Discovering the Right Fit

RIGHT FIT

SLUH College Counseling Embraces Highly Personalized Approach

THE FOLLOWING IS THE THIRD OF A THREE-PART SLUH MAGAZINE SERIES BY KEVIN CRIMMINS, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING. AFTER FOCUSING ON THE RAPIDLY RISING LEVELS OF SELECTIVITY AND TUITION IN THE FIRST TWO PARTS, CRIMMINS SHARES PERSPECTIVES AND STORIES FROM HIS COLLEGE COUNSELING TEAM HERE IN THIS ISSUE.

When I worked in college admissions at Washington University in St. Louis, I had a dean who described his mission as “knowing every student by name and by story.” Those inspirational words have directed a lot of what I want to do in my profession and my life. They are also words that are personified in Jesuit schools worldwide through the focus on Cura Personalis, or care of the whole person. In SLUH College Counseling, we embrace this Ignatian concept by getting to know each student and understanding both their and their family’s goals.

One of my favorite aspects of SLUH is the sheer diversity of students. Given the school’s generous policy of admitting students based on their ability to learn, and not their families’ economic circumstances, I’m constantly amazed by the students with whom I work. Each year I have students who will be the first in their family to go to college; students who have family obligations that they don’t want to leave; and students who are passionate about niche interests that can only be served from a limited set of colleges. While every SLUH graduate has an academic goal in college, it is rarely the only governing factor.

Indeed, our students do very well in the college admissions process. We encourage them to consider the possibility of applying to competitive schools and programs as an option – and every year we have scores of students admitted to these top universities and programs. However, I recognize it can be easy to pigeon-hole our students, painting broad strokes of acceptable outcomes and unfairly characterizing them as middle-class, white, multi-generational college going, protected students of privilege. As SLUH insiders, we know that is not the case. The truth is, every Jr. Bill is unique and multidimensional with their own distinct set of strengths, interests and ambitions. We work closely and carefully with each of them to continue their trajectories of achievement in the light of their unique circumstances.

Recently, my team worked with a very remarkable young man. He had one of the top GPA’s in his class with an ACT score well above even the SLUH average. Teachers and parents knew he was applying to some very competitive colleges. At graduation, a colleague who was not familiar with his goals was taken aback upon learning his decision to attend Truman State University over other prestigious schools. In this young man’s case, it was an ideal choice. He had been awarded Truman’s most prestigious scholarships and was going to effectively be paid to attend college. The school covered his tuition, room fees, meal plan and even gave him a study abroad grant. Above all, it was a perfect fit for the student. He wants to be a teacher and is now pursuing his dream in one of the most reputable education programs in the nation. He will set out on a noble career path, clear-eyed about earning potential, without the burden of student loans.

Another young man was a similar standout, with an “A” average and a nearly perfect ACT score. He was admitted to several select universities, including Boston College and the University of Virginia. At graduation, the University of Wisconsin was named and I saw a few eyebrows raised as it was known he had been admitted to other seemingly more prestigious schools. What they may not have realized was that Wisconsin has the seventh best undergraduate business school in the country, as well as one of the top Russian programs. He made a fabulous choice for himself by entering elite academic programs that would continue his path of achievement.

I realize anecdotes only tell so much. What I’m trying to convey is that there is a lot going on behind the scenes, sometimes for the student and his family, and sometimes with respect to particular programs inside of universities that may not be popularly known. It’s important to be sensitive with students who are going through the college admissions process, and to assume the best in them and their schools of choice. A common theme I hear from seniors as they approach graduation is one of exhaustion – exhaustion from a rigorous four years of SLUH, but more so, an exhaustion of all things related to the college search, and especially an exhaustion from outside voices challenging or questioning their carefully discerned choices.

Having joined a number of retreats at SLUH, I’ve been introduced to the word “sonder” – that is, the understanding that everyone has a story and set of motivations as complicated or more complicated than my own. As we move into another graduation season and we see the hard-won achievements of our SLUH graduates, please keep that idea in mind. When you talk with them about it, please do so in a way that celebrates with them their successes and plans for the future. They’ve earned it.