Boarding school dropout needs college counseling advice

Interviewhelp
Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:55:32 +0000

There is no doubt that your son’s situation will need to be addressed by him in the college application process. I was a faculty member at a top tier boarding school for twenty years and I have had several ex students who I stayed in touch with who had to deal with this sort of problem or worse. The good news is he can explain it.

Schools that are doing personal interviews are expecting to learn the “why” about situations. He will need to be able to confidently talk about “what I have overcome” and “how I have grown from that experience”. His application essay may be about this, but the ability to speak about it as an accomplishment and success story is critical.

For some free advice on how to develop his personal story see the articles tab at www.iscacademy.org. Then, I’d be happy to help further if you want to contact me.

On another note, I totally disagree that. CC is his only hope. And also disagree that his 3.3 in sophomore year is any real problem. It is Junior year that is most important and senior fall, particularly in this case. Many kids who do not thrive at great boarding schools without the medical problems, do just fine back home at public schools. The 3.3 is an indication that he might have done great had he been healthy enough to stay there. Colleges like kids who struggle at those schools a little and then rise to challenge. It sounds as though he did, but under the circumstances, was better off at home.

How he tells the story both in writing and in person iwill be critical. Is he ready to do that? Coaching can make a huge difference in his confidence about this issue.