“Your application status has changed.” A line that fills students with both excitement and dread. Everything they have worked towards for the last four years has culminated in this moment. Students think to themselves, If I don’t get into my dream school, all of my hard work is for nothing. Because of the immense pressure from the Grosse Pointe community to get into the most prestigious university possible, this mentality is all too common. We at the Tower believe that the college you attend is not an accurate measurement of your potential nor an indication of your self-worth. After all, attending a prestigious university does not equate to automatic success, it’s what you do with the opportunities you have been handed that defines your future and the impact you leave on the world.
Colleges and universities claim that they give all their applicants a “holistic” review of their chances to succeed, however, they are only able to see a fraction of who you are as a person. We at the Tower believe that grades, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and writing skills are not all that define an applicant. Problem-solving abilities, creative thinking, and passion are skills that are equally important in a career but can not always be accurately displayed in one’s application. Therefore, the metrics that these colleges use to accept or reject their applicants are not truly reflective of an individual’s potential in their respective career path, and in reality, a multitude of factors contribute to one’s success. College is a choose-your-own-adventure game, while more prestigious schools may have bigger opportunities, your ability to make the most of your experiences, resources, and connections ultimately determines the outcome of your journey.
It is also important to keep in mind that success doesn’t always come in the form of a college degree. Other options such as trade school, community college, and going straight to the workforce are tremendously overlooked in Grosse Pointe. We at The Tower believe that these options, yet often stigmatized, are just as viable a route to success as a traditional four-year college degree. For example, trade school graduates can enter the workforce with little to no debt, are quickly employed, and have a salary that is competitive to many jobs that require a college education. According to construction business expert Shawn Van Dyke, the average cost of a four-year college degree is $155,000 with an average starting salary of $58,000. In contrast, the average cost for trade school is $35,000 with an average starting salary of $39,000, enabling these graduates more financial freedom. Yet, because students in Grosse Pointe are pressured to attend university, trades are often dismissed as lesser options, despite their clear advantages to many. This stigma not only limits students’ perspectives but also overlooks the valuable contributions and fulfilling careers that trade professions offer.
Another issue relating to college admissions, all too common in our community, is students only applying to or attending a university because their parents want them to. Though many parents in Grosse Pointe are the individuals funding their child’s upper education, we at The Tower believe that there should be meaningful conversations between students and their parents before any big decisions are made about their future. Although you will have help along the way, the path to success is often an internal one, so it is pivotal that students are able to have a say in where they go to college so that they can grow and explore their unique passions in a place where they feel comfortable doing so.
We at The Tower believe that high school seniors should choose the path for their future based on what they feel passionate about, not what they think society wants them to do. For students to be best prepared for and to find success in their respective career paths, it is of the utmost importance that they do not let public perception get in the way of the choices they make relating to their future.
