Today's college admissions process isn't just convoluted. It's cruel
The first round of admissions decisions for Clemson University came out on a December evening, days before midterms at my South Carolina high school. Everything that day felt like a waiting game.
Nearly my entire senior class had applied early action, one of the many admissions plans that schools offer to apply to college. It requires submitting applications early to get an early answer, with decisions from colleges coming around mid-December.
We all knew that there was a possibility of rejection, but Clemson was the dream school for many kids in my town. They had been decked out in orange and purple gear since they were born, a foregone conclusion since they spent their first nights as toddlers in the stands at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. They would go to Clemson, cheer for the Tigers and be happy. But it didn't turn out that way for everyone — at least not that smoothly and not that day.
The modern college application process, with its array of admissions categories, deadlines, decision dates and types of offers, along with dozens of required essays and digitally tracked 'demonstrated interest' monitored by many universities, is incredibly complicated and drawn-out.
What used to be a relatively straightforward, mostly synchronized schedule of applications, admission decisions and final choices is now a cascade of submissions starting in autumn, to be answered by acceptances, rejections, deferrals, waitlist placements and likely letters spread out from December to April. Students on waitlists might still be in limbo well into summer.
The open-ended stress became a constant, toxic influence on my high school's culture. In the beginning of the year, my classmates and I talked hopefully and openly about where we were applying. By second semester, people had gotten quiet. No one wanted to be the kid who said they wanted to go to a particular university and then didn't get in, to be discussed, dissected or pitied by their classmates at the lunch table.
Some students have had enough. In a federal lawsuit filed August 8, students are alleging that aspects of this convoluted and tightly guarded process that colleges and universities have invented over the last decade might even be illegal. The plaintiffs argue that 32 elite US colleges and universities conspired to raise the cost of attendance through binding early decision admissions, making a college education far more accessible to those who can pay more.
Once upon a time, according to my mom, college admissions were relatively straight-forward. She applied regular decision to four schools, got her results in the mail on April 1, chose one and was done. For me, depending on the school, I could have applied early action, restrictive early action, single choice early action, early decision 1, early decision 2, 'hidden' early decision or regular decision—all with different deadlines, admissions announcement dates, and possibly even rules about what other schools I could apply to.
Early decision, the system the students are suing about, means asking one and only one college for an advance admissions decision, while making a binding promise to attend if accepted. Rumor has it that applying early decision can supposedly double or even triple an applicant's odds of getting in, but students must be absolutely certain this school is where they want to go and that they're willing and able to pay for it. Being accepted means they must withdraw their applications from other schools, without ever knowing what financial aid or merit scholarships other schools might have offered.
Early decision is not a legal contract, but there can be serious consequences from backing out of acceptance. Colleges and universities may share news of the student's withdrawal with other institutions, potentially affecting that student's chances of being admitted elsewhere.
Clemson didn't offer early decision, but it did offer early action. Applying early action doesn't bind you to a single school, but it still involves rules about what other schools you can apply to and when. Early action applicants are widely believed to have a higher rate of admission than regular decision applicants — reportedly the restricted early action acceptance rate for Harvard University's class of 2028 was 8.7%, while the regular decision acceptance rate was 2.71%. However, this difference might simply be because the early action applicant pool includes recruited athletes, whose success boosts the overall rate for the group. It's hard to assess because of the secretive nature of the process.
Applying regular decision is non-binding and has the latest deadlines. Early action and early decision application deadlines are typically in October or November, while regular decision is usually in late December or early January. Regular decision gives students the greatest flexibility but might give them a worse chance of getting in, since they will be compared with a larger applicant pool and early applicants may have already filled many spots, according to IvyWise, an educational consulting firm.
I believe employing this system allows the universities to benefit at the student's expense, reducing uncertainty on their side while keeping applicants like me and my classmates confused, in doubt and miserable. The benefits of early admission programs for universities are clear: universities can secure a large portion of their incoming class early, and possibly avoid competition with other schools. The emotional and financial well-being of the students who must participate in this system, however, seems to be a distant consideration for universities, if they consider it at all.
The day the early Clemson decisions were released was the day it felt like everything changed, when we learned first-hand that the decisions could be just as unclear as the admission plans we were already struggling through. It was one of the first big announcement dates after months of worrying. But instead of acceptances and rejections, which would have been definitive answers, most of my classmates got no real resolution at all.
