In a system that rewards perfection, honesty can feel like a disadvantage. On the Common Application, there is a section where students are expected to fill up to 10 slots with their extracurricular activities. Now, following a student’s thought process, how does one fill this list? Maybe they can start with home responsibilities… but now there is a new section for family obligations, so that is a no-go. Perhaps the list could begin with a hobby, a job and a sport. Okay, that is three slots filled. Ah-ha! There is a chance a student may have had an internship, and that is another slot filled. Well, according to American Student Assistant, only 2% of high school students actually complete an internship. Realistically, most high school students could not manage 10 extracurriculars that are rigorous, impactful and true commitments.
So where does this leave most students? At WCHS the pressure to impress has manifested in over-achieving at fantastical levels. Students develop mindsets where they believe they should be winning academic competitions, getting Division One orchestra adjudication scores, playing a sport, having a passion project and getting featured in the school art show. Of course, a student who is motivated enough to accomplish all this is worth applauding. But when unrealistic standards become normalized, something else quietly becomes normalized too: exaggeration.
Hyperbole in a resume is not an unheard of concept, whether it be inflating job titles, accomplishments or misrepresenting the level of a skill. A few volunteer hours can easily become a “long-term community initiative.” This logic can feel harmless, because if everyone else is stretching the truth then joining the trend is a matter of survival. But when some students inflate themselves, the pressure on others intensifies and the cycle perpetuates itself.
Many students may justify embellishment because they believe colleges are expecting extraordinary results. The plain truth is that college applications are competitive. Beyond a student’s community, factors like social media amplifying peers’ achievements cannot be helping students healthily manage comparison culture. A student’s intention may not necessarily be malicious deception, but instead stem from a fear of being left behind and missing out on opportunities. After all, college is not just about a quality education, but social mobility and career prospects.
However, dishonesty, even removing the implication on an individual’s character, has real life consequences. Colleges do verify major claims made in applications, and rescinding admission is not just an urban legend. At WCHS, students have had their admission to universities rescinded or applications investigated due to fabrication. But perhaps the real issue is not that students must fill 10 slots, but that they believe they must all be filled with something extraordinary.
And this issue is starting to be addressed. Colleges have started to emphasize to applicants the importance of depth over breadth. Authenticity should always be prized over performance, even if it is quiet and unglamorous. Long-term commitment or genuine passion for an activity will outweigh many shallow commitments both in a student’s own life and to institutions of higher education.
If there is a constant equivalency made between a student’s worth and an overloaded activity list, then it cannot be a surprise that students are bending themselves to fit in that mold. If success can be redefined as seeking balance and fulfillment instead of questing for as many achievements as humanly possible, perhaps students will be prepared to live meaningfully beyond high school instead of seeking hollow accolades.
In this case, choosing to opt out of the system may be most advantageous for students. Electing to preserve one’s character, finding pride in one’s own achievements and recognising that pressure does not equal a sufficient motive for lying are a recipe for a fulfilled adult life. Students deserve opportunities. Students deserve to dream big. However, they also deserve to enter their next chapter of life without the shackles of impossible expectations.
