Parting Advice from Jack Beecher Part 2
Originally written Summer '23
Jack Beecher here
As you read this, I will be in New Hampshire moving into my new home for the next four years. For my final blog, I will continue the theme of the last blog and try to best dispel my wisdom about college admissions into short-form advice for your family to use.
I appreciate everyone in the CC.us community and wish everyone the best going forward!
Have Fun
No one cares what school you’re going to. You won’t feel different because you’re going to a better school than your friends. Your college does not define you. That’s not to say don’t try to go to a great school at all. Just make sure you’re staying balanced in your life and having a good end to your high school career—that’s what really matters.
There’s No One Mold to Get Into Top Schools
I interviewed 4 different students going to top universities (Brown, Brown, Harvard, Stanford); they all approached college admissions differently. It quite literally does not matter what path you take, find your own path and make it work for you. If you work hard enough, it will.
College Admissions Translates to the Real World (at least I think, idk I’m only 18)
The things you learn to help you crush college admissions don’t just help you crush college admissions, but life. So give it your all. Worst case scenario, you’re more prepared for what life has to throw at you in the future.
Essays are Hard
I spent a month just figuring out my topic. I trashed fully written essays on multiple topics before I settled on what I wanted to write about. I then modified that essay of my actual topic at least 30 times before submitting it. Essays are hard—but boy are they rewarding.
For Activities, Quality > Quantity
Schools don’t care about what you’re bad at, only about what you’re good at. So you better be really really good at the things you’re good at to stand out. This means you must be picky in the activities you participate in so you can devote more time to them. Less is more.
Read
Books are everything in life, and consequently, everything in college admissions. Reading will help you level up your writing. Reading will help you come up with better ideas for your essays. Reading will make you a more complete person. Pick up a book. I promise there’s not much reading a good book won’t help with. For college admissions advice, read How to be a High School Super Star.
As always, if you’re interested in taking your college planning strategy to the next level, join the free College Confidence Community or schedule a free call with Jack Delehey to discuss how to make college admissions easy.
Thanks for everything, CC.us family!
-Jack Beecher
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