5 ms·

> I think most teenagers are simply stressed from the constant work that's necessary for the college admissions process. If this was true, you'd expect there t

> I think most teenagers are simply stressed from the constant work that's necessary for the college admissions process. If this was true, you'd expect there to be a similar trend between Major Depression and college admissions. The data doesn't seem to show that[1][2] [1] https://educationdata.org/wp-content/uploads/74/Historical-College-Enrollment.png https://educationdata.org/wp-content/uploads/74/Historical-C... [2] http://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a693397d-949f-43e4-9cad-3482af899f84_1410x852.png http://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a6... Most teenagers don't stress over college admissions in my experience. The top like 30% academically successful teens probably do, but I believe this effect is seen across teenagers of all groups

ethanbond 4y ago
Presuming people who aren’t stressed about college admissions aren’t instead stressed about not going to college and having extremely stunted career prospects.
- taurath 4y ago
  I remember being a teenager. I was stressed all the time because EVERY decision I made had a consequence and I wouldn't feel that consequence sometimes for a very long time and had no scope or scale of how much any mistake would fuck me over. Be with the right friends, get good enough grades, express myself my personality in the right way, every single thing I did affected my "future life". Every single adult was telling me this every moment of my life. Get the grade or become a ditch digger. Pursue the right interests or be poor all of your life. There is NO CHILL. College is, for most people, a ONE TIME opportunity - the default track is you go to college after high school, and there are ways to do it after but most people don't end up doing it. Degree programs mostly assume you're coming out of high school. Getting a degree while paying for living expenses is practically impossible without going into massive debt, which you may or may not be tolerant of the risk to take on. You can't work min wage and make rent in most places, let alone go to a community college. Young people's economics already is horrific. I say this as someone who didn't have the opportunity to get a degree and who managed to scrape my way into a software engineering career - something that I don't recommend anyone do as its nearly impossible without connections and mentorship. Structurally we are making kids make decisions that will effect their entire lives and giving almost no recourse to anyone who can't make it happen right at 18. If you have a shitty home life, you're fucked. If you have health problems, you're fucked. There's very few second chances for college in this society.
  - nradov 4y ago
    Military service gives many young people a second chance at college. They can earn some college credits while they're in, and then take advantage of the GI Bill after discharge.
    - ethanbond 4y ago
      Ah yes, all the stress relieved. If you miss your first shot you can just sign up to get shot at* and then you might get another shot! * yes, I know very very very few service members ever get shot at
NoPicklez 4y ago
Speaking as an Australian here. I don't think you're quite right, as that might not account for those that are missing out on an admission. Not everyone is stressed ONLY about admissions to college or University, many kids are stressed because of the pressure to be something. You might find higher rates of depression in those that don't get an admission because of the pressure to make something of themselves. When I was in my final year (2011) I remember feeling like I was under so much pressure to know what I wanted to do and have something lined up. Each decision felt like it had significant consequences.

ethanbond 4y ago

Presuming people who aren’t stressed about college admissions aren’t instead stressed about not going to college and having extremely stunted career prospects.

taurath 4y ago
I remember being a teenager. I was stressed all the time because EVERY decision I made had a consequence and I wouldn't feel that consequence sometimes for a very long time and had no scope or scale of how much any mistake would fuck me over. Be with the right friends, get good enough grades, express myself my personality in the right way, every single thing I did affected my "future life". Every single adult was telling me this every moment of my life. Get the grade or become a ditch digger. Pursue the right interests or be poor all of your life. There is NO CHILL. College is, for most people, a ONE TIME opportunity - the default track is you go to college after high school, and there are ways to do it after but most people don't end up doing it. Degree programs mostly assume you're coming out of high school. Getting a degree while paying for living expenses is practically impossible without going into massive debt, which you may or may not be tolerant of the risk to take on. You can't work min wage and make rent in most places, let alone go to a community college. Young people's economics already is horrific. I say this as someone who didn't have the opportunity to get a degree and who managed to scrape my way into a software engineering career - something that I don't recommend anyone do as its nearly impossible without connections and mentorship. Structurally we are making kids make decisions that will effect their entire lives and giving almost no recourse to anyone who can't make it happen right at 18. If you have a shitty home life, you're fucked. If you have health problems, you're fucked. There's very few second chances for college in this society.
- nradov 4y ago
  Military service gives many young people a second chance at college. They can earn some college credits while they're in, and then take advantage of the GI Bill after discharge.
  - ethanbond 4y ago
    Ah yes, all the stress relieved. If you miss your first shot you can just sign up to get shot at* and then you might get another shot! * yes, I know very very very few service members ever get shot at

NoPicklez 4y ago

Speaking as an Australian here. I don't think you're quite right, as that might not account for those that are missing out on an admission. Not everyone is stressed ONLY about admissions to college or University, many kids are stressed because of the pressure to be something. You might find higher rates of depression in those that don't get an admission because of the pressure to make something of themselves. When I was in my final year (2011) I remember feeling like I was under so much pressure to know what I wanted to do and have something lined up. Each decision felt like it had significant consequences.