Get those college decisions off my feed!

Editorial by luiS caravaJal HUB Staff

As the spring semester begins, so will the onslaught of college acceptances, rejections, decisions and announcements. The latter have increased in prevalence over the past few years as more and more seniors take to social media to share their academic plans.

But where does that leave the rest of the students? According to the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), 63% of California public high school students enroll in college directly following graduation. Of that number, 57% enroll in public in-state community colleges. This statistic is unsurprisingly misrepresented across social media platforms.

@DHSdecisions2023 is an Instagram account created with the purpose of sharing students’ college commitments. Similar accounts are in place for other classes and grades.

“Personally, I don’t like it. The whole account that is dedicated to posting, I think that’s pressuring, and it makes us feel not the best,” senior Khadijah Sandhu said.

Likewise, students whose plans do not include immediately attending a four year institution are left feeling marginalized. These accounts, while entertaining, are misrepresentative of most high school campuses and student bodies.

“Normally the people that submit those posts, they’re going to a good college (and so) they want people to see it. It makes people who’re going to community college feel kind of bad,” Sandhu said.

@DHSdecisions2023 has only posted four year college plans, with no listed community college and trade school admits. This creates increasing pressure for students to immediately attend a four year, regardless of other economic or social factors.

“(Social media) puts a lot more pressure on wanting that prestige of like ‘oh I’m going to a four year straight out of high school,’” senior Matt Kenney said.