It’s September of my first semester of senior year, and I’m drowning. I’m staring down the barrel of over 20 college essays on top of trying to keep up my GPA, prepare for debate tournaments, practice for band, and manage my social life. This stress is the reality most high school seniors face.
According to a survey by Princeton Review, 74% of students feel overwhelmingly stressed about applications, and another survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling said that over three-quarters reported fearing one small application error could lessen their admission chances. With the popularity of social media acceptance posts, many students feel increasingly pressured to get into their top choice, and they feel that their application must be spotless to even have a chance of securing a spot at any university.
At LASA, an already academically competitive environment, this is especially true. Juniors and seniors often discuss GPAs and SAT scores or what schools people are applying to, creating an environment where many students tie happiness or self-worth to their grades. According to a Harvard Business Publishing article, this emphasis on results such as grades or test scores can hinder a student’s ability to effectively learn by hurting their self-confidence and desire to actually master the content. Rather than focusing on the benefits and rewards of making mistakes throughout the learning process, students focus only on the perfect grade, which is detrimental to their mental health.
There is an unhealthy amount of stress associated with students attempting to gain leadership in groups or pad their resumes with extracurricular activities. College isn’t the only reason teens join clubs, but the pressure of trying to perfect a college application often forces students to believe they must find a club, create an event, or even cure cancer before they graduate.
The pressure to get into a competitive school incentivizes many students to overapply to schools, hoping to hit the lottery due to dropping acceptance rates. However, this overburdens students with a mountain of supplemental essays, interviews, and financial aid forms that must be completed. Combined with the fact that these materials are expected to be perfect, this creates even more stress, preventing students from being able to enjoy their senior year.
This can also be costly in terms of paying application fees or extra college counseling. Many students choose to take additional SAT prep classes or pay for a tutor to help with standardized tests, which can further exacerbate issues for families with fewer resources.
The stresses of college applications are not a problem exclusive to students, either. According to U.S. News, many parents also become stressed out by their child’s application process. The increasing complexity and competitiveness of college applications make the process challenging for parents to navigate, with a multitude of deadlines and parts for every new application. Locally, according to the University of Texas at Austin (UT) News, 72,885 students submitted freshman applications in Fall 2024 for UT, showcasing the competition that amplifies the stress seniors face.
The mindset around college applications needs to shift. That same September, I lost a debate. I almost broke down in a Chick-fil-A bathroom because I thought if my class ranking dropped, it could be the difference between a college acceptance or rejection. Admissions are far more complicated than any one number, but in the moment, compounding pressure from friends, family, and the media makes any mistake feel make-or-break.
This environment isn’t healthy for students, their parents, or schools. At worst, it can take away from creating meaningful experiences in what deserves to be the best year of high school.
