I am
referring to student’s whose academic profile is closely aligned with
competitive universities. Although some
might argue that any college degree
is better than no college degree, there is no replacement for the types of
networking, research, rigor of curriculum, and career prospects that a highly
selective college might have offered this student.
A
reality check in your junior year of high school is one of the smartest tasks
you will complete this year. This task
will help you sharply define your college prospects and effectively strategize
goals aligned with these prospects. The
end result is a shortlist of colleges where you have the best chance of
admission and the best odds of
landing solid financial aid packages.
REASSESS – Now that
you’ve survived the difficult reality check, it is time to reassess your
options. Maybe you had your mind set on
Biological Sciences or Engineering, but your grades and exams are not
consistent with this goal. Rather than
idealizing this goal, simply reassess your options and devise a reasonable
alternative that allows you the most options.
For example, you might consider a major that is not as competitive, but
sparks your interest or career goals.
Or, you might consider attending a Community College and take college
level courses in topics you have a strong interest. This plan will help you gain hands-on
experience so you can gage whether you will be successful in this type of
program. When it comes time to transfer
to a 4-year campus, you will have the advantage of knowing whether the major is
a fit or not. Reassessing your options
may help you decide that a CSU is better suited for you, compared to a UC campus. Or, you might realize that your profile is a
better fit for private colleges and UC campuses, versus CSU campuses.
REALIGN – Once you’ve
completed a reality check and reassessed your college goals, now you can begin
realigning your academic and extracurricular activities. Realigning means to look at your college
admission goals and devise a strategic plan that targets the campus and
academic program. For example, if you
intend to major in Environmental Science, spend time this summer researching program
offerings through the college’s online catalog.
For example, UCLA has an Honors Program in Environmental Science. Previewing program eligibility and scope of
requirements will give you a better understanding of options available for your
major. You will also want to research the faculty and research opportunities
for the campus. Finally, consider reading books related to the topic of your
major, by authors with expertise in the subject matter. All of these tasks will pay off next fall,
when you write your Personal Statement, Supplemental essays, and attend your
campus interview.
RESOURCES – Latinos are so
resilient and independent that we neglect to seek help during the critical part
of our academic journey. Being
independent is great – but not when it comes to college admissions. Don’t go at it alone. There are many resources available to help
you navigate this process. Sign up for
workshops, check out college admission books from your public library, or
follow an admission expert’s blog. Also,
consider inviting experts to your high school campus to conduct a workshop or
seminar. Gathering resources also means
reaching out. In your resources
strategy, you will want to create two important teams: Your Reader Panel and your Recommenders. The
Reader Panel is your group of experts who will review and critique your essay,
to ensure it is worthy of admission.
Your Recommenders include two teachers and one secondary counselor. Before the spring semester is over, make sure
to schedule a meeting with your teams so that your plan is organized prior to
the summer break.
RESEARCH – This summer
is the ideal time to begin researching prospective campuses and narrowing your
college shortlist. The research might
include visiting the campus, interviewing students who currently attend for an
honest opinion, and reviewing the freshman applicant profile on the admissions
page. Your research will also include
items from “Realign” above, so that you are fully informed about the campus,
resources available, and have a “cheat sheet” available to assist you in
writing your essays and nailing the interview.
REMINDERS –Since you’ve
conducted research, aligned your strategies, and comprised your teams, if you
neglect to set up timely reminders you might sabotage your efforts. Thinking back to Dr. Gawande’s “Better”
principle, how about setting up a reminder system so that you will not forget
many important deadlines during summer and fall? Set reminders on a wall calendar, in Google
Docs, or through your iPhone calendar.
For example, most summer internships have application deadlines mid
January to late February. It is a great
strategy to apply to as many internships as possible. Another important deadline for current
juniors is registering for your Spring AP exams. These exams are only offered once per year,
so the spring of your junior year will be the last opportunity to take exams
prior to your fall college application. Whatever
your method, be sure to have a backup reminder system. Your backup plan might include subscribing to
an admissions blog to receive reminder emails, or establishing a “buddy” system
with one of your peers. For example, I
post weekly reminders throughout the admissions cycle on my Facebook page,
including links to exam registration websites, prep programs, scholarship
applications, leadership programs, and articles of relevance.
REWARD – Lastly, as
you near the final stretch of your college admissions goals, don’t forget to
reward yourself for your efforts! Did
you know only 16% of California Latinos hold a college degree, compared to 39%
for the State of California1?
Moreover, application and admission rates to selective colleges has remained stagnant for Latino students, despite
our population growth. As you can see, getting
into college is not easy. Therefore,
take some time to acknowledge your efforts and reward yourself in a meaningful
way. Remember, you are setting an
example for your siblings and relatives as well as those in your
community. This may also be a great time
to show appreciation and reward those who have helped you get to where you are
today. Thank your parents, counselors,
or any person who has impacted your college journey. Then say to yourself, “I am going to college.” Pat
yourself on the back and know that we are all rooting for your success.
Make it a better 2014! Quetzal Mama