There was a discussion on a Facebook page in my suburban town in New Jersey, about a ban on gas leaf blowers and how landscapers were raising prices in response. One person had the temerity to recommend that maybe some could get their teenage children to do the lawn work. One poster responded “The kids could rake up the leaves but unfortunately, their weekends are full doing activities so they can get into a good college.”
Kids can’t do chores because their priority is all about college? Time to rethink this!
In almost 45 years working in college admissions and college and school counseling, I’ve gotten a view of a variety of activities and accomplishments of my students, and, all other things being nearly equal, which correlated with positive or negative admissions decisions.
Yard work, babysitting, or an after-school job are just as appealing to college admissions staff as the manufactured activities that kids do that might keep them from doing chores. The unhealthy viewpoint expressed in the quote above prevents us from asking things of our children that are necessary for character development. “Getting into college” is not an activity, and most of the things that kids do to impress colleges do exactly the opposite.
In many communities and households, chores are an expected part of growing up. And those as ancient as me know that it was just expected that we mow the lawn, shovel the snow, and clean our rooms. I cooked meals and cleaned the house when my mother went back to college. Do I expect kids to cook meals and clean their houses for their families? No, but they can help out with these things, and perhaps learn some valuable life skills.
Yes, it is more competitive to get into ultra-competitive colleges, but that means that students should adjust their expectations, not dedicate their lives to what they perceive is demanded by college admissions. Parents, if you want to help your children get into college, pay attention to whatever seems to motivate your child, spark their interest and creativity and feed their soul. Support your child in finding their passion.
Here is the “Secret of College Admissions,” in reference to activities and essays: It’s all about who the student is, not what they do, accomplish or earn. The purpose of the activities and essay sections of college applications is to illuminate the applicant. Admissions officers are not impressed by students writing about or promoting anything that money can buy. Manufactured activities and over-scheduled kids are not appealing either. Colleges look for authenticity and genuine, demonstrated passion. You can do this as much by working at a 7-Eleven as taking a philosophy course at an Ivy League summer program.
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