Making the big leap from school to university – what could possibly go wrong?

Many parents who attended university recall an application process that, in retrospect, seemed to take care of itself. Surely this will be the same for their children? Alas, it was a simpler world then, with fewer choices and competing applicants per place. While I do warn parents about agencies that seek to ramp up their anxiety to sell their test prep or guaranteed place Ivy League place, I urge them and their children to be aware of the common mistakes that could jeopardise their future:

Leaving it all until the final year

Senior curriculum choices – for IB, A level, DSE, etc – are made two to three years before, and need to be done with one eye on higher education implications to ensure that possible subject prerequisites are considered. College does seem a long way off but ignoring this can mean one might not be eligible for a chosen degree later on.

The ‘I’ll come good in my final year’ approach

Parents will remember a time when the penultimate year was one when you eased off and then got your head down the following year for your final exams. The mistake here is failing to realise that the academic profile – including predicted grades – a university sees with your application is based on your performance in the penultimate year, not the final year. Applications are submitted in the first months of the final year and there isn’t any time to reflect academic progress in that year.

Additional requirements

There are so many “straight A” applicants nowadays that universities can only distinguish between them with additional evidence of aptitude. Whether it’s a portfolio of artwork, SAT/ACT, LNAT, BMAT, Oxbridge assessment or even just an English proficiency requirement (IELTS, TOEFL), preparation should begin well before the final year. If not, with the demands of the application process and schoolwork, the pressure becomes intolerable and quality suffers.

Superficial research – the silent killer

Course and college research is something else that cannot wait until the final year, but many students in Hong Kong do it poorly. Poor choices result in poor outcomes, no matter how strong the grades or how good the application. This is, after all, three to four years of one’s life and an experience that can have a profound influence on one’s future. Why, then, do so many students put so little time and effort into research?

Reliance on limited knowledge of courses and colleges, combined with anecdotal advice from friends and family, makes for a very poor recipe for successful choices.

Reliance on one algorithm

Many schools now purchase online platforms to support the higher education search and application processes. Some of these are excellent, with search facilities that help to break down the numbers and identify suitable courses and colleges for the student. While it is tempting to rely on an algorithm alone, students should regard it as just one weapon in their armoury to be cross-checked with other resources: online, printed and human.

The Big P – Procrastination

When it comes to application deadlines (with the emphasis on “dead”), schools can be the students’ worst enemy as teachers often give a second chance on deadlines for homework. University and college admissions offices won’t do this, particularly at the selective end, where they already have thousands of bright applicants to choose from and are only too happy not to have to read yet more essays and recommendations at their busiest time of year.

Last-minute application forms, college essays and preparation for admissions tests or interviews will suffer from a lack of quality, a lot like doing homework at the last minute but with far greater consequences.

Sources of advice

FOMO – the fear of missing out – often leads students and parents to pursue colleges or countries that others have chosen. This distracts and detracts from what should be their focus: the individual student’s strengths and ambitions.

Gossip, hearsay and myths

This is harmless stuff, like topics on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter, but can be unreliable in relation to such important life choices. Why, then, do parents so often begin an inquiry with “I’ve heard that …” or “Someone told me that …”?

Independent consultants

The choices out there can seem overwhelming. Some students will need help in making sense of it all, focusing their research and managing their time in the face of distractions and other commitments. Parents may feel that they don’t have the time or expertise to support their son or daughter to the extent that they would like.

But beware of:

Agents (rather than consultants) who receive commission from certain institutions and will steer you towards them, irrespective of your needs.

Fresh graduates who might seem “cool” to your teenager but only have the experience of their one application.

Former admissions staff who might claim to know the “secrets” of getting in, but have often only worked at one specific institution.

And finally …

“Mistakes are not an option” is my unofficial motto for my work in this field. To ensure this is the case for you and to give you greater peace of mind throughout this journey, I recommend that you:

1. Start early

2. Value your school and what it has to offer

3. Focus on yourself and not others

4. Inform yourself from reliable sources

5. Anticipate and meet deadlines well in advance

6. Be ambitious, realistic and balanced

7. If you seek additional guidance, be critical and discerning

Then you will enjoy the journey and reach a destination where you will flourish and succeed.