By Cami Felsing
For many high school students, the reason for sleepless nights full of studying and excelling in multiple extracurricular activities is to reach one final goal: college acceptance. In today’s competitive educational state, the pressure to succeed is higher than it has ever been before. This is because universities are becoming increasingly competitive as our economy develops and becomes more intelligent. Students across the nation are finding themselves in a challenging race to secure a spot in top-tier colleges. This often costs them their mental health and emotional well-being. However, many are prepared to make this sacrifice because of the lifelong success a good university can offer.
Kimberly Grillo, a counselor at Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS), states, “Students come in very often, almost every day with problems concerning stress.” The number of visits she gets about mental health needs has increased in the last year. The root of student pressure stems from a lot of various sources. High school students are given several messages about the importance of attending respected colleges, which are often seen as gateways to successful careers and fulfilling lives. This emphasis on elite education often makes students feel that academic achievement and extracurricular excellence are not just encouraged but expected. The competitive nature of the admission process scares them into doing everything they can to build an impressive resume. This often results in students underestimating the difficulty of certain classes and the time management that comes along with sports and other extracurriculars, taking a toll on their mental health. According to Newport Academy, things like stress, anxiety, and depression are serious mental illnesses that 1 in 3 high school students experience. Furthermore, nearly half of students report persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Mrs. Grillo believes a solution for the big picture of students’ mental health would be to stay off social media and for adult pressure to be eliminated.
According to recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, acceptance rates at Ivy League schools and other elite institutions have plummeted to single digits showing how high the stakes are. This extraordinary competitiveness drives students to take on rigorous course loads like advanced placement (AP) classes, participate in many extracurricular activities, and engage in intense test preparation. This results in stress, burnout, and either fear of failure or actual failure. Another idea that piles onto the stress students deal with while preparing for college admissions is that the process has become increasingly complex. Instead of only focusing on excellent grades and test scores, applicants are now expected to present themselves as well-rounded individuals with unique talents and interesting personal stories. This just adds another layer of pressure, as students feel the need to craft a perfect narrative to be accepted.
“As a junior, college admissions have not stressed me out yet because I do not have to apply until later in the year, but they definitely will soon.”
Milena Wright (11)
The roles of parents and educators are crucial to take off a load of stress. It is important for them to not contribute to stress by setting high expectations and emphasizing the importance of college acceptance. Instead, showing essential support and encouragement provides a feeling of comfort and peace. The balance between guiding students and overwhelming them is difficult to achieve. Many efforts aim to reduce student’s stress and mental health issues. These things include club organizations that advocate for a more balanced approach to education and admissions. Milena Wright, a student at PVHS, states, “As a junior, college admissions have not stressed me out yet because I do not have to apply until later in the year, but they definitely will soon.” This quote shows that the amount of stress caused by admissions depends on what grade students are in. However, Milena also shared, “My grades stress me out the most which kind of correlates to college admissions.”
As the debate over college admissions continues, one thing is clear: the current system places a ton of pressure on young people, especially high school students. This can be because of many different things like fear of failure, not managing time well enough, taking too many intense classes, and stressing over tests or assignments. Many efforts aim to remind students that success is not solely defined by the name of the college they are attending but by their overall growth and happiness. Addressing this issue requires a more supportive and inclusive educational environment.
Pictured: A PVHS student viewing college acceptance rates
