BREE’S PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH
Excelling in middle and high school and gaining admission to increasingly selective colleges
and universities is no easy task. In fact, it can be quite stressful on teens.
Both parents and high school students recognize the importance of going to college. Not only
is a college degree more valuable than ever before, graduates reap a number of long-term
benefits ranging from higher earnings to better health to higher levels of civic engagement.
Yet the college admission game has changed significantly in the past twenty years, becoming
more complex and competitive than ever before. Between juggling coursework, participating in
extracurricular activities, and preparing for high-stakes exams, teens today are overworked,
over-scheduled, and overstressed. According to the American Psychological Association, 83
percent of teenagers report school as a somewhat or significant source of stress and 27
percent report extreme stress during the school year, which takes a toll on high school
students’ health and development.
The path to higher education also coincides with one of the most critical transitions in the
life span -- adolescence. This makes navigating the path to college and career all the more
difficult.
Characterized by a tremendous pace in growth, this transition from childhood to adulthood
takes place between 10 and 19 and affects individuals’ physical, cognitive, and
socioemotional development. During middle and high school, students undergo puberty, develop
a growing capacity for abstract thought, expand their intellectual interests, are
increasingly influenced by their peer group, and struggle with their sense of identity. Not
unlike adolescent development, the college admission process requires students to define
themselves and their goals, which can be quite difficult.
In today’s competitive admission landscape the question remains: How can students stand out
in a crowded applicant pool?
In order to stand out, students must excel both inside and outside of the classroom.
Students’ background and academic performance, coupled with their interests and activities
will help them to develop a compelling personal narrative that helps garner the attention of
college admission officers. All of this requires students to spend their time wisely and to
engage in their academic journey. Increased engagement is linked to improved academic
performance, higher standardized test scores, better self-esteem, and a greater sense of
belonging. In theory, students know they should get good grades, earn high test scores, and
build a resume that demonstrates leadership and strong character. In practice, this task is
much easier said than done. Studies show students become more disengaged from school as they
progress from elementary school to middle school to high school. By high school, up to 60%
of students are disengaged and feel they do not have what it takes to succeed. Even the most
dedicated students and parents are left feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of applying to
college.
Unfortunately, the answer is often found in hindsight.By the time students fill out their
applications, missteps and missed opportunities are in the past and out of candidates'
control.
By the time high school students begin filling out college applications in the fall of their
senior year, many begin to understand the nature of the admissions game: the college
admission process begins years before students physically fill out a single application. In
fact, the information and essays students share with college admissions officers are simply
records of past actions. Whether informed or not, students make a series of decisions
throughout middle and high school that impact their choices and chances of getting in.
Looking back, seniors often spot the classes that hurt their GPA, which could have been
avoided; the activities that took up so much time, but were not enjoyable or meaningful; the
skills that could have improved their academic performance and increased their standardized
test scores, had they been cultivated. They thought they were doing the right thing or
simply did not know otherwise.
The expression 'hindsight is 20/20' reminds us that perspective and experience can bring
clarity; so can professional guidance and support.
While high school counselors are expected to be responsible for students’ academic,
personal, social, and career development, they are overburdened and under-trained. The
American Counseling Association recommends a ratio of 250 students to 1 counselor. The
national average is 471:1. In California, there are 1,016 students to 1 counselor. Instead
of learning the hard way and living with stress or regret, parents and students can find the
help they need in Bree Kozi.
Bree takes a thoughtful, individualized approach to student development that advocates an
early start and strategic decision-making throughout middle and high school.
In order to give students and parents the edge they are looking for, Bree provides a range
of integrated services that help students excel during these critical years. By specializing
in early-stage college planning and providing guidance at critical junctures throughout the
process, Bree empowers students to achieve their academic goals.
