Expert College Admission Advice

What do the presidential primaries, awards season, artificial intelligence, bestselling books, and the college admission experience have in common? They all demand that we consider how our society views expertise, and the ways we use, misuse, and abuse information.

Whether seeking advice on something important like health or finances, or a less serious decision like what book to read, movie to watch, or restaurant to patronize, we all want expert input. But just what does that mean? How does one identify an expert? Paradoxically, often true experts are hesitant to call themselves such. In contrast, on social media, it seems that everyone considers themselves an expert.

The internet is awash in advertisements from individuals or groups purporting to be experts in college admission. Frequently, their company names are branded with words that either suggest elitism or imply some association and special access to Ivy League schools and other highly selective colleges. They market their expertise, and supposed knowledge of hidden tricks or code cracking tips, as a means of being accepted to a subset of colleges that fall within a specific rank or “tier” that an applicant “deserves.” This approach is aimed at taking advantage of how uncertain and confused many families feel.

As students and their supporters begin to search for colleges and universities that might be good matches for their educational and future goals, it is worthwhile to cut through the information overload and fear-mongering, and think more carefully about expertise, what it is, and who has access to it. I have asked thought leaders in education who I consider to be experts to share their wisdom.

Experts On Expertise

To understand what it really means to be an expert, I went to the first person I think of as an authority on people, character, knowledge, and skills. Angela Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, faculty co-director of the Behavior Change For Good Initiative, co-founder of the Character Lab, and co-host of the Freakonomics No Stupid Questions podcast (like I said…an expert). When I asked her about expertise, she in turn offered, “My perspective on experts comes from Anders Ericsson, a collaborator and brilliant scientist whom I considered the world expert on world experts.” How meta!

Duckworth explains that “Anders defined experts as individuals who could reliably produce superior performance on skilled tasks. So, an expert is not the person who ‘seems’ like they know more than others, or who ‘says’ they know more, but who in contrast can demonstrate that they have superior skill.” She adds, “I’m suspicious of folks who like to call attention to their expertise. Instead, it is so much better to just do what you do, and say what you think, without embellishing your credentials.”

Rumors And Lies

Speaking of embellishment, where I live in New Hampshire, the “first in the nation“ presidential primaries are in full tilt. Candidates have been storming the state, promoting their expertise in domestic and foreign policy, the economy, security, social issues, and anything else that might resonate with residents. Amidst the political noise, New Hampshire Public Radio’s Civics 101 Podcast recently shared a double feature called, “Rumors and Lies, The American Version.” The hosts explored the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. It is an exceptional investigation that every citizen should listen to, and it also has wider implications on how we think about what content and advice can be trusted in other areas of our lives.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2024 Report identified misinformation and disinformation as the biggest immediate risk to the world. Whether you are engaging with artificial intelligence, headed to the polls, or beginning your college search, you are well advised to consider your sources of information and their intent. Are they experts because they tell you they are or because you have been thoughtful about who you look to for guidance?

From forums like College Confidential and Reddit to chatter among parents at cocktail parties or on the sidelines of athletic events, be wary of rumors and myths. While people in these spaces rarely attempt to be “bad actors,” they often only know enough to be dangerous and are speaking from limited personal experience or observation. Identify sources that are reliable and knowledgeable and tune out the others in the echo chamber.

The Magic Number

Ten thousand hours of practice is believed to be the average number necessary to make someone an expert. Based on Anders Ericisson’s research, the 10,000-hour rule was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers. There is debate about the role of talent and “deliberate practice” in expertise, but safe to say, that becoming an expert is no easy task.

Ten thousand is also the unofficial benchmark of book sales that makes a bestselling author. This fall when the second edition of our book was released, our publisher told my co-author and me that there was no official criteria for what makes an author “bestselling.” Some authors and publishers consider a book a success only if it makes the New York Times, or USA Today bestsellers lists. Others use this arbitrary number of copies sold. In the absence of appearing on an established list or meeting some other agreed-upon criteria, using this label is mostly propaganda, a biased promotion to advance one’s cause.

So, what constitutes a college admission expert? Is it those who have counseled 10,000 students, reviewed 10,000 applications, or had over 10 years of experience in the field? How much deliberate practice does it take for an admission professional to be the expert you rely on? 10,000 hours? Can someone in good conscience call themselves an expert after two cycles in an admission office at a selective college or university?

Admission Experts

Angel Pérez is the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), “​​an organization of more than 27,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education.” He has dedicated his professional career to leading in the field of admission and his expertise precedes him. Though professionalism doesn’t always beget expertise, many of NACAC’s members are indeed experts. Pérez explains that “Experts are at the intersection of lived experience, research, and curiosity.” He says, “What I mean by that is that ‘experts’ should have a significant amount of lived experience in their field, spent a lot of time researching its historical context and latest trends, and they also remain genuinely curious about the subject’s evolution.” He adds, “We must remain curious because given the fast pace of change in our world today, the minute we think we have mastered something, it’s already outdated.”

