First-Time Player: College Admissions

Meghan Schneider, Senior Associate Director of College Counseling, was recently featured in Florida Trend's NEXT. Her article, "First-Time Player: College Admissions," offers guidance for first-generation college applicants who don't have family experience to draw on. She says it is a little of, "Everything you need to know if you’re the first in your family to play the college game."

Her article emphasizes that the admissions process effectively begins freshman year, not junior year, since every semester's grades count toward the trends colleges look for — growth and willingness to be challenged, rather than a flawless transcript. The article also addresses a common blind spot among first-gen students: underselling their own accomplishments. Schneider encourages confident, honest self-advocacy, including finding value in imperfect experiences. It urges students to research beyond college marketing by checking outcomes data, using resources like the Fiske Guide, and engaging directly with admissions reps through email and/or campus visits. It also touches on using AI as a research aid rather than a decision-maker. She closes with practical habits: staying organized with a calendar or spreadsheet, answering every application question, and approaching the process with intention.

Schneider believes with her whole heart that if you are thoughtful, intentional and go through the whole process, “you will end up where you’re meant to be.”

Read her advice here.