As a parent/board member at an elite independent college prep school, I had extensive firsthand experience with the college identification, evaluation, application and admission process. I have had many meetings with Deans of Admissions and their staff from dozens of the top colleges and universities in the country. For our daughter, we created a list of 90+ schools that we evaluated, and we actually visited and toured 25 colleges and universities from California to Maine.

 

As a Hannibal native and proud graduate and supporter of Hannibal High School, my objective is to pay it forward to local students and families whose college journey lies ahead, and I would be happy to share the many details, surprises, adventures and lessons from our college odyssey, e.g. how to evaluate a school, effective visit strategies; managing your own list of candidates and their respective requirements; athletic recruiting; the admissions process; expenses (the usual and the unforeseen); travel to/from for students and families; social, academic and athletic life for students and families; study abroad; post college career opportunities; and so much more.

 

I have worked with other students and families, and here are some of the most common topics and discussions we cover:

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• Graduating college with NO STUDENT LOANS.

• Detailed information on selective colleges and universities beyond the same 7 nearby schools most kids attend, including the Ivy league, Stanford, University of Chicago, Duke, and others.

• Explain the underrated inherent advantage of growing up in this area as it relates to college admissions.

• Review what really matters to college admissions officers (academics, test scores, extracurricular activities, money, connections).

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We can discuss some of the myths/realities of college in 2026 and beyond, and answer questions such as:

• For athletes, D3 is not as good as D2, right?

• State schools are cheaper to attend than those snooty private schools, right?

• Only athletes and brains get recruited, right?

• ED has no downsides, right? (Actually, what is ED? it sounds, um, weird...)

• Only rich kids go to expensive schools, right?

• According to what I’m hearing, college isn’t really worth the cost, right?

• No one in my family has graduated from college, and I don't have a lot of money, so my only option is a state school, right?

• Liberal Arts Colleges are a waste of time and money, right?

 

If you are interested in attending an elite college or university instead of the same 7 nearby schools most kids attend, and if you wish to discuss various opportunities available to students and families from Hannibal and communities in our area, reach out and I’d be happy to share what I have learned.

 

Devon