By June Peers

For seniors, the beginning of the school year marks the dreadful, yet rewarding college application season. Creating the perfect application involves compiling transcripts, writing personal essays, gathering letters of recommendation, and navigating online portals. 

Students’ stress level during this time usually correlates with how many colleges they apply to. According to CollegeVine, most students apply to between 8 and 12 colleges.

However, it is common to see students overextend themselves by applying to 20 different colleges. Ultimately, this phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that college is becoming increasingly commodified. From the 20th century to today, America’s perception of college has shifted entirely. College enrollment used to indicate a student’s pursuit of higher-level education. Now, it is more often perceived as a “status symbol.”

According to KD College Prep, “Between 1970 and 2017, the undergraduate enrollment in United States colleges more than doubled.”

With the number of applicants increasing each year, acceptance rates at top universities, including Ivy League and the Top 30 schools, have declined. Given the limited enrollment colleges offer, students feel pressured to apply to as many colleges as possible to “increase their chances.”

However, colleges wear the low acceptance rate this cycle causes as a badge of honor and prestige, and with this prestigious reputation, students are more likely to apply. It is a never-ending battle between students hungry for academic validation and avaricious colleges feasting on application fees and tuition.

Furthermore, colleges have gamified the admissions process. Eager students are playing this lottery. Except this isn’t your typical lottery. With a 1590 SAT score, a player can receive a power-up. Wait… oh no! The player has hit an obstacle! They received a C in Biology! Phew, it’s alright, they just lost one of their three lives. AHHHH! Wait a second; they wrote a boring essay about how they overcame a sports injury. Game over.

That analogy may sound exaggerated, but it’s an accurate representation of how students are under immense stress due to the competitive nature of the college system. 

But it isn’t the college system. It’s ours. American culture with its emphasis on capitalism and materialism plays a significant role in the commodification of college. Colleges turn to marketing and consumerism, knowing that thousands of students or “consumers” will buy their products. 

I started to understand the strange nature of America’s college admissions system after discussing it with my Canadian grandmother. She seemed perplexed by the idea that top American colleges are held on a pedestal. More importantly, she asserted that the Ivy League won’t maintain its prestige for long given the many scandals these universities have been involved in. She went on to argue that Harvard will likely be receiving fewer applicants for the upcoming admissions cycle given the president’s resignation after a controversial antisemitism testimony. I disagree with her. As the oldest American university since 1636, Harvard will always be admired for its prestige. No matter what scandal arises, Harvard will always be able to fall back on its glorious history.

However, this had me thinking about Canada. In Canada, there is no Ivy League. There are hardly any hefty tuition fees. College admittance isn’t viewed as the pinnacle of one’s success. Neither is wearing an overpriced Champion hoodie with a big university logo. 

If there’s anything to take away from the senior experience, it’s that you aren’t defined by the college you end up at, and if college isn’t for you, that’s perfectly fine too. Maybe the Canadians have it all figured out.