Strategy is Not a Dirty Word
While there are those who feel we shouldn’t bring up college ‘too soon,’ there are those who feel it is wrong to teach students how to strategize. To them, it makes success seem less authentic because it was planned. Recently, The Harvard Business Review refined the definition of strategy into the following:
- doing something new,
- building on what you already do, and
- reacting opportunistically to emerging possibilities
These bullet points are the essence of what it means to be a student. They imply a constant dedication to learning. While it is clear how the first two points are applicable, to make the case on the third requires more insight.
The difference between a good student and a great one is that the latter exemplifies Harvard’s last point. That is, a great student takes full advantage of what is offered to them with a planned approach that has quantifiable goals. They do not let things happen organically. Instead, they put forethought and effort into their academics, extracurriculars, community service, and leadership roles, molding each into their desired shape.
While no two students are the same, the common denominator between great students is that they know to ‘react opportunistically to emerging possibilities’ that are available to them during high school and beyond. This begs the questions: how do they know, and where did they learn this?
There will always be the rare student that intuits the importance of such action. They seem to be born with a natural confidence and desire to achieve through self-motivation. They are neither shy or reluctant to stand out and can focus purely on their objectives without wavering.
However, the majority of great students were taught how to learn and achieve at an early age. They were given road maps that consisted of ‘doing something new, building on what they already did, and taking opportunities whenever they are presented.’ These maps came from parents or an educational environment that encouraged their intellectual curiosity and allowed them to develop their strengths into dedicated interests and passions.
Acuity College Counseling believes all students have the capacity for intellectual curiosity and it is never too early to too late to provide them with road maps. Our Application Readiness for College (ARC) Program teaches students what colleges want and helps them apply that knowledge to their academic and activity choices. It gives them support and encouragement, but honest assessment as well. With guidance provided by ARC, students will be ‘application ready’ by the fall of their senior year.
