Page 1 - KnightTime News Winter 2018

KNIGHTtime News GUIDING YOUR COLLEGE PROCESS
NOVEMBER 2018
THIS EDITION INCLUDES:
STARTING THE COLLEGE SEARCH
2
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF 4 RECEIVING ADMISSIONS DECISIONS
6 WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH SENIOR 7
YEAR GRADES, ANYWAY? EXPECTATION SETTING
UPCOMING EVENTS 9
MISSION MATTERS
THE NEWS BULLETIN ARTICLES WE ARE READING
8 10
From the Director
Earlier this fall, I was excited to read the Challenge Success white paper on college admissions, which urged students and families to rethink what college ‘fit’ means. Their research said that “a good fit is a
college where a student will be engaged—in class and out—by what
the college has to offer,” and the paper encouraged students to “seek a school where students can participate fully in academic, civic, and social life in order to thrive both during the college years and beyond.” I loved this redefined definition of ‘fit.’ It is a philosophy that resonated with the college counseling staff and one we are working hard to help students understand as they go through the admissions process. Recently, I was visiting Lafayette College and listening to a panel of five seniors talk about how they made their way to Lafayette while also reflecting on the past four years. Each student was drawn to Lafayette for different reasons, and for some students, it was their first choice and for others, it was near the bottom of their list of colleges they applied to. However, at the end of their four years, the consensus was unanimous, it was now clearly each of the seniors’ first choice. All five had uniquely transformative experiences because of the engagement with their peers and the faculty and the
way they had connected to the campus community through activities, athletics, arts, and internships. It reminded me that this process works, every time, as long as Menlo students stay open-minded and determined to find their own best ‘fit’ college.
Matt Mettille, Director of College Counseling