Nancy Gerena: I spend a lot of time working with college representatives. My main job at the school is to be the liaison between universities and our school. It's absolutely wonderful if a student ends up at an Ivy League school but do we know if that school's the right fit for them. Students need to understand why they're going to that school. What's the reason for it? It cannot be the name. It has to be because of the programme, or the opportunities available to them there.
Also, because these are highly selective schools, you have to be more than just intelligent and a good tester. It is about what are you actively doing in high school, and how is that going to continue in their institution? That is an important factor that students must understand when choosing an elite or selective school.
What is the secret to enabling students to successfully get into a great university?
Kaftiz: When students are matched with a school that is the right fit, they tend to do well. So much of college is finding yourself, finding your place in the world and building a strong social network. This happens at all types of colleges!
Gerena: I always like to tell students to research or Google where some of the Fortune 500 CEOs went to college, or in the media industry which schools did news broadcasters graduation from? Often it's about what opportunities a university can offer.
What I also tell parents is to figure out what makes your child tick. Are they somebody who prefers a discussion-based classroom or they an independent learner? Are they somebody that likes to interact with people and have conversations with professors, or will they enjoy a small campus with a small school feel? Look at what major your child has selected, what their interests are, their learning style. This will determine the best fit for your family. You want your child to be happy. You want them to look back at university life with fond memories.