Why Applying to College Is So Confusing
Why Applying to College Is So Confusing
By Rebecca Zwick, Dec. 5, 2017 (New York Times)
The college application season, as depicted in Rebecca Zwick's New York Times article "Why Applying to College Is So Confusing" (Dec. 5, 2017), is a period fraught with anxiety for high school students. They find themselves amidst a frenzied atmosphere, where GPAs and personal essays become their tickets to stand out in a sea of applicants. Zwick sheds light on the online forums teeming with students seeking advice on nuances like teacher recommendations and essay topics, highlighting the extent of their perplexity and desperation.
What adds to this complexity, Zwick notes, is the lack of a universal standard for 'merit' in college admissions. She quotes the legal scholar Ronald Dworkin: “There is no combination of abilities and skills and traits that constitutes ‘merit’ in the abstract.” This statement underlines the subjective nature of college admissions. Different colleges, driven by their unique missions, prioritize varied aspects of their ideal applicant. For example, the State University of New York aims to represent all segments of New York's population, whereas Yale looks for students with exceptional promise across all backgrounds.
Zwick criticizes the vagueness with which colleges communicate their admissions criteria. She observes that while most colleges mention factors like leadership and extracurricular activities, they often fail to clarify how these attributes are evaluated and weighted in the admissions process. This obscurity leaves applicants guessing about what truly matters in their applications.
The article also discusses how this ambiguity disproportionately affects low-income students and those less acquainted with university culture. Zwick argues for more openness in admissions, suggesting that colleges could demystify their processes by sharing vignettes of actual admissions decisions, thereby providing applicants and their families with clearer expectations and a better understanding of the admissions landscape.
Zwick's piece in The New York Times serves as a crucial guide for parents and students navigating the often bewildering path of college admissions. It underscores the importance of understanding each college's unique values and criteria, encouraging families to look beyond surface-level factors to truly comprehend what makes a compelling application.
