Got a wicked problem? First tell me how to make toast (Part two of a three-part series)
By Michelle Post
I borrowed the title for part two of this series from a great TED Talk by the same name (see related story page 7). Ask anyone how they make toast, and you will find out that no two people make it the same way. How do you solve a wicked problem? You need to understand the process, and ask a lot of questions.
When I was in high school, the school counselor came to me and asked if I wanted to apply for a scholarship to a specific institution. I said sure. Well, the process started, one I did not know, but thankfully, the counselor did. So, we began the in-depth process: asking for recommendation letters, printing out transcripts, writing an essay, interviewing with a local congressional representative to seek an endorsement, taking the SAT test, and completing a physical agility test. All the while, I had to keep up my grades and extra-curricular activities. The process was not short; in fact, it took several weeks to complete.
Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky 83 women selected out of the thousands that applied. So, I thought that was it. If they would not accept me, why apply anywhere else? Why did I have this mindset? Because I did not know the process of applying for scholarships at different institutions. And my parents did not know either, to no fault of their own.
Planning for college is a three-legged stool; it needs the actions from the student, his or her parents, and the school’s guidance counselor. Without one leg, the stool will not stand. It is never too soon to begin planning for college; however, there are specific strategies and actions that need to occur each step of the way. Check out some of these resources:
CollegePrep-101, www.collegeprep101.com/
BigFuture, www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
College Answer Guy, www.collegeanswerguy.com/
Federal Student Aid College Preparation Checklist, www.bit.ly/CPC_CollegeChecklist
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
– Paul J. Meyer, Founder of Success Motivation Institute
