“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” ~Stephen R. Covey
Recently we watched a short video interview of Jeffrey Brenzel, former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University.
What we found most interesting is that he wanted students to feel uncomfortable at Yale. Exposure to different points of view is one of the greatest gifts of attending a university that prides itself on diversity, and university is often the first time students are challenged in their longstanding beliefs.
Over the years, we have seen several students talk about their beliefs in college essays, and sometimes they come across as too provincial. Often these students are talking about politics and regurgitating what their parents taught them.
We help them re-think their approach and consider how to communicate more tolerance and understanding. It's a sensitive matter since teenagers can be quite passionate about their point of view. Our counselors use the Socratic method to help students delve deeper into their areas of interest and take other points of view into account. This level of brainstorming for college essays is what we find most enjoyable in our work, and the results of such inquiry are often quite surprising!