Admissions Beat "Let's Just See What Happens..."
Feb 17, 2026
Vanessa Montorsi, a high-school counseling director who guides suburban high-achievers; Steve Saud, a college counselor focused on balanced lists and student wellbeing; and Jennifer Simons, a college-admissions strategist and corporate counselor. They tackle parental resistance to counselor advice. They discuss realistic list-building, tier categories, emotional risks of chasing unlikely admits, and the value of curious exploration and foundation options.
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Counselors Often Know The Likely Outcome
- Parents often default to "let's just see what happens" when told a school is a reach.
- Counselors warn that experienced admission officers usually know the likely outcome early in the process.
The Admissions Landscape Has Shifted Dramatically
- Many parents rely on memories of college admissions from decades ago.
- The landscape changed: far greater applicant volumes and more international competition now make admissions more selective.
Use Three Tiers To Structure Lists
- Break lists into reach, possible (target), and probable (likely) categories to preserve options.
- Prioritize probable schools you would be happy to attend alongside a few reaches.
