The College Application Process has officially shifted into high gear for students as early as ninth grade. Back when I was in high school, I began contemplating my college options during my senior year, submitted five applications, and chose the one with the best financial aid offer. While it wasn’t entirely hassle-free, it certainly wasn’t the extensive four-year ordeal that today’s students face.
A new initiative from the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, which includes 80 universities, has introduced an online portfolio requirement for high school students. This means that aspiring college applicants will now document their academic work starting in ninth grade. According to a recent NPR interview with the Vice President of Enrollment Management at the University of Florida, Zina Evans, students will be able to upload samples of their work when they apply in their senior year. This digital portfolio acts like a locker for showcasing their achievements.
The application process will be centralized on a free website that serves as a single platform for all participating colleges. The Huffington Post states that this site not only simplifies the application process but also provides students with resources to get started years ahead of time. They can seek advice from college admissions offices and work on their portfolios with the assistance of teachers and counselors.
While I commend the effort to provide resources for students who lack access to guidance, I am concerned about the notion of starting this process “years in advance.” Isn’t the current parenting trend geared towards free-range exploration? Shouldn’t kids be allowed to experiment and learn without constant adult oversight? The four years of high school should foster learning and growth, not be reduced to an extended audition for college admission.
Even during my own high school experience in the 1980s, I hesitated to take on challenging courses due to the fear of receiving a poor grade. Today’s students might shy away from subjects like coding or figure drawing simply because they fear it could negatively impact their portfolio. Beginning the portfolio process in ninth grade restricts their opportunity to learn freely, unencumbered by the anxiety of low assessments.
Consider a student who might otherwise embrace new challenges during their ninth and tenth grades but now finds themselves with an empty portfolio due to their willingness to take risks. This student would be at a disadvantage compared to those who played it safe. The pressure to maintain a robust portfolio can deter experimentation and stifle creativity.
Moreover, why is the college application process framed as a “make or break” situation? While I recognize that a college education can provide access to better economic opportunities, I believe that we should be addressing deeper systemic issues. Why is poverty so entrenched, and why are some local schools viewed as inferior to others? We need to rethink the narrative around what constitutes a “good” education and why higher education remains inaccessible to so many.
Families like mine understand the stakes of a good college education for financial stability. However, I believe we should focus on making college more affordable and improving the quality of less expensive institutions. Ideally, we should work towards a future where a college degree is not a prerequisite for a stable middle-class life. The current atmosphere pressures children into a relentless pursuit of top colleges at the expense of their childhood.
In summary, the early start of the college application process is creating additional pressures on students at a stage when they should be exploring their interests and learning without fear. We must prioritize educational equity and reconsider the societal pressure to attend prestigious colleges.