Clemson deferred many of my classmates, meaning that they would be reevaluated during the regular admissions process and get another decision in the spring. Yet even then, that answer wouldn't necessarily be a clear-cut acceptance.
Post-deferral, Clemson accepts some kids and rejects others. But those aren't the only possibilities. Clemson 'summer-starts' some kids, requiring them to arrive early to campus to take classes over the summer. Still others are 'bridged,' meaning that they will spend their first year at a local community college and then transfer to Clemson for their sophomore year. Clemson also places some on a waitlist, where those students would have to wait and hope enough admitted students declined an offer to open up spaces for them.
Some students who thought they would almost certainly be accepted because of similar grades and test scores to those of admitted students from previous years were shocked to be deferred. One of their few options to increase their chances of straight-forward admission and avoid being summer started, bridged or waitlisted was to potentially increase what schools call their 'demonstrated interest' during the in-between months.
Demonstrated interest is a way for schools to guess how serious a student is about a school, tracking students online and in person to determine how likely they are to attend and protect the university's 'yield.' The schools record contact with admissions officers, attendance of seminars and webinars, visits to campus, and attendance at pricey summer camps.
Or these kids could write 'letters of continuing interest.' A LOCI, in high school-senior speak, is basically a love note begging a school that isn't really sure it wants you that you still adore it anyway, and would you please just let me in?
Even without Clemson's early decision process, the uncertainty and unexpectedness of the results plunged myclass into a level of distrust and fear I'd never felt before. (I reached out to Clemson via email and phone for comment about its admissions process, but I didn't hear back by deadline.)
By the time the Clemson announcement came out, all our early applications had been submitted, and most of our regular decision applications were due in the next two weeks. It was far too late for anyone to substantially edit their essays in a panic. At that point I had already written a dozen for the schools I was applying to — that's because it's no longer enough to write the Common Application essay. Every school I applied to required 'supplemental' essays as well.
My class hummed with quiet resentment. The confusion and suspense made us sharper toward each other. I tried to seem aloof and disaffected, as though I didn't care at all. It was a defense mechanism. I think other students were doing it, too, especially in my most competitive classes such as multivariable calculus and my Advanced Placement courses. No one wanted to show how much they cared.
My own result from Clemson was an early acceptance. But along with many of the other kids who got in early, I hadn't considered it my dream school. For the students who had yearned to go to Clemson since they were in diapers, only to be deferred, there was a distinct feeling of 'it should have been me.' They hoped that admitted kids would withdraw and give the deferred kids a better chance.
When kids didn't withdraw, it was sometimes seen as greediness. How could they keep a spot at a school when they didn't want it enough to commit right away while others were desperate to get in? However, I wouldn't rescind my application from Clemson because I hadn't yet heard from my regular decision schools. If I didn't get in to other schools, Clemson remained a great option for college.
I stopped telling other kids where I had applied and where I was admitted because we got twitchy around each other if it was the same school. My class played hushed games of telephone, asking friends of friends if they knew where people had applied and where they had gotten in so we could reevaluate our own chances.
We fed off each other's stress, creating a class-wide feeling of apprehension. I didn't pay attention to it all the time, but the thrum of anxiety was a constant backdrop for months, keeping me tense. I got caught up in the toxic stress of it all, and I regret it. The fear didn't get anyone into a school. It just made us miserable.
This environment that colleges have created for admissions is mean. There has to be a kinder and more straightforward way to admit kids to college. Maybe that means going back to the old days in which there was one deadline and one date for results and the process was clear.
I don't know if that will happen, although maybe the new lawsuit will have some effect. At least it's already raising awareness of the situation.
In the meantime, the best advice I have for current high school seniors is to try to separate your sense of self-worth from both the process and the results. The results are not a judgment on you as a human being.
I was devastated when I was deferred from my first choice school in December. But then, after a few days, I realized that nothing had actually changed. I was still the same person. Admissions results do not determine your future or potential. Your ability to affect the world and be happy is not determined by an arbitrary system that is not set up for your benefit.
Deferral and rejection hurt because the essay and supplemental prompts demand that you be vulnerable about yourself, inevitably pulling you in emotionally. It feels like the schools are personally judging you. Try to remember that this process is partially a numbers game for schools, but you are not just a number.
One of the most helpful things my parents did was to be patient when I was freaking out. When I was feeling better and calmer, they were an external reminder that this system is messed up. My dad's favorite refrain was, 'It's all a crapshoot.' At the time, that was exactly what I needed to hear because it made clear that admissions was partially a thing of chance and not of judgment on myself. (Thanks Dad.)
