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Bringing Wisdom to Light

May 22, 2019

Welcome back to the High School Corner! 
 
On Wednesday, May 8, Mr. Dick Stabell, the former Dean of Admissions at Rice University, joined us for lunch. Mr. Stabell has 27 years of experience in admissions but doesn’t currently represent a university, meaning that he was able to provide honest answers to student questions without promoting a particular institution. Some questions discussed were: 
 
  • What are some specific qualities that colleges are looking for today? 
  • Do you see emphasis on test scores, grades, class rank, etc. changing in the future? Did it change at all during your time as Dean of Admissions? 
  • How much do SAT Subject Tests matter in the application process?
  • How can one make the most out of a summer college visit given the fact that most of the student body isn’t there? 
 
Mr. Stabell emphasized that universities search for unique students who are able to bring a taste of something new to a school—students who choose to do community service, partake in extracurricular activities, and take classes because they genuinely want to, not because they have to or know it would look good on a resume. Schools are looking for self-directed, motivated students who aren’t afraid to go outside of their comfort zone. 
 
We greatly appreciate Mr. Stabell’s insight and are grateful for his advice on navigating the college admissions process. 
 
Thank you for reading; we hope to see you back next week for the final High School Corner! 
 
Sophia D. and Vittoria L.
High School Corner Committee Members