Summer is supposed to be a time to relax, a break from the day-to-day workload and stresses of high school. But with looming pressures to be admitted to college, it is no longer an option for many students. Higher and middle-tiered colleges expect summer not to be “wasted” or relaxed. These schools expect students to do something extraordinary to make their college application look more appealing. Many wonder if the pressure is worth all the struggle. Can we have a summer that is neither a waste in the minds of college admissions counselors nor a waste to us?
Colleges should shift the standards on how summers are used. Right now, students trying to get into top colleges are expected to spend their summers “productively,” like getting a job or going to a college program. Colleges don’t look for students who just relax and take it easy during their break. They don’t seem to realize that from a student’s perspective, summer is the only time when people put “cramming” to a different use.
Students spend all year preparing for APs, getting their grades as high as possible and spending their little free time enhancing their extracurricular list for college, just to have to continue the work on their only real extended break.
Society needs to realize that the common aspects of childhood, including play, fun and breaks, which used to be prevalent until the age of 18, are now gone by high school. High school brings a lot of pressure, and it doesn’t just stop in the classroom.
As we make our way to the end of the school year, a common question that comes up is, “what are you doing this summer?” That question comes with a lot of nervous responses.
The people who respond with the term “I don’t know” are disadvantaged. Higher-ranked colleges expect plans, plans made ahead of time that are well thought out. Colleges don’t like people who spend their whole summer relaxing on the beach.
High-achieving students are essentially forced to spend their summer either learning through a college or career program or getting a job. Sometimes this leaves no time to hang out with friends or spend time at home. Students who don’t meet these demands may need to kiss their dream school goodbye.
I wish that I could bring back the childhood memories of summers that I used to have. The second the school year was done, the pressure was lifted. I would spend my summers at camp, relaxing at the beach, or taking a family trip. I was not worried about college or what they would think of my summer plans.
Now, there is the constant pressure of how some people are spending their summers “better” than I am, and whether or not they will get into better schools because of it.
A reason that colleges may be inclined to take such action with high expectations is they believe they want the students coming to their school to be prepared. Instead of wasting students’ summers all throughout high school, they could implement a program to help students become ready during a short part of the summer before the student attends college. That way, they aren’t wasting their whole summer vacation, rather just spending a couple of weeks getting prepared.
But until then, colleges, can you please give us a break?
