Stephanie Stahler is a senior associate director of admissions at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Recognized as one of the Colleges That Change Lives, McDaniel is a unique liberal arts institution that puts the student experience front and center. Stephanie’s keen sensitivity toward students and her understanding of the changing role of colleges positions her with invaluable insight to share with the Plan the Path community.

 

Greetings and congratulations to the graduates and their families!  What a year it’s been!

 As I wrap up 28 years in college admissions, it’s hard not to become reflective at this point in the cycle. I remember when summers were truly a time to recharge, but that’s no longer the case. Over the next three-plus months at McDaniel, we’ll be helping our new students complete the many tasks necessary to begin their time on the Hill this August.

 Summer melt, the insider term for students rescinding their acceptances of an offer of admission, has become a much more significant factor in college enrollment over the last five years, and that trend will likely continue. When I think about why I continue doing this work, I come back to one of the biggest challenges students and parents face during the college search process: the fear of getting it “wrong.”

Students feel enormous pressure to make the “right” college choice, believing that one decision will determine the future they envision for themselves. We’ve even adjusted the language on our application to reflect that reality. What we once called “undecided” is now labeled “deciding,” with students able to further identify areas of interest such as “deciding – education focus,” and more.

Why? Because we can’t continue expecting 17- and 18-year-olds to know exactly what they want to do professionally based solely on high school coursework and experiences. Certainly, some students do know, and there’s absolutely a place for that. But we also need to recognize that first-year college students change their major multiple times on average. At the same time, the job market continues to evolve, making the question “What skills did you learn in college?” just as important as the title of a degree itself.

We want college graduates to leave campus equipped not only for the immediate needs of their careers, but also with the ability to adapt to the world that awaits them 10 years from now.

The “counselor” part of my title has also come into play much more in recent years. Based on what we continue to hear from prospective students and families, we’ve intentionally expanded our information sessions to emphasize the importance of student support services on college campuses.

 In the past, these conversations often happened only if a student or parent raised the topic. Today’s generation of college-bound students is more aware of and open about the importance of support systems, and colleges need to respond accordingly. It can’t be just a quick mention anymore. Both our information sessions and campus tours need to demonstrate the many ways we help students succeed academically, socially, physically, and emotionally.

At McDaniel, resources like our Wellness Center and Learning Commons reinforce our commitment to student success both inside and outside the classroom. As college costs rise and questions about the value of higher education continue, families are looking more closely at the full student experience and how colleges prepare students for adulthood. 

A degree alone no longer carries enough weight if students aren’t fully engaging in campus life. Internships, faculty research opportunities, study abroad experiences, leadership roles in student organizations, and other hands-on opportunities all play a critical role in preparing students for life after graduation.

The question is: are students choosing colleges because of the opportunities that will help them grow, or because of the name recognition on a car decal?

 The village of college admissions is vast. The more we work together to cut through the noise and help students focus on who they are and which institutions will serve them best, the more successful we will be in doing our job.