In theory, students who are almost three years away from the start of the college process should not be thinking about it. But many freshmen are. According to a survey of 54 Parker freshmen, 76% of them think about college at least once per week.
Across the country, the intensity surrounding the college process is increasing. More students are applying while acceptance rates are going down, and as a result, students try to plan out their classes, extracurriculars, and volunteer opportunities in order to be a more competitive applicant. However, this stage of planning is beginning too early. For students who are fresh out of middle school, thinking about college is both a waste of time and a detriment to growth.
Of those surveyed, 70% of freshmen reported that thinking about college motivates them to do better in school. If you’re falling behind in a class because you’re not doing your homework, it is perfectly healthy to think about how these decisions will affect your future. However, if your only motivation to do well in school is getting into college, this mindset may backfire in the long run. What’s going to motivate you once you’re in college? Internal motivation is important, and fixating on college at an early age has the potential to damage that relationship with yourself.
High school is supposed to be a time for students to discover themselves, not just a four year run to get into college. Freshman year is a time to try a bunch of clubs and see which one clicks and to focus on developing good study habits. Yet, by focusing on college so early, we risk making an environment where freshmen feel as if there is a pressure to map out their futures long before they’ve even had the chance to understand who they are.
Of those surveyed, 59% of freshmen reported that thinking about college impacts which extracurriculars they do. Many students believe that ‘elite’ Parker groups, such as Model UN, The Weekly, or Student Government, look good on college applications. The truth is that if you make an impact and work hard, any extracurricular can look good on your application. It’s important for freshmen to know that there isn’t a mold of what ‘looks good’ on a college application. If you genuinely care about what you do, whatever that may be, it will shine through on your application.
College related conversations among freshmen risks creating unhealthy competition among classmates. Students may measure their worth based on others rather than focusing on their individual interests. While some level of ambition is natural, it’s important that we keep competition healthy and constructive.
While getting students to explore college counseling early on may seem helpful, the important part is how it’s executed. We recommend that Parker’s College Counseling team selects a few seniors to serve as College Process Liaisons. While the College Counselors are wonderful, we recognize that they are very busy, and underclassmen may have an easier time listening to their senior classmates.
College Process Liaisons would hold a few optional lunches throughout the year for freshmen and sophomores separately. They would answer any questions students have about the process to clear up any misconceptions, as well as emphasize the importance of finding something that interests them and putting time and energy towards it.
The current atmosphere surrounding college in the freshman class is unhealthy and detrimental. Introducing optional, student-led conversations about discovering one’s interests and goal setting in freshman and sophomore year would be extremely helpful for students without overwhelming them with logistical college information they obtain in junior year.
As a proudly progressive school, we have the opportunity to change the culture around college. Instead of creating an atmosphere of students hyper-fixating on college at such an early age, we should first aim for an environment that encourages everyone to be curious and to grow as individuals.