You’re Applying Where?

By Carly Loman

It is rare when an entire class period goes by without a single mention of college. Whether it be the girl with purple bags under her eyes and red bull in her hand triumphantly declaring, “I made the deadline!” before slipping out of consciousness, or the young man running into class ten minutes late with eight large manila envelopes and lips chapped from what could only be a day of envelope adhesive licking which spurs the discussion—college talk is unavoidable.

 It is not surprising that college talk has become such a popular point of discussion. After all, there is little more exciting than imagining the almost tangible freedom coquettishly residing just a few months away. What is surprising is how mean spirited the discussions have become. It’s almost too easy to judge someone for their choice of colleges. You can be chastised for applying to schools too hard, too easy, too small, too large, too Midwestern, too weird, too hippy-granola-crunchy, too Americanapparel-animalcollective-vinyl-y; too everything.

 The reasons that drive these judgments are as varied as the criticisms themselves. Some people are jealous of their hardworking brethren who have earned the Ivy League emblazoned sweatshirts they wear like admissions letters. Others are generally concerned for their less than hardworking peers wearing the same Ivy League emblazoned sweatshirts, but with less than a prayer of getting in.  

 Whatever the reason, the gossip has become spiteful and sometimes evil. College is an acutely personal decision. For many, the decision of where to go to school next year is the first truly adult decision they will ever make. Being told that their college of choice is wrong in any way, for any reason, is an attack not only on the school, but on their ability to make informed and adult decisions.

Hopefully in a few months, when that almost tangible freedom becomes reality, the gossip will fade away as people get wrapped up in the excitement of picking out dorm furniture and facebook stalking their college’s incoming class. At least we can all find solace in thinking that in another four years, when our peers begin choosing graduate schools and career paths, we will all be far too mature to gossip about their choices…right?