My high-achieving high school senior had been avoiding her college applications. AdvertisementMy high school senior is typically a happy, easygoing kid who set her sights on graduating in the top 50 of her class before her first day of freshman year. Many high school graduates in our small city go to the local college for two years, then transfer to a University of California or California State school. It's an affordable route that would relieve the pressure, but she said no; she wanted a four-year college experience. My goal was to talk about college only during those scheduled times unless a deadline needed to be met during the week.

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Persons: —, Lisa McLaughlin, McLaughlin, she's Organizations: Service, University of California, California State, California Girls State Locations: Texas, California