April is a bitter-sweet month in the world of college admissions. April 1st has historically been the day college acceptances — or rejections — are released.  Nowadays, many colleges release their decisions on a rolling basis or a little earlier than the first of April (an admittedly bad date choice for such consequential news). Regardless, most selective colleges still announce admissions decisions on or around that April 1 date, which can make the month of April bitter or sweet, depending on the news a student receives. And, sadly, with college acceptance rates at an all-time low at many universities, that news is increasingly bitter.

But I am happy to report that for the majority of my students, April will be sweet. This is not because they are better than everyone else (though I think they’re pretty great) or because I have cracked the code for getting students into any college they want (wouldn’t that be nice), but because, by and large, my students applied to colleges with their future — not their past — in mind.

You see, there are a couple of ways students can think about colleges to which they apply: 1) places that will propel them toward their future or 2) prizes that will reward them for their past.

Those who view the colleges on their list as places that will propel them toward their future tend to apply to colleges with programs that align with their interests and goals. They look for social environments that excite them and living environments that feel comfortable to them, knowing that the place they choose will become their home away from home for the next four years. In other words, they are focused on where they are going.

Those who view the colleges on their list as prizes that will reward them for their past tend to apply to colleges with recognizable names. They look for universities with the highest third-party rankings and the lowest acceptance rates, believing that the reputation of the colleges they get into will justify all the hard work they put in over the last four years. In other words, they are focused on where they have been.

The irony is that the trophy college may end up feeling like more of a punishment than a reward if it is not a good fit for the student. And, more often than not, that reward proves to be elusive in the first place, and the student is left with what feels like a consolation prize.

As hard as it may be (and I know it is hard; I was in high school once too), if students would focus less on the high school prize and more on the college experience, there would be a lot more happy students come April.

So, to my Clear Choice Class of 2022, I applaud you for doing the research and finding colleges that fit you well. Some of you got into your “reach” schools, which is fantastic (I am not casting shade on big-name schools here). But those schools are going to be great fits for you, as would any of the other colleges on your list, because you did your homework, set your pride aside and focused on your future.

Congratulations to you and all other Class of 2022 seniors and parents reading this! (Scroll down to see a list of schools where this year’s Clear Choice seniors were accepted).