What TV has taught us about admissions: in creating a televised took at college admissions, two experts learn a thing or two.

In our practice advising young adults about college admissions, we encourage them to develop as detailed a plan of action as possible, at the same time reassuring them that even the best-laid plans can meet with unexpected twists and turns that alter intended directions. Strangely enough, that's just what happened to us recently, in the process of creating the PBS focus, Ten Steps to College with the Greenes.

It was only a year ago that we received an e-mail from a gentleman at Indiana University who introduced himself as the director of National Program Development for the university's public broadcasting station, WTIU. He had read several of our books on college admissions planning and wanted to know if we would be interested in partnering with his team to create a program for PBS--one that would help families understand the intricacies of college admissions. With both excitement and caution, we responded, asking for more information. The invitation had come at a point when we were planning our next several books with the particular theme in mind of leveling the playing flew of college opportunity for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Letting our imaginations run free, we wondered how we might be able to use the powerful medium of television to reach the widest possible audience.

In the end, we created--in cooperation with an exceptionally talented and intelligent team of producers and writers at WTIU--a special program that will air on PBS throughout the country this fall and thereafter. Ten Steps to College with the Greenes turned out to be not merely an interesting look at the college admissions process, but a multidimensional tool for public use. It includes the availability of DVD and VHS formats, and a work kit that includes several of our guides, plus a workbook for students which follows the steps in the program. The show and workbook also have been translated into Spanish, to reach out to the large and growing college-bound Hispanic population in America. And the companion PBS Web site (www.pbs.org/tenstepstocollege) provides still more resources for families and educators.

Obviously, we believe there is much valuable information to be had in Ten Steps. We find ourselves on the threshold of reaching tens of millions of families across America with the message that attending college is a real option for students of all backgrounds; that there is financial support to make the dream a reality; and that following a logical series of steps will result in admission to the right college for each individual. But interestingly, in the process of creating the Ten Steps tool, we've learned a number of lessons--some humbling, all inspiring--from our intensive experience.

The first challenge was not surprising: to distill the core material of our various books into a one-hour program for viewing. Like the correspondent who apologizes to his reader for drafting such a lengthy letter (while wishing he had had additional time to write a shorter one that was more to the point), we focused on delivering a clear and succinct set of guidelines to the viewer. But importantly, in order to develop a format that explained the complicated process of preparing for and applying to college in 10 steps, we had to test the value of every idea and word we would use in the program.

Universal intensity of concern. The second lesson that we took to heart was more surprising, and grew out of our strong recommendation that live audiences of high school students and their parents be invited to participate in the production. On two separate evenings, we worked onstage to present the Ten Steps, and then invited the audiences to ask questions on camera. What an impact those conversations had on the production team and on those who have viewed the program thus far! There is generally an assumption on the part of many families and schools (often perpetuated by the media) that the intense level of concern about attaining a college education is a "coastal" phenomenon. That is, that only the city and suburban folk on the East and West coasts worry about college and graduate school admissions. But these audiences proved that theory dead wrong. In the university studio in Bloomington, we heard loud and clear that the drive for education is neither a particular regional nor a specific socioeconomic issue--something that many readers at IHEs across the country already know. The questions regarding the relative importance of school curriculum, testing, class rank, personal talents and activities, how to determine where to apply to college, and (no surprise to anyone) how to pay for a cortege education know no physical or social boundaries today. Colleges that limit their recruitment to only the large city environs or the two coasts are missing out on families with a high level of investment in a college education.

Outreach is there. We had long wanted to bring admissions officers from public and private colleges into the living rooms of families everywhere. Thus, we asked the senior admissions officers at 30 selective public and private institutions if they would be willing to interview on camera and offer advice that would be included in Ten Steps to College. All 30 agreed immediately, even though they would have to take the time during the busiest period in the admissions cycle. Our lesson three: The desire to reach out to any and all those who want to continue their education was absolutely demonstrated to us in developing the television program. The sincerity and honesty of the admissions officers' comments and advice should encourage students to plan wisely and confidently for college acceptance.

Home schooling continues to grow. We also learned that American parents exercise a spirit of independence and innovation when it comes to preparing their children for a secure future. We met a number of Families during the production who are home schooling their children because they believe this is the best teaming foundation they can give them. There is a distorted image fostered by the educational establishment that home schooling families are religious fundamentalists or political radicals. We do not find this to be the case. Many of the families expressed their concern for the limited resources and offerings of their school system, or for the safety of their children in schools marked by daily violence. Several parents of children with learning disabilities found that a traditional school setting did not work for them, and so resorted to creating an individualized program of study. And yes, some mentioned their desire to have their children study the Bible or discuss ethical and moral issues through readings that may not be allowed or encouraged in the public schools. We have written about home schooling in a previous UB column ("Heading Home," April 2003), encouraging colleges to carefully consider these applicants because of their interesting backgrounds of learning and the fact that the number of home-schooled students is growing exponentially.

Genuine corporate interest. We are very encouraged by our experience with some of America's major public corporations--another important lesson for us. Once the concept and outline of the show were in place, we approached the directors of several corporations. These were corporations we felt would be interested in supporting the production costs because of a perceived interest in educational issues and a desire to implement our mission of leveling the educational playing field. While it is certainly true that public companies exist to make the largest profits possible for their stakeholders and thus consider all of their activities accordingly, it is also true that many corporate leaders recognize their responsibility to the public at large, and apportion a share of their revenues to community organizations and activities. The two underwriters of Ten Steps to College, MasterCard International and the Thomson Corporation, almost immediately recognized that they could assist in reaching a vast audience of families for a worthy purpose. Yes, corporations have to justify their spending, and so any activity they underwrite must represent some inherent value for them. Yet, we can state that it is possible to accomplish both goals when the mission of the enterprise at hand is clearly articulated and a company with aligned interests appreciates the value both to itself and the public.

Sharing values and purposes. Finally, our respect for the work that PBS does, and the individuals who make its mission a reality knows no bounds. Not unlike colleges and universities, the goals and aspirations of this public service organization to serve the community at large are magnificent, but the resources to fulfill all of them are limited and stretched. The good will of the many people at WTIU at Indiana University and the PBS national office in Alexandria, VA has inspired us. We have learned that it takes a team of more than just dedicated and talented individuals to execute a complex project; it also calls for a shared set of values and purposes. Everyone we encountered--from the earliest conversations to the actual launching of the program--showed their enthusiasm for the mission of Ten Steps, and their desire to make it a reality through their respective areas of responsibility. We also have learned of the treasure trove of programs available to students and schools through the educational products division of PBS.

As we pen these reflections, we are developing the content for a second PBS show, this one focused on paying for college. The topic reflects--again--a shared mission to help families find solutions to their major concerns. And once again, we venture down a path that may end up looking quite different from the one we had in mind.

For broadcast information about Ten Steps to College with the Greenes, consult local listings. Companion worksheets and questionnaires for students and parents include: Financial Aid Needs Analysis, Strengths Assessment, Ideal Curriculum, Comparative College Requirements Worksheet, College Visit Summary Sheet, Personal Writing Worksheet, Admissions Decision Questionnaire, and more. Visit www.pbs.org/tenstepstocollege for details.

Howard Greene and Matthew Greene are independent education consultants, and the authors of the Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning. Contact them at [e-mail], or visit www.greenesguides.com.