"Learning to filter out the noise so you can hear the truth" 

What does the quest for the right college have in common with the quest for good health? 

My email inbox is flooded with "stuff." Weekly, sometimes daily emails regarding different nutrition plans and various plans for fitness fill my screen. Which diet is best? The list and opinions seem endless. Fitness, too -- everyone claims their method holds the ultimate secret. 

I realized none of the information is useful if it isn't implemented correctly. If you choose to follow a diet that is so far out of your comfort zone that you will never stick to it then you will probably not see the results you desire. The same is true for fitness. What is the secret to success? Finding a nutrition and fitness plan that fits you! 

The same principle works with college planning. There is a continuing stream of articles, published daily, regarding the top paying majors and the hottest careers. This information can be helpful to observe current trends in the marketplace. However, it can also be confusing. 

High school students get lots of advice -- most not asked for -- what you should major in, careers that will "make you a lot of money". People's intentions are probably pure, but their advice may not be. Just like with my fitness and nutrition, you have to learn to filter out the noise. 

I recommend: 

• Choose a life's vocation in a field you really enjoy and are naturally good at
• Pick a major that folds naturally into that vocational choice
• Pick colleges that are really strong in that major
• Begin a relationship with the admissions people at those colleges so they know who you are and why you are interested
• Give your high school years your very best effort -- you don't have to be a Straight A student to get into college; and a strong work ethic will attract attention. 

HS 
Student Services Director

There is a lot of information out there regarding Generation Z (those born from 1995 to present). Much of it is geared toward marketers who need to adjust their strategies in order to sell their goods. This information is of particular importance to me because Generation Z includes the high school students I work with on a daily basis. While there are many points to be made about this generation, quite different from Millenials by the way, there were three points that really struck me:

• They are eager to start working
• They are mature and in control
• They intend to change the world

Awesome! These three items alone will help ensure success in college and in their future careers. Among the students I work with the majority all have jobs or do some type of volunteer work. They are able to carry on an adult conversation and they have a fairly extensive understanding of the way the world works. There is no need to dumb down anything when talking to these students. They have desires to be entrepreneurs. They envision themselves having meaningful careers that impact others for the better. The goal of completing college is viewed as a gateway to fulfilling their dreams rather than simply acquiring a job and receiving a paycheck. 

To Generation Z: The ball is in your court! You have the tools needed to be successful. Just looking at the three traits listed above makes it more important than ever that you carefully choose a major and a college that fits you. Forget college rankings and name recognition for a moment. Picture your end goal and let that motivate you as you make your decision. Remember you are eager to work, you are mature and in control and you intend to change the world! 

HS 
Student Services Director