Stop Comparing Your College Application to Others

When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea how to complete college applications. I had just learned of the existence of Stanford, as if California hadn't been a state before I turned 17.

Not knowing what to do, I started watching "college stat" videos, that are typically an 8-minute clip of an Ivy League student listing off unobtainable achievements while providing no context.

I thought if I could compare my application to others, it would either give me ideas for how to gain acceptance to these schools or show me whether I was "good enough."

The internet provides so many opportunities for comparison: lackluster YouTube videos, "Chance Me" threads on Reddit and College Confidential, and competition within our own schools.

Here's the reality: by comparing yourself and striving to be somebody else, you lose your own authenticity.

I recently entered the workforce. If I would have tried to be the girls whose videos I watched that had published 20 books about economics and therefore gained acceptance to Harvard, I wouldn't be working a job that I enjoy. I would be crunching spreadsheets working for corporate finance companies instead of raising money for non-profits.

Because I was authentic and true to myself, I was able to find communities of friends I relate to, opportunities within my field, and understand that life continues after college.

Save your child's mental health or your own mental health, if you are a student. There is a place for you in the world. It may not be where you think it will be located, but it is waiting for you.