Like most middle-class parents, Kristin Skibo and her husband thought about putting their three children through college and took several deep breaths.
Their eldest, Josh Barri, faces some learning challenges and for a variety of reasons a small private university seemed like the best fit. But when the JSerra Catholic High School senior started opening college acceptance letters he was shocked – and thrilled.
A good student but not an AP 4.5 whiz kid or star athlete, Josh stared at scholarships that covered half his college expenses. Totaling up the grants from 15 colleges and universities, Josh and his parents looked at financial aid of more than $1 million.
Josh Barri, 17, has been offered over one million dollars in scholarships across 15 colleges. He is a senior at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano. Barry was photographed on Wednesday March 15, 2017. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“This is extraordinary,” says Olivia Huie, JSerra’s director of college counseling. Mom, son and high school counselor smile when they share their story. But their happiness isn’t just about Josh. The trio says other teens can do what Josh accomplished.
More important, they offer tips for slashing the soaring cost of college, now estimated at $25,000 a year for in-state schools and $50,000 for private colleges.
“We’re middle class,” Skibo allows. “We make enough so we don’t qualify for any financial aid, but not enough where we can afford an additional $75,000 (pre-tax) dollars a year.”
GO WITH WHAT FITS
A review of Josh’s schools and scholarships reads like a parent’s dream.
With a preference for remaining in a Catholic education environment, Josh’s list of four-year scholarships includes DePaul, $80,000; Catholic University of America, $100,000; University of Portland, $92,000; Seton Hall, $106,500.
Most college-bound students have until May 1 to decide on a school. Josh has narrowed his list to a final three. All are east of the Mississippi River, something mom supports but can’t help frowning over.
Even when your son has the pick of his colleges, it’s tough thinking a child will be so far from home.
Skibo is a medical group administrator, her husband, Michael Barri, is a chiropractor and the family lives in Dana Point. She graduated San Diego State University; he graduated San Jose State. The couple also has boy and girl twins, age 15, who go to Dana Hills High.
Putting Josh in JSerra was a stretch, but worth it. Josh is matter of fact about his challenges, which include ADHD and something called dysgraphia, a condition that causes difficulty with writing.
“Teachers can’t read my writing,” Josh says. Offering a self-deprecating smile, the senior concedes, “Sometimes I can’t read my own writing.”
Josh is allowed to write essays on a computer and gets more time on tests. He touches on his challenges briefly in his application essays, but doesn’t turn them into causes.
“With help from family and school staff,” Josh writes, “I’ve been able to excel.”
He takes honors classes, but hasn’t taken any advanced placement classes. His GPA is 3.8. On the old SAT, he scored 1990 out of 2400.
He plans on a career as a lawyer and participates in mock trials, but he doesn’t go crazy with extracurricular activities like some students. He plays golf, but his game doesn’t win trophies.
In short, Josh is well on his way to becoming a fine young man, is blessed with character, humor and grace. But he also believes in balance – heck, he even admits to playing video games – and that isn’t an advantage in the competitive world of college applications.
Or is balance what learning and life are really about?
“It’s not about the perfect score,” Skibo says. “Kids are killing themselves. They’re overextended.”
Huie says JSerra has worked hard to change the culture from kids chasing after brand colleges such as Harvard, Yale, USC, to one in which students choose a school that is best for them.
“What we focus on,” she says, “is for students to find a fit where they can thrive spiritually, academically and socially.”
BE AUTHENTIC
Huie likens her mission to that of a personal trainer. “You want to maximize your opportunities when you work out.”
Like most college-bound teens, JSerra students attend a workshop in taking tests, writing essays, getting recommendation letters, interviewing and choosing colleges.
The best essays reveal something about the student’s character and goals without being self-defeating or overly heroic.
“I wrote from my heart,” Josh reports.
Just as students are looking for a good fit, so are colleges. The counselor advises, “This is an opportunity to show your personality.”
“Where Josh was really brilliant,” Huie explains, “was researching the school well, finding the right fit and being authentic.”
The counselor advises that the real magic is convincing students to be realistic about their chances of getting accepted. “It’s a myth that you need to take AP classes. Good is really about what is good for the student.”
Skibo recalls a parents’ night when an English teacher assured, “Take a step back and know there’s a college for everybody.”
“We took that to heart,” the mother says.
Looking back at all the applications he filled out during the fall semester, Josh explains had he known he would be awarded financial aid from so many schools he would have sent out fewer applications.
Still, looking at a spreadsheet with more than $1 million in scholarships feels awfully good.
Saving tens of thousands of dollars in college costs will feel even better.