High School Seniors Let Out A Collective Sigh in ‘09

February 18, 2009 3:00 pm     Posted in Reality  Amanda - Reed g+ page


By Amanda

apps.jpg

As the majority of the readers on this site will know, college admissions are a painful and infuriating process. Nowadays our society puts so much pressure on us to attend good schools that many of us begin to feel that, should we not get into college, we’ll be living in refrigerator boxes on the street. (Although it was brought to my attention that, if you’re lucky, you could end up being one of the slightly more fortunate homeless people of California that get one of these cool portable shelters. Doesn’t really make you feel better, but good to know.)

Statistically, my class (2009) is due for the worst admissions season yet.

The root of the problem lies in “boom and bust” population demographics. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the baby boomers generation began to have children and thus created another wave of growth. As this new generation began to enter high school and apply to college, the number of applications began to increase and the number of students admitted decrease.

Basically, if you were born during the latter half of 1990 or in 1991, you’re screwed.

It has also become common for kids to apply to more than six schools, whereas a decade ago it was still rare. Since the introduction of the Common Application students are able to send one application to any of the 350 or so schools that accept it, making applying to multiple universities much easier. The more applications teenagers send out the smaller their chances of getting into some schools. And because admittance into these specific schools is not certain, kids will send out even more applications just to have some backups. (There is some hope, however – after this year, admissions are expected to gradually become easier. It won’t be noticeable for a long time, but it’s some consolation.)

Makes that movie Accepted seem even more realistic and frightening, doesn’t it? Playing on your worst fears? Yeah, well that was a couple years ago, and things have changed – for the worse. Again, the number of applicants is absurdly high, and, to make it worse, our economy is completely down the toilet.

Most high school seniors right now are absolutely terrified. And our college counselors aren’t really helping things. When asked what to do if we don’t get in anywhere, mine told us that there’s community college, but that she’s sure that won’t happen. Then she followed up by telling us that, especially this year, we cannot let ourselves fall prey to the dreadful Senioritis; “there are so many other kids that would want your spots at a school and a college would have no problem just giving yours away to them.”

So, I have a more difficult application process and I don’t get to enjoy the freedom of my senior year? Awesome.

So, to all you college girls out there: thank your lucky stars you are already into your school.

And to the high school ladies reading this blog: good luck! You are not alone.

17 Comments on "High School Seniors Let Out A Collective Sigh in ‘09"

  1. maddie says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 200910:22 am 

    i was born in the latter half of 1990, graduated with the class of 2008 and got into school. what's the problem?

    don't worry people. if you did your apps smart and applied to a few safety nets you WILL get into college. maybe you won't get to go to your dream school but there is always the possibility of transferring. i knew of no one in my class of 1000 students who was forced to go to community college because they didn't get in anywhere. trust me, SOMEWHERE (and more than one somewhere) will accept you.

  2. maddie says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 200910:24 am 

    ps- re: the statement that the more applications you send out, the harder it is to get into some schools… i definitely understand that, because schools want the assurance that you will attend, and if you tell them you applied to all the ivies they might be hesitant to admit you. but guess what? if i remember correctly, that portion of the application was optional. you don't have to tell other schools where you applied. i did not list that on any of my applications and had no problem with them being processed.

  3. Mazuba says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 200911:19 am 

    I don't think that there is anything wrong with commuinty college ,and counselors should stop making it look like commcollge is the worst way to get an education .Especially with this recession,people need 2 manage their finances better ,and consider commcollege.Im at one and I love it,i get good profs who know what they are talking about and I know a couple of people who got into columbia nd nyu after coming to my commcollege.

  4. Rilynne says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 200912:43 pm 

    Community college was the worst decision I've ever made in my entire life. Go to a university.

  5. Amanda - Reed Colleg says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20091:13 pm 

    i agree, i totally do not think there is anything wrong with community college. it's the right choice for some people, either academically and/or financially. it is sort of a shame though that it's condemned.

  6. Lindsey says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20092:16 pm 

    I'm a senior in highschool with a 4.6/5 GPA and recently I got into a local community college (which is only like a block from my parent's home). Before I got into said, CC, I was absolutely terrified about my future.

    I only settled with going to a CC, for two years before transferring to an university, after discovering being admitted was a tough process and paying for a four year university is out of my league.

    Personally, I feel that if I knew I was going to be able to get into an university and be able to pay for it, I would've tried harder on the ACT last year, also.

  7. Jacks says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20092:17 pm 

    Don't worry..in this day and age, you will be living in a cardboard box whether you have a college degree or not! :)

  8. Lindsey says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20095:16 pm 

    Jacks, believe me, I WILL NOT be living in a cardboard box.

  9. Nicole says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20096:38 pm 

    There's nothing wrong with a community college. If a community college isn't up your alley, why not try a state college. I attend a state college right now, and I have to say that I'm getting a good education for an affordable price.

  10. giz says:
    Wed, 18th Feb 20097:03 pm 

    The reason some kids don’t want community college is simple: no campus life.

  11. Jacks says:
    Thu, 19th Feb 20092:49 am 

    Lindsey, that was a poke at the economy, not you dear.

  12. Melissa says:
    Thu, 19th Feb 200910:17 am 

    I find the article and comments above really interesting in light of a few encouraging blog posts that I just wrote for collegebound students born 1990-1994.

    According to the studies that I have read,over 80 percent of US high school students get in to their top college choice. And, the average US high school student is only applying 3.71 colleges and getting accepted to 2.99!

    (https://mycollegeoptions.org/BlogEngine/post/2009/02/True-or-False-Most-high-school-students-don't-get-in-to-their-top-college-choice.aspx)

  13. Amanda - Reed Colleg says:
    Thu, 19th Feb 200911:07 am 

    just to let you know, your link doesn't work, so i can't really respond to your argument.

    but i will say that i wrote a long piece on this over the summer and did extensive research on it. i have multiple sources and interviewed a college counselor as well as an admissions officer at northwestern. i was simply just stating what i believed based on the information i collected.

  14. nikki says:
    Thu, 19th Feb 200911:09 pm 

    I would think that it would be easier to get in– schools are desperate for money right now.

  15. Amanda - Reed Colleg says:
    Fri, 20th Feb 20095:46 am 

    i'm not sure the economic situation would make things easier really. you would think it would, but it's not. there are statistics showing there are more early decision applicants and a lot more financial aid applicants, but having a college degree from a reputable school is still a very important thing in our society.

    in reference to melissa's post again, i find the statement that most students are applying to less than four schools very hard to believe. again, the research i did suggests the opposite. in addition, i personally do not know of anyone who only applied to four schools. given the fact that admissions are so much more competitive nowadays (which everyone knows, for the most part), i don't think students would be applying to so few schools.

  16. high pinay says:
    Wed, 27th May 200912:10 am 

    I read the articles and all the things here inside this blog .,I got many information that I really need .,Thanks for sharing.,

  17. Khalid says:
    Mon, 23rd Apr 20129:31 pm 

    I am a lowly Central Valley Edison customer who won’t be at the mtenieg tomorrow in body, but will certainly be watching on the website. So far I have resisted the use of a cell phone at work and at home. Everyone knows I am crazy and I’m sure eventually one day I’ll be forced to have one. I’d like to resist as long as possible. The same goes for the smart meters. With the rise in infertility and endocrine disruptions, there may come a day when those surviving on this planet will have some say over their lives. Until then, dear PUC, you might be wise to reign in the enthusiasm of PG & E and Edison.

Tell us what you're thinking...