The Key To College Success: Dream and Play Big!

The Psychopathology of the Average

"If we want to know how fast a human being can run, then it is no use to average out the speed of a good "sample" of the population; it is far better to collect Olympic gold medal winners and see how well they can do...the highest possibilities of human nature have practically always been underrated... Certainly it seems more clear that what we call 'normal' in psychology is really a psychopathology of the average, so undramatic and so widely spread that we don't even notice it ordinarily." - Abraham Maslow, founder of "Humanistic Psychology" and identifier of the Hierarchy of Human Needs

Do you want "average" results or extraordinary results when it comes to your goals?

When it comes to your studies and the college admissions and aid journey, are you following what Maslow calls the "psychopathology of the average"?

Are you going about this process, just like everyone else does it, and hoping that your results will somehow be extraordinary?

If you "do things as they've always been done", you will get the same results as everybody else. But why settle for "average" results? You need to take it to the next level if you want to get into colleges you love and get as much scholarship and aid possible. What do I mean by take it to the "next level"? Well, for starters you must start thinking "bigger" in terms of your career and college goals and then doing whatever it takes to achieve them.

Let's take professional athletes, like an Olympic-caliber runner like Allyson Felix, or top-level quarterbacks like Peyton and Eli Manning or even a top-level golfer like Tiger Woods (the controversies aside). (If you're not a sports nut, substitute your own high achiever - Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Brad Pitt) Do they reach that level and then announce, "Great, I don't have to practice anymore"? Absolutely not! They practice harder than ever, they work it.

They are above-average because they have natural talent and, more importantly, they put in above-average effort under the careful guidance of a coach or mentor!

Now, while I could adapt the training regimen of an Olympic runner, I'll never become an Olympic runner because I lack that "natural talent" aspect. BUT if I adapt an Olympic runner's training regimen, I will become a better runner. Period. Why? Because I'm putting a higher expectation on myself. I would not be settling for the "psychopathology of the average" as Maslow called it.

Following the same path that the extraordinary take will yield better results. Not the same results as them, but better results than if you were to just do what is "normal".

So, how does this translate to you... well - are you taking the most challenging courses available to you and doing whatever it takes to do well in them (studying, tutor)? Are you participating in a couple of activities and doing more than just showing up for the meetings? Are you studying regularly so that you get the best scores possible on the SAT or ACT - not just studying or taking a class three to six weeks prior to an exam? Are you learning about the current trends in college admissions and financial aid so that you know how the system works today and can plan for it?

You may not be Harvard University or Ivy-League material, but if you adopt the attitude and habits of a Harvard-bound student, you will be a more attractive candidate to the colleges, period. If you follow the strategies of everyone else who is doing things because "this is how it has always been done" then you will get "average results". You need to step it up and play big if you want the best results possible.

These are the things that those who get great results - your competition - are doing. If you're not doing these things then you'll get the results that everyone else gets - the average results. Best case scenario, you'll get accepted and likely pay more for your college education than your competition. Worst case scenario, doing just the "average" won't be enough to get you in.

Your Smart Plan For College Assignment

Take a good hard look at everything you need to do, are doing and know you should be doing but haven't started yet, that is related to the college process. Are you simply doing the bare minimum? Are you simply doing what is average?

If you are, why is that? Is it a case that you just don't know where to start? Are you not sure what the colleges are looking for? You can learn it all on your own or find something that works and USE it. The key is about DOING it!

A "college coach" can help you get the results you're looking for. No matter what level game you're currently playing, you can - and should - be looking to get to the next level. A coach holds you accountable, helping you step it up and play BIG so you get the best results possible. If you look at what successful people have in common, it's that they have a coach or mentor to help them get the results they want. Just like the Mannings, Tiger, Allyson Felix...

Hey, if you're not sure WHAT strengths you have and what value you're offering in the FIRST place, then it's time to take action and invest in a step-by-step college planning system that will feel easy and authentic to you.