For many high school seniors, applying to college is the most stressful and important process in their lives thus far. Often, a senior is surrounded by friends, family, and even teachers, who ask about their college choices. However, talking about college choices only serves to add to the stressful process of applying to college.
“I hate it when other people ask about where I am applying to college,” said senior Dana Majewski. “It makes me uncomfortable, especially when it is a subject I would rather keep to myself.”
By keeping their choices a secret, seniors can relax and not worry about other people knowing where they got accepted or rejected.
Many seniors do not want to share their colleges of choice because they think some of the schools to which they are applying are less popular or less reputable than others.
“Many students do not share their choices to avoid the criticism of other students who claim that you aren’t smart enough to apply to that school,” said senior Dana Mirro.
Some may feel insecure or even embarrassed about their college choices, and discussing them constantly may make them feel even worse.
“I think that it is a good idea to keep your college choices a secret, in case you get wait-listed or rejected,” said senior Lily Weisberg.
Take this scenario: you are having a conversation about colleges with your group of friends, and everyone starts listing their choices.
You yourself don’t feel comfortable with saying where you are applying to out loud, and choose not to say anything. Usually, the continuous nagging and pushing to get even one school out can lead to an uncomfortable situation.
For seniors applying early, there usually are not many schools to list. If someone asks where you are applying early, they will likely remember the few schools you name.
“When I am in the guidance office handing in my application processing forms, it is normal to see students covering up the names of their schools,” said senior Alison Peltz. “It makes me uncomfortable that some students look over at my form and take a glance at the schools that I am applying to. I prefer to keep it to myself, and not make it a public statement.”
People should respect their friends’ decisions about whether or not to share where they are applying.
They have a right to keep their college choices a secret and, in the end, it should only matter if they are happy with whatever school they will go to later on.
A student’s journey in choosing the right college for them is not a matter that should be shared with the world.
“It is really up to the student whether they want their college choices to be kept a secret or not,” said Director of Guidance Mr. Hank Hardy. “What happens between the college and you is definitely a matter of privacy. The student’s choice is the one that really matters. Peer pressure should not be into account.”
Sharing college choices is only an issue for a short time; once people are accepted into college, the worried feeling of embarrassment disappears, and we can share the excitement of an acceptance letter with family and friends openly.