Wisdom begins with wonder. – Socrates

Some of the resources that have inspired me on my college advising journey include:

• Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Loren Pope and Hilary Masell : This wonderfully insightful, in-depth look at selected colleges illustrates the value of a student-centered college search and the pitfalls of rankings and ratings. Find a good fit!
• College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the School for You by Dr. Steven Antonoff: This interactive guide leads students through a series of worksheets designed to help you discover what a “good fit” might look like for you. It’s worth the work!
• Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: The Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni: This NY Times columnist demonstrates that success and happiness depend less on the prestige and rankings of your college, and more on how fully you invest yourself in taking advantage of the learning opportunities available wherever you go. Selectivity is not the main predictor of student success!
• “Growth Mindset” by Carol Dweck: This TED Talk explains that brains can grow, which means students can always cultivate new skills and abilities through hard work and practice, as long as they stop telling themselves they are “not good at” something and starting telling themselves “I can get better.” Believe in yourself, and don’t ever give up!
• “Grit” by Angela Duckworth: This TED Talk identifies hard work, passion, and perseverance as the secret ingredients for success. You are the author of your own success!
• The Grit Guide for Teens: A Workbook to Help You Build Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset by Caren Baruch-Feldman: This workbook shares concepts of personal development and success, along with supporting research, in an accessible format that allows teens to begin to apply these concepts to their own lives. How empowering!
• “How to Turn Stress into a Positive” by Kelly McGonigal: This TED Talk explains how we can turn the stress in our lives into a positive power instead of a detrimental drag. Harness your stress to enhance success!
• “Life in College Matters for Life After College”: This article takes a close look at the Gallup-Purdue Index, a study that identifies “best practices” for student engagement and student success during and after college. Seek out strong, supportive mentors and experiential learning opportunities to make the most of your college experience!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go. — Dr. Seuss