As counselors and students made their way back to school a few weeks ago, our counseling center was filled with passionate pleas from students either looking to make changes to their schedules or stopping by just to share how well the first days of school went and how much they love a particular class atmosphere or teaching style.

I find myself wondering why teaching style, classroom atmosphere, and curriculum content are common topics of conversation at the high school level, yet these important subjects rarely come up in our college application meetings with families. When I meet individually with my students I often talk about looking at the course catalog and reading the mission statement of a school as important considerations when building a college list, but I often feel like it is advice that falls to the side. In my experience as a counselor and a parent, school philosophy, parent communication, class offerings, course curriculum, and learning style are all incredibly important to a college student’s experience. In fact, they are details that shape not only the academic experience but also the work ethic, confidence, and character of a young adult at a key formation time. Where a young adult attends, to some degree, can determine who they will become.

The collegiate landscape offers a wide range of educational structures and philosophies with something for everyone. The UC system was founded to be a philosophical education to prepare students for professional and graduate school, while the CSU system was designed to prepare students for a career after four years. Something that I like about many of the private schools in the South East, is that to receive your degree, you have to do more than just earn a certain amount of credits. Universities like Furman, Elon, Anderson, and High Point require students to participate in study abroad, internships, leadership experiences, hands-on learning, and/or attend a number of school events. These schools are in the business of developing the whole person and life skills, not just the student of academia. We know that there are Polytechnic schools (such as CAL POLY) with an emphasis on “Learn by Doing” and “Co-Op” schools (like Northeastern and Drexel)  that encourage students to build work experience alongside their academic knowledge. Just last year our counseling team learned more about Deep Springs College a fascinating and unique school built upon the three pillars of academics, student self-government, and manual labor. Reed College approaches grading differently by encouraging students to measure academic achievement by intellectual growth and by self-assessment instead of a traditional letter grade as long as the student is performing at a satisfactory level. 

In the spring of 2022, a panel of Azusa Pacific University faculty and admissions administrators presented to VCHS parents where a parent asked the thoughtful question “If you were selecting a college for your own child, what are the key factors you would consider?” The answer was to look at the curriculum. Look at the view and perspective your student will be taught by examining the curriculum and materials. His continued explanation was some of the most powerful and helpful advice I have heard. 

Over the coming months or years, depending on the grade level of your student, consider family discussions about learning styles, teaching philosophies, and classroom environments, not just in the high school classroom but in college. Add in research of mission statements and curriculum to the college research already happening at home. And, as always, feel free to reach out to your assigned counselor for more suggestions and guidance with the process. 

May we be focused on not just “good” college results but Godly college decisions. Trust that with prayer and wisdom and allowing God to be a part of your college search and process, our students will end up right where they belong with a college experience that prepares them well to impact their workplace environments, their families, their community, and our world. 

-Heidi Vals
Dean of Academic and College Counseling