I was a college academic advisor. I wish parents understood that AP classes, straight A's, and competitive sports do not equal success for students.

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I was a college academic advisor. I wish parents understood that AP classes, straight A's, and competitive sports do not equal success for students.

I was a university academic advisor for six years.
Students with sports scholarships might have to skip in-person classes and other activities.
Sports or grades do not necessarily determine a college student's success.

When I meet other parents, their first question is usually: "Where do your kids go to school?" There are more "advantaged" schools in our town where attendance supposedly equates to higher test scores, better opportunities, and — as the thinking goes — college success.

But I was a university academic advisor for six years. Every year, I heard things like "I'm burned out from high school," or, "I failed my first test. What should I do?"

These are students who did everything right when it came to preparing for college. Here's what I've come to understand from my years working with students about our markers for success.

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