By Lisa McLaughlin

This year is being touted as the most competitive in history for college admissions. And we shouldn’t be surprised. While it’s true that the economy is wreaking havoc on colleges across the country, this isn’t the sole reason behind the dramatic decrease in acceptance rates.

We have ourselves to blame for much of this. The discourse on college admissions is too focused on rankings and name-dropping. Too many kids are vying for precious spots, and there’s a skewed understanding of which schools are really “good.”

By far, the most common question from parents of college-bound students is “What can you do to get my child into a ‘good’ school?”

I simply ask, “How do you define a ‘good’ school?”

The responses vary, but many parents equate a “good” school to one with prestige and a solid reputation. Some parents think certain colleges just look better on bumper stickers.

They also see a good school as one that will guarantee post-graduate employment. They believe that more-prestigious schools increase their student’s chance of admission to medical school, law school and other post-baccalaureate degrees.

You can read the rest of this article at the dailypilot.com…