Kurt Goedecke is a member in good standing of this key industry association, which sets individual membership requirements demanding years of specialized experience, education and training, and firm commitment to continuing education. Kurt is also a member of the Texas Association of College Admission Counseling and subscribes to the Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission.
Kurt Goedecke
About
The college admissions process is rapidly changing: schools are experimenting with AI, dealing with the fluctuating political environment, and navigating the constant balance between growth and budget constraints. Into this context, add the highly stressful process of submitting a successful application by students and families who may never have done this before. I act as a catalyst to provide highly individualized guidance on how to apply for specific majors or how to apply when you do not know what you want to study. Helping students recognize their strengths and showing them how to best present them to the schools where they are most likely to succeed has become not only my work but also my passion.
My experience with college admissions began over 40 years ago, after graduating from Rice University; I was recruited by the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid to join the Admissions Team. At the time, using a computer to manage all the data was very new, and I was the first at Rice to gather the admissions data and put it into a format to begin what has become known as Enrollment Management. Currently, algorithms are available, but admissions in the highly selective schools are still more of an art than a science. As colleges sort through many qualified candidates for the students who meet their priorities, they will, as one school put it – “Not look for acceptable students, but for future successful alumni.”
When working with me, communication is key at every level. Every meeting is documented, and feedback is sent to both parents and the students. Remaining current and connected within the higher education circle is critical to knowing where colleges are the right fit. Visiting colleges is important, but so is maintaining relationships with college admissions administrators, faculty, and alumni. Sometimes it comes down to knowing the vibe of a campus and knowing the personality of the student, which only comes from making the effort to really get to know them. This takes my practice beyond analyzing the data and into the creative sphere of suggesting the school no one else considered.
It is my belief that having the students “drive the bus” is the most important part of the process. I confirm they know how to keep appointments and be on time, complete applications and essays before the deadlines, and most importantly, take the initiative in discerning their place in the admissions process. This is their opportunity to show the school, their parents, and most importantly, themselves that they are ready. They are prepared to begin the four years which will have the greatest impact on their lives, not only the careers they pursue, but also the friends they make, even the families they eventually create. It is my joy and profession to be a part of all this. While many families have thanked me for getting their student into their first-choice school (even when that first choice has changed multiple times during the process), I will always say that the student did the hard work to get them in.
Degrees / Certifications:
BA from Rice University, Biology
The American College, Chartered Life Underwriter
Chartered Financial Consultant
Dale Carnegie Course Teaching Assistant
NASD Series 7, Series 63, Series 65