With such a variety of colleges at our fingertips, the stress is picking that one that SLOHS students will actually be attending. Photo collage courtesy of junior Makaylin Molinar.
Every year SLOHS seniors are waiting anxiously for the email of college acceptance that will determine their next chapter in their life. These decisions feel like they define a student’s future but the reality is more complicated.
Among new high school graduates, actually only 16.9% enroll in 2-year colleges; 45.1% enroll in 4-year programs.
The college application begins months in advance with getting all your information together, writing essays and recommendation letters. By the time the college acceptance rolls around the students are in deep stress and have invested so much time on this process.
“The hardest process was definitely making my life experiences into 350 words because the feelings and everything I have gone through can’t be shortened that much,” said senior Darla Sebastian Martinez attending UC Davis.
Acceptance rates of colleges have become increasingly competitive. This can lead students to feel the pressure to build a “perfect life” on your resume. Decision factors are more than just grades and test scores.
Some schools I expected to be rejected while others I was hoping and expecting to get in but I still got into good schools and had to make the hard decision of just one school,” said Lana Engelskirger attending University of Hawaii Manoa.
Rejection and waitlist and deferrals are common outcomes that students may receive. These responses can feel discouraging and may lead the student to reflect on their worth. Many successful people do not attend their first choice school.
Everyone goes on their own journey after high school that can be very different from other persons which is why you shouldn’t compare yourself.
“I’m going to be working two weeks at an Elephant Sanctuary and then taking a week break and hiking the base camp and then two weeks after building orphanages in Nepal,” said senior Oliver Zeeb taking a gap year in Nepal.
Where you are attending is not a measure of your success and it’s a large journey where you will grow and adapt and take advantage of the opportunities available.
Source: https://educationdata.org/college-enrollment-statistics