Applying to college is a long and grueling process that I've seen often damages the kids going through it. In the end, though, it worked out all right for my class.
Everybody got in somewhere, even if it wasn't what they thought their dream school was at first. Looking back on it, I think I'll be far, far happier at the school I'm going to than the one I applied to early action.
But that hindsight wasn't there to comfort me or my classmates through the fall and early winter, before I had the school year to grow and think about what I really wanted. And I wish it could be easier for the high school seniors coming after me.
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
These Depression-Era Recipes Still Save Money Nearly 100 Years Later
With today's grocery prices, it's no surprise these frugal recipes are making a big comeback. I never thought I'd find myself rummaging through my great-grandmother's old recipe cards, hoping for some last-minute inspiration for an easy treat to celebrate my daughter's awesome report card. Yet, here I am—standing in my kitchen, staring at a faded index card with a recipe for Grandma's Chocolate Cake, aka Wacky Cake. No eggs, no butter, just simple, inexpensive ingredients—flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, vegetable oil, cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and water. Feeding my family of three has gotten harder. Grocery prices keep climbing—eggs practically feel like a luxury—and dining out? Forget it. Even a casual takeout night is stretching the budget. My grandmother, Anna, was born a few years before the devastating 1929 stock market crash. She was raised in a big family on her mom's budget-minded home cooking, and by the time she was a young mom herself, she had mastered the art of making delicious, filling meals with what she had. If Grandma could feed her family of eight—stretching ingredients, swapping pricey staples for cheaper alternatives, and wasting nothing—then so can I. Thankfully, her recipes were preserved and passed down to all her grandchildren. As I cook her old-fashioned meals, I feel connected to her. My kids love not only her wacky chocolate cake, but also her simple potato soup, her fried bologna sandwiches, and so many more of the easy, inexpensive dishes she raised her family on. I love knowing that these meals don't just save money—they carry a little taste of Grandma's resilience. From the Dust Bowl to TikTok: Depression-Era Cooking Makes a Comeback Depression-era recipes remind me that good food doesn't have to be fancy—it just has to be made with care. And it turns out that not only am I not alone in thinking this way in my 2025 kitchen—social media food influencers are, too. With rising food costs and a growing interest in reducing waste, Depression-era cooking is officially a thing. Let's begin with a true pioneer of Depression-era online cooking content, Clara Cannucciari. With her grandson, Christopher Cannucciari, the great-grandmother, then in her 90s, filmed episodes of what became a popular YouTube series, Great Depression Cooking with Clara, from 2007 to 2012. The pair also put out a DVD and a cookbook. Clara died in 2013, but the videos, amassing millions of views, continue to be a warm and inspiring approach to home cooking with an eye on the budget. Her mantra? Embrace frugality. These days, #depressioneracooking has gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram. This hashtag leads to home cooks from across the country recreating Depression-era favorites. In 2020, you'll find a flourishing of likely pandemic-inspired videos, like dinner rolls made with mayo in place of yeast, candies made with apple cider vinegar, and hamburger casserole, not to mention TikTok phenom B. Dylan Thomas' take on vintage recipes, including his 2022 video of another, circa-1934, recipe for Wacky Cake. This spring, one home-cooking couple posted their version of Hoover Stew, a dish named after President Herbert Hoover, a bit of a poster boy for the economic collapse that led to the Great Depression. Making Magic from Almost Nothing: Depression-Era Kitchen Lessons The source of these original recipes and frugal lifestyle began on October 29, 1929, with an unprecedentedly cataclysmic stock market crash. At that time, there was no bank insurance, so thousands of banks closed. There was also no federal unemployment, so as the economy plummeted and jobs were slashed, Americans were out of work and desperate. Droughts in the 1930s rendered traditional land use on farms suddenly unproductive, and America's heartland turned to dust—the origins of the Dust Bowl. There was little money, and food was scarce. It was a national crisis, and families were forced to become creative and make do with far less. For home cooks in the 1930s, meals were built around cheap, filling staples like potatoes, beans, rice, and bread. And the maxim of "waste not, want not" was now a matter of survival. Ingredients were stretched as far as they could go while trying to optimize every meal for as much sustenance as possible. Cooks got creative, making meat go further by adding fillers like oats, breadcrumbs, and mashed beans into meatloaf. They sought out ingredients, like cornmeal, which was more widely available and less expensive than flour, to make cornbreads and Johnny Cakes. Buttermilk, often a by-product of home butter-churning, was used in soups, biscuits, and pancakes. Leftovers were aggressively repurposed: Yesterday's roast turned into stew the following day, and vegetable scraps—peels, stems, and tops—were simmered into broths. Stale bread was repurposed into bread pudding or used to thicken soups. Many turned