The pressure I see students put on themselves to hit a certain score is crazy. There are always different routes to travel. The traditional path is most definitely not for everyone!

I will still contend (and am even further convinced after reading the studies on this topic) that GPA and the types of courses the student takes in high school are way better indicators of their college readiness and, ultimately, college success. It takes a lot more endurance to earn a degree than is needed for a test that lasts a few hours.

You might also have him take the SAT at least once to see if he performs better on that. Most colleges now will allow students to mix and match scores from different tests and administrations.

Be sure to visit personally the colleges in which he is interested. Make a connection in the Admissions Office and try to create support for his application. Help him analyze his community service and extracurricular experiences so he can really relate his leadership skills and goals.

Most of all, don’t let him fall into what I call the “good school” trap. These are the “cool schools” that everyone is trying to get into. These are usually the large, over-populated universities trumpeting their traditions on college football Saturdays. The pressure to get accepted by one of those schools can be tremendous. They could be completely wrong for your son.

If you go to a college fair, don’t go to the tables for those schools. Those schools will likely send representatives from the Admissions Office to your community anyway. Search out the schools you don’t recognize where you could find a real gem he has never even considered. The best school for him might be a school none of his close friends will consider. His “good school” will be the one where he feels welcome, appreciated for his unique skills, and confident, and where he will find a major course of study that suits him.

And lastly, realize that a college is a very individual decision that students reach in their own time. Parents tend to underestimate how stressful the senior year is and how much anxiety seniors feel when it finally sinks in that for the first time ever, they can’t picture what “next year” will be. If your son is dragging his heels on the admissions process, the answer is not to do it for him. Have a talk and ask him why he’s not moving forward. Don’t make him afraid to tell you he doesn’t want to go to college. There are other good options. Support him and help him, but don’t take anything he says personally!

Good luck! I am a high school counselor.