“The Admission Game®” Takes the Stress Out of College Planning 

Interactive workshop demystifies the college admission process

Front Royal, VA, October 1, 2015   “What are colleges looking for in my application? Which courses should I take? When should I visit colleges? What do they want to see in my essay? How do I go about paying for college?”

These and many other questions are foremost on the minds of young people as they prepare to compete for admission to colleges around the country. The competition has never been greater and challenging economic times add to the uncertainty forcing families to reevaluate their approaches to the college selection process.

Peter Van Buskirk, former dean of admission at Franklin & Marshall College and author of Winning the College Admission Game, presents strategies that ease the stress while helping families navigate the high-stakes college admission process.

Every year, Van Buskirk engages thousands of college-bound students and their parents around the country in a behind-the-scenes discussion about college planning. Using concepts such as the “Pyramid of Selectivity,” “Hotspots and Hooks” and the “Hidden Agenda,” he transforms eager audiences into admission committees at a fictitious college where they determine the fates of four candidates.

“As the competition to get into college increases, students need to remain grounded in their priorities,” said Van Buskirk. “By demystifying the admission process, I help them find that focus while bringing clarity and relevance to a topic that is otherwise complex and stressful. Students see themselves in the candidates they are reviewing. The ‘light goes on’ as they begin to see the effect of choices they make in high school.”

Van Buskirk’s high energy, high impact presentations hit home with both students and parents. Recent audience members had this to say:

• “Very refreshing! Truly inspiring and life-altering!” (Student, Hackensack, NJ)
• “This program calmed my college nerves. I feel more confident in the process now.” (Student, Boulder, CO)
• “Brilliant, passionate, fantastic! Thanks for breaking the code and sharing with us!” (Parent, Philadelphia, PA)
• “I was blown away by what you had to say. You cleared up many of the myths!” (Parent, Falls Church, VA)

Van Buskirk will present “The Admission Game” to local audiences this month. He will speak in Boggs Chapel at Randolph-Macon Academy, 200 Academy Dr., Front Royal, on Friday, October 16, 2015, at 2:00 PM. Families with students in grades 9-12 will find the content of the two-hour program useful. The event is free and open to the public.

Founder of Best College Fit™, Van Buskirk’s commentary on the college admission process has appeared in Family Circle, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He was interviewed by Jean Chatzky on Oprah and Friends and his video interview with senior education reporter Kim Clark appears on the U.S. News & World Report website.

To learn more about Peter Van Buskirk and “The Admission Game,” visit www.BestCollegeFit.com. For more information about the program to be held at Randolph-Macon Academy, contact R-MA College Counselor Mary Gamache at mgamache@rma.edu.