by Tanya Short

Created on: June 29, 2008

As a former college admissions counselor, I've talked to hundreds of high school students about their skills and ambitions. I always emphasize the need to keep an open mind and hold off on specializing until you have truly explored your limitations and your talents. Self-assessment can be tricky for anyone, but in some ways it's hardest for bright, ambitious youth. It's not easy, but with a little work, you can arrive at a realistic yet motivating understanding of your skills.

* Don't let high school experiences rule your life.
The typical college freshman arrives on campus with what they think is a clear understanding of their skills. Unfortunately, many factors can contribute to an incomplete or entirely inaccurate self-assessment, many of which are inevitable. Flawed grading systems and limited high school curriculums are two of the most common, but some common causes are more subtle. I've seen students with a natural creative flair encounter a particularly poor English teacher and mysteriously "grow out of" writing poetry. I've seen students perform slightly better in painting class than in biology class and from then on, fervently believe that all Science is "just not for me". Worse, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; once you begin to believe you are unskilled, you don't work as hard and you fall further behind. It's not easy to free yourself from preconceived notions of strengths and weaknesses, but if you manage it, college can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

* Separate enjoyment from aptitude.
Young scholars often confuse "liking" a class with being a natural in the subject matter. Closely examine any beliefs about your skills or lack thereof. Did you excel in the subject because you enjoyed the class, or did you enjoy the class because you excelled in the subject? Common distractions include the teacher, other students, the classroom, the textbook, or even the time of day the class was held. Ultimately, there's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to study a subject you love but are not skilled in; often, there's more danger in studying something you are naturally gifted for but genuinely dislike. But once you've figured out where you stand, you can make your own informed decision as to how to proceed.

* Understand the "average".
It may be tempting to look at those around you and compare yourself to them, whether you're evaluating time management, punctuality, aptitude, or social skills. This would make sense if you had a scientific

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