College admissions professional speaks at Sussex Academy

What are colleges looking for in an application? What courses should be taken in high school? When is it time to visit colleges? What are the ways people go about paying for college?

Many questions are on the minds of young people as they prepare to compete for admission to colleges around the country. The competition has never been greater, and challenging economic times add to the uncertainty, forcing families to re-evaluate their approaches to the college selection process.

Peter Van Buskirk, former dean of admissions at Franklin & Marshall College and author of “Winning the College Admission Game,” visited Sussex Academy Oct. 31. He presented strategies that ease the stress while helping families navigate the high-stakes college admission process. Using concepts such as the pyramid of selectivity, hotspots and hooks, and the hidden agenda, Van Buskirk engaged students and their parents in a behind-the-scenes discussion about college planning.

“As the competition to get into college increases, students need to remain grounded in their priorities,” said Van Buskirk. “By demystifying the admission process, I help them find that focus while bringing clarity and relevance to a topic that is otherwise complex and stressful. The light goes on as they begin to see the effect of choices they make in high school.”

Van Buskirk’s high-energy, high-impact presentations hit home with both students and parents. A 10th-grade student said, “I learned more about the selection process and how to use it to my advantage.” “It encouraged me to take more difficult classes,” said an 11th-grader.

Founder of Best College Fit, Van Buskirk is currently director of student advocacy at Revolution Prep.