I’m an interviewer for the University of Pennsylvania and a high school senior asked me, “What do I have to do to get in? I have a friend who has the same grades and SATs as me, and she got in.” On CollegeConfidential.com, there are more than a million posts on just the Ivy Leagues on this site—there is data on how to get in.

As this applicant pleaded, reinforced by the site name CollegeConfidential, there is a perceived secret into being accepted by a college. There is a secret to college admissions.

The first step toward this enlightenment is to ask the right question. The right question is not, “What do I have to do to get in?” but “Which school is right for me?” This answer is not found in the millions of posts on any number of college-related websites, but found in Philippians 4, the uber-extrovert apostle Paul finds himself imprisoned, the last place he would want to be; but because he was forced to be alone, we have the letter he wrote to the church at Philippi:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Christ gives Paul strength to endure what would be harder than early Saturday morning SAT prep classes, but it is useful to note the theme of verses 11 and 12 is revealed by a word that shows up many times, a word perhaps too familiar to students. The word for learning or knowing appears frequently, indicating an emphasis.

In the Greek original text, this word for learning or knowing actually comes from three different Greek words. In verse 11, Paul learned to be content, and the Greek word in this instance simply means “education.” In verse 12, Paul knew what it was to be in need, and this learning comes from the Greek word meaning “to see, to understand.” The Latin word from this Greek word is video.

The third time Paul used the word learning, he grabbed a word that originally meant “secret.” Paul learned the secret of being content. The secret of college admissions is being content.

High school students, and some younger students, have worked feverishly to be accepted by a college. The secret of college admissions is not to be accepted, but to be accepted by the right school; and the right school is the school that accepts you. While high school students have first choices, the best choices are the schools that accept them.

Paul learned the secret of being content. Paul understood hard work and sacrifice, and his natural tendency was mixing with people; but Paul found himself alone, writing this letter to a first century church, unaware his words would influence 21st century American students applying for college.

Countless times, I have sat with high school seniors who think undergraduate admissions offices hold all the cards, dealing out rejections to the best of students. It is not fair when considered thusly, but thinking this way is akin to Paul thinking he could make a bigger impact for the kingdom by evangelizing a few more first century Philippians. Life doesn’t work that way; God doesn’t work that way; the college admission process doesn’t work that way.

The secret to college admissions is to learn the school that accepts you is the right school. You can be content because of Christ who gives us strength to believe God knows more than undergraduate offices of admissions.