The moment of glory?
What complete and utter balderdash.
In the US, almost any high school graduate can find a college or university that will accept them and their parent’s money.
I spend way too much time on these “going to college” websites. Here’s something I read recently on Grown and Flown.
What Did YOU Do When Your Kid Was Accepted to College?
“It is one of life’s big moments, a never-to-be-forgotten day, when your teen logs onto the website of the college they will attend and sees the word CONGRATULATIONS. Getting accepted to college is a unique turning point in life. Leading up to that moment there are fears, trepidation and an overwhelming sense of pride for what your teen has already accomplished. Applying to college is a feat and getting accepted to college is the moment of glory.”
A quarter century ago Stephen Covey wrote his famous book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Those habits haven’t changed in the ensuing years.
Habit number two is, “start with the end in mind.”
“Getting accepted at college,” is not the “end in mind.”
What you need to be focused on is, “How do I use my college education to get a good job?”
There are thousands of colleges and universities in the US. Only a couple hundred are selective to any significant degree.
If you are accepted at one of the top one percent of schools, e.g. Stanford, Harvard, or Northwestern, that’s a really big deal.
If you are accepted at a school, such as the University of Florida or the University of Maryland, where the acceptance rate is less than fifty percent, that might call for some high-fives.
Otherwise, it is what it is. You are just one out of millions who “bought a lottery ticket,” and is hoping it is going to pay off.
Worry more about choosing a marketable major, and less about getting accepted at your “dream” college or university.
It’s a “pain the butt” to go through the college application process.
However, students and parents confuse bureaucracy with selectivity.