By: Ezra Riojas ’25
Online gambling is a rising issue among teens across the nation, yet on the Google search tab next to Baccarat, high schoolers are forced to place bets that could decide their future in a seemingly unwinnable game—the college admissions process.
The college admissions process is a crucial part of many teenagers’ lives, as it can change their future for better or worse. Acceptance rates to top-tier institutions are plummeting. Even highly ranked public schools, like the University of Virginia, have cut their acceptance rate in half from 2005 to 2025 (College Transitions). Because of this, the modern-day admissions process is fraught with stress and unpredictability. Through a series of interviews with students in the thick of the process and teachers who have witnessed admissions evolve over the years, we have identified crucial aspects of the admissions process.
An anonymous discussion with a bright young student from St. Paul’s School for Boys shed light on the modern challenges. A top-ranked student in the class of 2025, he stated that he felt immense pressure from his family, who were heavily involved in his college decisions and the admissions process. This student detailed how his parents always emphasized the need to get good grades, even during his elementary school years. This involvement only ramped up in his senior year, when they limited his list to just 30 elite colleges that he could apply to.
However, when discussing the college admissions process with the Mr. Jason Stine, he disclosed that his parents were rather indifferent about where he went to school, opting for a hands-off approach. He also shared his belief that college admissions have become more “unpredictable and unfair” (Stine). He recalls having a near guarantee of admission to most of the schools he applied to, a belief he no longer sees reflected in his current students and advisees. Stine feels that college admissions dehumanize students in a sense, as many students look “identical on paper” despite having different approaches to life and bringing unique outlooks that schools might value (Stine).
(Fun Fact: Mr. Stine earned a spot on the Harvard University waitlist, making it the only school that did not accept him outright.)
With Stine’s manner of thinking, the pressure and parental involvement that the student faced may be unnecessary. Stine drives this idea home with the point that one can be successful at any college if the student approaches it with the right mindset. His logic is that despite countless rankings and metrics that place select universities on pedestals, every university has resources for a motivated student. Because of this, Stine argues that students get out of the college experience what they put into it.
Although the modern admissions process may take a heavier mental toll, Stine mentioned dealing with the confusion of filling out some paper applications while others were online, which provided its own challenges. Perhaps the new ease with which millions of students around the world can apply to heaps of schools has contributed to the cutthroat nature of the admissions process.
Ultimately, as the competitiveness of admissions increases, it becomes more and more crucial for students to value themselves and their personal growth. This mindset will ensure that they are not inhibited by the pursuit of “name-brand” colleges but rather enter the next chapter of their lives with optimism and resilience.
Leave a Reply