After endless essays, late-night study scrambles and infinite questioning from adults, I was relieved to see the light at the end of the long tunnel that is the college admissions process. I was one of 1.4 million students who submitted a first-year application by March 1, according to a report from Common App, where 911 colleges house their applications. The class of 2026 marked an increase in applicants from March 1 of last year, with 2.1 million more applications submitted as compared to four years prior — which may be a reason to sound the alarm.
At first glance, a rise in applications appears as a sign of progress in making college an option for a wider swath of youth. With comprehensive application platforms like Common App, students can easily choose more schools, including those with direct admissions or without any supplemental questions. Higher education institutions purportedly want every student to see college as attainable. The Common App report noted growth among first-generation, underrepresented minority race/ethnicity and low-income applicants, which is worth celebrating.
However, as tuition costs surge and the economy remains uncertain for those with and without degrees, public views on the value of higher education are varied. In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 29% of U.S. adults said that a college degree is not worth the cost, while 47% answered that it is worth only for those not taking out loans. In the same poll, 40% of respondents said a college degree is not too or not at all important to obtain a well-paying job.
In an ideal world in which education enriches and engages the population and provides better financial outcomes, more students applying to and attending college would be a welcome change. But as college becomes increasingly unaffordable and the process for obtaining admission more competitive, the system appears unsustainable. Annual undergraduate total costs have already surpassed $100,000 at some institutions; expectations for a high school senior’s resume have grown unreasonable as acceptance rates at the most selective colleges dip below 4%.
Beyond the staggering expense of undergraduate enrollment, the admissions process already favors wealthy applicants in every aspect of holistic review. High-income students can afford tutors to elevate their GPA and standardized test scores, writing coaches for their essays and private college counselors to oversee their journey. Club sports and other extracurriculars that help a candidate stand out are rarely free. Many selective institutions offer prestigious summer programs that claim to increase admission chances while levying sticker prices in the thousands. Taking a standardized test, sending scores and submitting an application all entail additional costs. It is impossible to eliminate the socioeconomic disparities in admissions when colleges and the surrounding industry evidently prioritize maximizing their profits, not to mention catering to donors and legacy families.
As the number of applications increases each year, the accolades deemed necessary for acceptance have undoubtedly risen. This is the best outcome for colleges: more applicants means they can be more selective about who they choose to admit, and only students lose, especially those without the financial means to pad their application with unique activities. The desire to succeed — in the most narrow sense of the word, through college admission — encourages students to put their mental and physical health on the line, constantly searching for another achievement to add to the list.
As applicants and application numbers continue to grow, the pressure cooker of college admissions will only intensify. The process sends a dangerous message to youth: plan your high school experience around the standards colleges have set, and trade your sleep and social life for the slim chance of acceptance, which, if you achieve, may send you into crippling debt. This system relies on the myth of merit, urging students to believe their acceptance or rejection is a reflection of their worthiness rather than a consequence of a corrupt and unequal game.
As I reflect on the unfairness of this process, I know I am far from the perfect messenger. My grandpa immigrated to the U.S. to attend graduate school; my other grandfather was a tenured professor, and both instilled in me the promise and value of education. At my private high school, I benefited from resources and opportunities that likely gave me a leg up in admissions. Even as I criticize the system, I couldn’t help but participate and conform to its expectations. I don’t have a solution, as change will require reorganizing higher education to prioritize students above profit. To incoming seniors, remember that your value is not determined by any college, and recognize that prestige is only one factor of many in choosing a school. Your education is what you make of it, and with that mindset, the power to fix this system is in our hands.
By Sonia Kharbanda, age 18
