Reconsidering the Greatness of the American College Experience

What if, for a moment, we stepped back and considered just how remarkable the American college experience truly is?

For most of human history, the transition to adulthood looked very different. Boys became men by entering the military, working full time on farms, taking on manual labor, or—if fortunate—joining the family business. Girls became women primarily through marriage, often to older men. For the vast majority of people in civilized societies, this was simply the way life unfolded.

Now imagine traveling back in time to the 1800s and telling people that one of the post–high school options for their children would be moving to a place intentionally designed for the experiential enrichment, academic growth, and social expansion of 18- to 22-year-olds. A community built around learning, self-discovery, intellectual stretching, friendship, independence, and opportunity.

For people who spent their days tilling fields, working in factories, or simply trying to survive, that would have sounded extraordinary.

And the truth is, despite the challenges that exist today, college is still pretty great. It may not be as socially vibrant as it once was—see my earlier comments about the decline of social skills among today’s teens—but it remains a uniquely valuable, transformative period of life. Almost any adult working full time today would likely trade places with their college-aged self if given the chance.

So for parents throughout the Connecticut Shoreline—Old Saybrook, Madison, Guilford, East Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex, and surrounding towns—there is no need to let the college process become a source of stress. The real opportunity lies in helping your child find the right environment among many good possibilities, a place where they can thrive academically, socially, and personally.

We can help you identify that place and make the college experience something your child will remember with genuine appreciation.