to foraging, gathering wild greens, berries, and edible plants to supplement their diets. And even flour sacks found new life, as they were used to strain liquids, store dry goods, and, with a few careful stitches, transformed into dresses. Today, those same strategies feel as timely as ever. Rising grocery bills, a renewed interest in self-sufficiency, and a growing awareness of food waste have brought Depression-era know-how back into the spotlight—not just as a curiosity from the past, but as a practical guide for the present. With that in mind, here's a menu that channels the spirit of the 1930s into a meal you can make right now. Each dish is simple, affordable, and deeply comforting—a reminder that even in lean times, good food can bring people together. From the 1930s to Your Table: A Depression-Era Meal That Still Works Imagine sitting down at a kitchen table in the 1930s: a modest spread of hearty, home-cooked dishes that make the most of every ingredient. This four-course menu—a meaty loaf meant to stretch into tomorrow's sandwiches, creamy potatoes rich with flavor, a crisp salad gathered fresh from the yard, and a chocolate cake that needs no eggs or butter—captures that same spirit. Here's how to bring it to your own kitchen, step by step. Recipes reprinted from The Civilian Conservation Corps Cookbook by Amy Bizzarri, The History Press 2023. Three-Pound Meatloaf This recipe by John R. Graves, a former Civilian Conservation Corps Mess Sergeant from Fall Creek Falls, Virginia, was featured in the tome Favorite Recipes of the Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni. Graves notes, "It is a three-pound meatloaf with the anticipation that some will be leftover, because there is nothing better than cold meatloaf sandwiches with a dash of catsup." Serves 3 to 6 people Ingredients 2 pounds ground beef 1 pound spicy pork sausage 1 egg 1 cup breadcrumbs (or cracker crumbs or oatmeal; cornflakes or even wheat germ) 1 cup finely chopped onions 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 3 tablespoons tomato paste. 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 tablespoons green pepper, finely chopped (Optional) Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Now it is time to mix thoroughly with your hands (then you wash your hands only once afterward). I mean mix well. If you care to taste, put a small dab in the skillet for a minute and taste it — I have done it without frying it. Blend all the ingredients save for the tomato paste and form into a square loaf, about 2 inches thick (bread loaf pans are OK, but I like the thinner loaf better). If it is too big, freeze half for a later bake. Shape into a Pyrex loaf pan, covering loosely with foil. Turn the oven back to about 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) and bake on the middle rack. After about 45 minutes, remove the foil, pour off juice and fat (save for soup stock), spread tomato paste over the meatloaf, and bake at about 275 degrees F (135 degrees C) for another half hour, or until the top is slightly brown. Let set for a few minutes before slicing. The next day you will savor a great cold meatloaf sandwich. NOTE: Make sure the oven is preheated to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and lowered to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C); raise the temperature again when the oven is open to pour off fat and juice. Snowflake Potatoes Snowflake mashed potatoes were a regular option on menus at nicer hotels, trains, ships, and restaurants in the 1930s. Ingredients 4 pounds potatoes, boiled and mashed 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons salt 1 tablespoon pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup chives, chopped ½ teaspoon paprika 3 tablespoons butter, melted Directions Mix potatoes, cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, and garlic. Stir in chives. Set the mixture in a greased baking pan. Pour melted butter on top and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until golden, about 40 minutes. Dandelion Salad Recipe During the Great Depression, dandelion greens, which are packed with nutrients and can be plucked literally from most backyards, became a valuable food source for struggling families. Choose plants growing in areas free from pesticides or pollution, such as wild fields or your own backyard. To harvest, use scissors or a knife to cut the greens close to the base, leaving the root intact for regrowth. Ingredients 1 bunch dandelion greens, washed and dried 1 teaspoon finely chopped shallot 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 anchovy fillet, finely chopped (optional) salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved Directions Whisk shallot, mustard, vinegar, and anchovy together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then slowly whisk in olive oil. Toss dandelion greens with the dressing. Top with Parmesan shavings and serve immediately. Grandma's Wacky Chocolate Cake This simple, rich chocolate cake was created during the Great Depression, when ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter were scarce. Instead, vinegar and baking soda worked as leavening agents, creating a moist and fluffy texture. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon white vinegar 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 cup water Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Make three wells in the dry mixture—pour vanilla extract, vinegar, and oil into separate wells. Pour water over everything and mix until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool before serving. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
