How to EASILY Become a FOCUSED Student and Crush College Admissions
Originally written in spring 2023 by CC.us student Jack Beecher (Now, current student @ Dartmouth)
It’s Jack Beecher.
I’m about a month away from graduating high school. In 45 days, I’ll walk across the commencement stage and leave my high school self behind. The clubs I joined, the classes I took, and the scores I earned suddenly won’t matter as much as they once did. Whereas the things I occasionally sacrificed to achieve those goals (friends, joy, and connections) will be the most important things I take away from high school.
So for those of you still in high school, not at the doorstep of graduating, let that sink in. Many things you do won’t matter past high school, so don't sacrifice your well-being and friendships to achieve those successes. Instead, find the balance.
You might be wondering how that message fits in with the goal of getting accepted to top-level colleges, and trust me, we’ll get there. It’s just first important to understand what high school is for: being a teenager, having fun, and then as a side effect, if it’s your goal, getting into a great college.
The entire College Confidence Program was built on the premise of that message. We want to maximize your chances of getting into college while minimizing the unimportant and tedious effort involved. And to showcase how we help our students do that, here’s an example of a focused student versus a student who’s all over the place.
If you’re reading, do a quick 60 second thought experiment with me. Imagine you're the admissions officer who gets to decide which student, out of the two below, to admit. The student you pick will represent your college, so choose wisely.
Ready? Here are the students:
Did you notice something interesting? Student A did way less, but by being focused, stood out and accomplished more than Student B. Now decide this: which student would you rather be? Student A, who dominates in a specific area and still has the free time to do normal high school things, or Student B, who spends all day grinding away with little to show for it.
This is a crucial lesson to understand if you want to maximize admissions chances and minimize wasted time. Focus on the things that relate to your path, and go all in.
Does that sound familiar? Well, that’s because what I just described is called Category 4 of Admissions in the CC.us program, which covers these three components: Story, Path, and Showstopper Activity, from general to specific. These are also the components we constantly preach about in blogs like this because they are of utmost important to understand.
If you want to learn more about the 4th category of admissions, including the Showstopper Activity, and how to become a focused student, join the free College Confidence Community dedicated to helping families navigate the entire process. Once you’re there, watch the videos "2.2a Your Story" and "2.2b Different > Difficult" for more information on how to stand out (pictured below).
By following that advice, and framing your high school experience to be one of a focused student, not only will you have free time to do the things you want, but you’ll have a better chance of getting into college. It’s a win-win.
Note: don’t worry if you don’t know what path is right for you or what you want to major in. You can still show excellence in a single area by minimizing time-wasters (JV sports you don’t like, random clubs, etc.) and staying focused on the things you enjoy.
Is your family interested in taking this message to the next level with elite college coaching advice? If so, check out the aforementioned College Confidence Community or schedule a free 45-minute call to hash out exactly how your child can become a focused student destined for college admissions success.
That’s all I have. If you want, contact me at jack.beecher@collegeconsulting.us with any questions regarding the process. I’d be happy to answer them!
Best of luck,
Jack Beecher
P.S. - Have a high-performing high schooler w/ a 3.7 GPA or higher? We'll help get them into at least one of their top 5 dream colleges...and if we don't get them into at least one of their top 5 dream colleges, you don't pay us a penny. Seriously. College admissions isn't rocket science...but it is a science. And we've cracked the code...year, after year, after year. You can learn more about our world renowned all-inclusive, start-to-finish college coaching here and to see if your family qualifies for an introductory call.
P.P.S - Our most common question is "When should we start?!" The answer is, if you truly care about giving your high schooler the best chance of college planning success, you should start NOW. 9th grade is not too early to start! 10th grade is certainly not too early to start! And 11th grade is far, far too late! (supporting data here to show just how much of an advantage you give your child by starting the process early).
