On the Challenge Success Parent Survey, we ask parents of high school students:
- What are the three most important qualities to your COMMUNITY when looking for a college or university for your child?
- What are the three most important qualities to YOU when looking for a college or university for your child
From data collected between Fall 2019 and Winter 2020:
68% of parents said “Ranking in the US News & World Report” is one of the top three most important qualities to their community while only 33% said this is one of the top three most important qualities to them.
55% of parents said “Whether a college is in the Ivy League” is one of the top three most important qualities to their community while only 16% said this is one of the top three most important qualities to them.
So, what does this mean?
Many parents perceive that their community values extrinsic markers like rankings and elite brand names even if they do not. We urge families to deeply consider what matters to them and not allow external competitive pressures to limit the exploration of the ‘right fit’ college. Engage your children in open discussions about what they want out of their college experience and what criteria are important to them. Remember that success is rarely a straight line and embrace the squiggly paths that most students take on their road to self-discovery.