Jon Carson is the CEO of College Guidance Network (CGN), which partners with NACAC (both with which I collaborate) to democratize guidance on college and career through a growing network of experts, including NACAC members and other trusted thought leaders. He agrees with Pérez, saying, “The best experts have both subject matter knowledge AND wisdom from experience.”

Fit to Print

Eric Hoover is a senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education and in my estimation, one of the truest journalistic experts in higher education, especially on issues related to college admission. I was keenly interested in how he considers the experts who he relies on in his reporting. Hoover says, “As a journalist, I have tried to embrace a fairly wide definition of what constitutes an ‘expert.’ A scholar who studies college admissions will likely have expansive knowledge, informed by research and data, of the challenges many students face on the path to college. But an admissions officer or college counselor will likely have deeper, more nuanced, insights on those challenges, informed by their direct experiences with students. And students, though they tend to lack a broad perspective on the issues I cover, can often express something important about themselves that no one else could convey.” He adds, “They’re all experts of a particular kind, in my book. And I think journalism that includes a symphony of experts–and not just the voices of talking heads and people we conventionally define as authorities because of their advanced degrees and titles–tend to be richer and more human.” Hoover emphasizes that “a true expert is someone who engages frequently with other people in a given field–and who can express an appreciation for, and understanding of, the complexity of a given issue,” adding, “I avoid so-called experts who don’t seem to acknowledge the complexity of admissions.”

Follow The Data

Jon Boeckenstedt is the vice provost of enrollment management at Oregon State and author of the Higher Ed Data Stories blog. When I want to rely on someone who reinforces decades of experience with trusted data, I frequently turn to Boeckenstedt as an expert, so when I asked him to elaborate on this topic, I was not surprised at his thorough response. He explains, “Twenty-five years ago, there were a lot of processes in place to vet ‘experts.’ Many of these processes ensured that—usually—only people with deep or extensive knowledge acquired the label, but the downside was that many people with much to say and considerable expertise were excluded from having their voices heard. That sort of contributed to a perpetuation of the status quo, and it also meant most experts were from groups who had traditionally been labeled as such.” He adds, “Now anyone can claim to be an expert, and sometimes experts are seen as those who yell the loudest, or who have the most wildly angular opinions. This has given rise to both new voices entering the chat (which is good), but also to conspiracy theories (which I think are not).” Boeckenstedt says, “Being a real expert in admissions generally requires several passes through the admissions cycle, at a functional level, either as a high school counselor or a college admissions or financial aid officer. This allows you to sort out real patterns from anomalies, and turn classroom experiences into pragmatic wisdom.”

Be Wise

Pragmatic wisdom, patterns, and anomalies, as Boeckenstedt suggests, are good frameworks for considering expertise. Too often college applicants and their supporters approach admission based on what seem like patterns but in their limited scope are actually anomalies. Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, Schoolhouse.world, and Khan Lab School (where I work) tells families entering into the admission experience to resist the tendency to try and “pattern match.” It is tempting to consider the academic choices, extracurricular involvement, and other experiences of a previous applicant who was admitted to a highly selective school and see that as the equation for being accepted as well. This “N of one or two” approach rarely ends well and can lead to anxiety, misalignment, and choices that may be inauthentic.

Most educators with the practical knowledge of over a decade in the admission profession will be able to distinguish between meaningful patterns in what makes a competitive candidate for admission and anomalies that might make an individual stand out in an applicant pool. You are wise to seek out the experience of these individuals rather than default to someone claiming their expertise out loud. Ander Ericsson emphasized that “there is no scientific evidence that supposed expertise leads to superior performance.” Identify true experts and lean on them not because you think it will give you some special advantage, but because it will help you make mission-aligned decisions.

Embrace Your Expertise

Ultimately, you are the expert in you. You have the benefit of over ten years of your lived experience and self-awareness. Rather than try to manufacture expertise in admission, become an expert in your hopes and fears and let the professionals be experts in the application process. Do the work to be introspective and trust in the wisdom you have developed about your values, interests, and strengths.

Identify supporters who are truly experts in admission based on their continued years of practical experience and deep knowledge of the process. Change is constant in the world of college admission, so rely on those with a current understanding of the field and their specific institutions. Go to the source and don’t be distracted by claims of hidden strategies and secrets to being accepted. Generally, admission experts are not those who limit their counseling and mentorship to a select few but are dedicated to access, equity, and the dissemination of reliable guidance. Beware of misinformation and propaganda as you begin your college search and decide what is best for you based on the experiences you have had and those you want in the future.