7 Back-to-School Organizing Tricks Parents Swear By (and Cleaning Pros Love Them Too!)
Key Points Start mornings strong with visual routine charts for your kids. Batch tasks like snacks, outfits, and school papers to save time. Create drop zones for backpacks and stash homework tools nearby. For parents of school-aged children, the jump from early to late August practically requires a paradigm shift. Your habits and routines that keep your family organized have to literally change overnight. This year, go in with a game plan. Here are 7 organizational tricks that will make the transition from flexible summer days to structured school ones a breeze. Meet the Expert Katie Day is a mom of four and a five-time certified mindset and success coach. She offers practical tools for achieving goals and balancing creativity with everyday motherhood chaos. Shara Arora is a mom of two and the executive director of Sugar Mill & Meadow Montessori Schools in the Houston, Texas area. Jade Piper is the operations manager for BetterCleans, a professional cleaning company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Do a Sentimental Paper Dump If there's one type of clutter that seems to multiply faster than anything else, it's paper clutter. While it's always a good idea to sort through your kids' school papers daily to look for permission slips and such, give yourself your own permission slip to address the sentimental papers like artwork and cute worksheets later. Katie Day is a certified mindset and success coach and busy mom herself, and she encourages her clients to designate one spot in their homes for a daily "paper dump." This could be a bin, drawer, or oversized folder. "Let everything collect there without judgment," she says. "At the end of each semester, sit down and pick 10 sacred favorites to keep, and kindly release the rest. No guilt. No clutter. Just sweet, curated memories." Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more! Make a Visual Routine Chart It takes kids a while to memorize the new routines that come with a new school year. That's why Shara Arora, mom of two and executive director of Sugar Mill & Meadow Montessori Schools, recommends making a picture routine chart. "Instead of constantly reminding kids what to do next, use a simple picture chart for mornings and evenings," she says. "My kids love checking off steps like brushing their teeth, packing their backpack for the next day, and getting dressed." Starting Your Morning Routine at Night In the Day household, morning routines actually start in the evening. "Anything you can prep in the evening—do it," she says. "Pack lunches while you're already cooking dinner, set out clothes, and sign the permission slip. You'll be amazed how much calmer the [morning] feels when the [evening] version of you was gifting you a gentler, easier morning." Create a Homework Basket A universal point of contention during the school year is homework supplies getting left out. Cleaning professional Jade Piper has noticed that creating a designated homework basket seems to work best for her clients and keeps the pencils, erasers, and computer chargers corralled. "Homework stuff should not end up across the whole living room," she says. "Use a portable basket with a lap desk. Store it near the sofa or under a console table. When homework's done, the whole basket goes back. It keeps the clutter (and arguments!) contained." Start Batch Working Batch working is a productivity hack that involves accomplishing multiple similar tasks back-to-back. Arora is a big fan of batch working when it comes to planning daily school outfits and packing snacks. On Sundays, her kids pick out their clothes for the week and place them in a five-shelf hanging organizer, and they make sure to look at the school calendar to see if there are any theme days happening. Since her kids have to bring a snack to school every day, she also uses this time to put all of their snacks for the week in a gallon-sized ziplock bag in their backpack. Keep a Trash Can in Your Car Sometimes the best cleaning solutions for problem areas are the simplest. Such is the case for a messy car. "School runs turn cars into fast food garbage cans," Piper says. "Keep a small trash bin or even a reused plastic container in the car." Create a Launch Pad By the Door When your kids get home from school, the first thing they want to do is play or rest. Arora says to honor that and designate a place for putting their backpacks, jackets, and shoes right by the door. They won't have to walk all the way to their room to put things away, and everything will be easy to grab and go for the next morning. "My kids each have a hook for their backpack and a basket below for extras like jackets or library books," she says. "Shoes go underneath." Read the original article on The Spruce Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos: live game updates, stats, play-by-play
Shop Team Gear See more We may receive commission from purchases made via these links. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
