Jane Carroll, Story Editor
Photos by Valentina Fuentes
On December 4, New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo visited NCHS, moderated by the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Bryan Luizzi. Arranged by the counseling department and PFA, the event had a turnout of both students and parents. Mr. Selingo touched on many college myths surrounding financial aid, prestige and the college admissions process.
College and Career Center Coordinator Susan Carroll attended the event and weighed in on her experience, “Mr. Selingo spoke about the importance of considering the return on investment of a college as well as the importance of a place where you can obtain an adult mentor.”
Additionally, Mr. Selingo stressed the importance of excluding the “bumper sticker factor-” the idea that big name schools are often targeted solely based on their brand name. “In a town like New Canaan prestige plays almost too great of a role in how students select the colleges to which they will apply to,” Ms. Carroll said.
Mr. Selingo’s recently published book “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You” which was released in early September is already a New York Times best seller after just four months. “As a parent and counselor I enjoyed reading his book because of the change in perspective,” Ms. Carroll said. “It provides not only a guide to finding the right college for you or your child, but a sense of reality as well.”
The Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi brought up the increasingly competitive atmosphere that congests NCHS and questioned Mr. Selingo on topics that both students and parents in New Canaan often find difficult to handle. Mr. Selingo emphasized the importance of managing stress, more specifically in Fairfield County as it is notorious for high pressure and competitive academic atmosphere.
The night with Mr. Selingo was open to both NCHS and St. Luke’s school. “We want the entire New Canaan community to come to this event to hear the knowledgeable topics,” Ms. Carroll said. “From the moment the night started to his final closing he gave his crucial advice on a process that can be overwhelming and consuming for families alike.”
