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To the Editor:
I read with interest and comfort the letter to the editor from former Hall High School student, Greta Magendantz (Dec. 9, 2021). It is gratifying to know that our young people who go off to college, given all they have going on in their first semester, still have an interest in their local community and wish to provide advice to those coming up behind. And I say “comfort” because I am thrilled that this young person has started to understand the vagaries of the college admissions process.
I recently retired from a 45-year career in higher education administration. I have worked in public and private colleges and universities, large and small, urban and rural, elite and non-elite, and four-year and two-year. My most recent position was as the chief student affairs officer at Middlesex Community College in Middletown where I spent the last 20 years of my career. I have been a college admissions counselor at a small, selective, liberal arts college, and worked the other side of the equation as an independent college counselor, using my knowledge and understanding of the process to help high school students be admitted to the colleges of their choice. I have a son who went through the process about seven years ago, and I am the grand-aunt to two high school aged boys who are beginning the college search and application process.
My years in higher education and as an observer and participant in my son’s college search have taught me a lot. One thing they have taught me is that most college faculty are extraordinary in many ways. They are knowledgeable in their subject matter, they are good teachers, they seek out creative teaching methods to help their students learn better, and they are truly eager to see their students succeed. I believe this to be true at most colleges and universities. And while I am very supportive of elite colleges and understand many of the advantages they offer students, they do not have a lock on quality faculty.
Another thing I have learned is that the stress we as parents put on our kids, the stress they put on themselves, and the stressful nature of the entire college application process is unnecessary. And the way we measure “success” needs to shift. Let me be clear, I am not anti-elite. Elite institutions typically provide more scholarship money; have numerous nationally and internationally acclaimed faculty; a myriad of concerts, speakers, and workshops; and strong alumni networks, all of which are wonderful resources for students. However, attending an elite university guarantees neither financial success, a good career, happiness, friendships, or good health.
Finally, I’ve learned that most students can be happy and successful at any one of a number of different colleges as Ms. Magendantz suggests in her letter. Many students have their heart set on one magical college as if their happiness for the rest of their lives depended on it. And I do not fault any 17- or 18-year-old for thinking that way. The reality, however, is that, like Ms. Magendantz, students can and do bloom where they’re planted. And that is the only way to be successful in college and in life. To make the most of the situation one is in and to go after the things one wants, whether it be writing for the campus newspaper, engaging in a research opportunity with a faculty member, or becoming the president of the student government.
West Hartford can be a very competitive town for youngsters, in academics, athletics, and the college admissions process. From just a very young age, our children see the college decals go rolling by, while riding in car seats down Mountain Road, New Britain Avenue, or in Town Center. Not all students thrive in this type of competitive environment. I think it would be helpful for more of us to take the position of Greta Magendantz and understand that no one single college can buy happiness or a guaranteed future. It is the student who makes it happen. There are many colleges and universities where students can bloom and grow and students should be made to feel that all of those colleges are worthy of their attention.
Adrienne Leinwand Maslin
West Hartford
The author is Dean Emerita at Middlesex Community College and the creator of an as yet unproduced TV/video series for 9-12 year olds about life skills and social issues.
