My job is all about helping students get IN to college. But I want to also extend that lens of college admissions and look past the importance of getting into a college that is a great fit. What your child does at that college is way more important.
My daughter recently graduated from college, and I talked to her about her experience.
Starting college is scary. Moving away from home is scary. Everything is new: where you live, your friends, your teachers, what you eat, your place within the world. My daughter had a unique first semester, studying in Europe. For me, the “drive your kid and her belongings to college, decorate the dorm, meet her roommate, and drive off in tears” experience was replaced with “drive your kid to the airport with her passport and visa.” For what it’s worth, I still drove off in tears.
The firsts were hard for her. First time away from family and the community she grew up in. First time having a roommate. First time developing entirely new friendships. First time being really challenged in her coursework.
I’m fortunate to say that, though the transitions were rough, my daughter found her place. She told me that she got to experience the things she wanted more of before college: freedom, independence, strong relationships, fun.
As a mom, I got to watch my daughter grow into an adult. In addition to getting an exceptional education with great career opportunities, this is largely what college helped her with. She was already formidably independent, but college taught my daughter how to struggle. It also showed her that life has its ups and downs, and she had to learn how to weather some storms, seeking out support systems and learning who she could rely on for help.
Once settled, she thrived. She easily adapted to urban life, using daily public transportation and prioritizing safety. She did well in her classes, even mentoring students in the class after her. She discovered a new love of rock climbing. She joined professional and student organizations. She applied to dozens of coops and got rejected by most. She learned how to make her resume stand out and how to interview well. She landed two, and learned a ton about bioengineering and drug discovery.
Some of her biggest takeaways? She learned to spend time with the people who truly matter. She learned the importance of nurturing friendships. She learned to make the experience her own, and to say yes to new things that might be just a little uncomfortable.
Some might consider these secondary to what is learned in the classroom, but they are every bit as valuable.
