It’s a familiar conversation: “So, have you been thinking about college?” The moment someone learns you’re an upperclassman, the question comes flying almost every time.
At first, it seems like small talk, but after hearing it a hundred times, it begins to feel less like a casual conversation and more like an interrogation. You smile, answer politely, but inside, the pressure builds. The focus on college for upperclassmen is overwhelming, and it seems like everything about your future hinges on a single decision. The truth is, though, that college should be only four years of a life, and while it is important, the focus on it in today’s society is much more significant than it should be.
Personally as a senior, I did not realize how much pressure the constant college questions built until actually applying. I find myself grappling with my own internal conflict: while I know that a school like the University of Oregon would be a perfect fit for my current goals and aspirations, I hesitate because it’s seen as “easier” to get into. I worry that people may look down on me for choosing a school with a higher acceptance rate, even though I know deep down I’d likely be happier there than at a more prestigious school.
The feeling that my worth is tied to the prestige of a college is exhausting and harmful. As a society, we do not want to push students to attend schools that, in reality, they wouldn’t be happy at. The goal of college should be to serve as a stepping stone that prepares you for the professional world, and that’s how it should be treated. College should be about finding a place where you can thrive, learn about what you truly want to pursue, and build the skills that will carry you forward, it is not about choosing somewhere just to look “smart” or to meet others’ expectations.
Furthermore, the pressure surrounding college does not just affect seniors and juniors anymore, now it starts younger. Take my sister, for example. She is a freshman, and is already stressing over her GPA and carefully crafting a class schedule for the next three years to ensure she meets all the requirements to get into her dream schools.
She is thinking about things I never did as a freshman, like summer courses and internships due to the looming worry of being admitted, and that’s an unhealthy mindset to carry, especially at such a young age. High school should be about exploring interests and growing, not being consumed by the fear of an admission letter.
What people often forget is that college is just four years of your life, and while it’s important, it’s not the defining moment that determines your future. Students should be encouraged to choose schools that align with their personal interests and professional goals, not just the ones that will boost their resume or impress others.
The focus should be on finding an environment where they will grow and thrive, not one where they feel the weight of constantly trying to prove their worth. We need to break the connection between high schoolers and the overwhelming idea of “college success” to lessen the harmful pressure that is placed on them throughout highschool.
So, next time you are having a casual conversation with someone in high school, make sure that the first question you ask is not related to their future. After all, college should be about discovering who you are, not just about living up to someone else’s expectations.
