Continuing education beyond high school is a significant investment of time and money. What do you aim to achieve through this journey? Whether it’s gaining specialized knowledge, expanding career opportunities, or growing personally, identifying your goals helps to make the most of this commitment.
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Navigating College Expectations: A Look at Pre-Professional Pressure
Isabella Glassman, a 2023 graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, shared her college experience in a thought-provoking essay. She highlighted the disconnect between her pre-college expectations—carefree nights, picnics, and whimsical activities—and the reality of intense pressures. One memorable moment she recounts is hiding in a library bathroom, overwhelmed after being rejected by an undergraduate law journal. Her essay shines a light on how “pre-professional pressure” is reshaping the college experience, often at the expense of mental health and personal exploration.
This culture pushes students toward career paths in fields like finance, consulting, and tech, often seen as the only routes to success. Glassman illustrates this through startling examples: hyper-competitive club admissions, resume-boosting extracurriculars, and a pervasive anxiety about LinkedIn profiles. At selective universities, such pressures have become a defining aspect of student life, much like the traditions of tailgating or navigating dining hall food.
This phenomenon is reflected in academic trends. In 2022-23, over 112,000 students majored in computer science, a figure that has more than doubled in the last decade. Simultaneously, degrees in business continue to surge, while humanities majors experience a steep decline. Glassman critiques the notion that only careers in these high-demand fields can secure worthwhile futures, emphasizing the negative impact this mindset has on well-rounded education and mental well-being.
What Does College Mean to You?
Glassman’s essay invites students to reflect on their own college aspirations. What do you envision for your experience? Is it focused on landing a secure, high-paying job, exploring academic interests, or embracing personal growth? How do these priorities align—or clash—with family expectations or societal norms?
She also proposes solutions to alleviate this pressure. Universities should revise recruitment systems to prevent firms from demanding early commitments, and parents should focus on their children’s happiness rather than pushing them toward lucrative careers. Success, Glassman argues, should be redefined to include balance, mental health, and fulfillment.
The Bigger Picture: Humanities vs. Careerism
The declining interest in humanities underscores a critical debate about the purpose of higher education. Should college focus solely on preparing students for lucrative careers, or should it cultivate a broader intellectual foundation by fostering critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness? Pre-professional fields, while offering economic security, may overshadow the humanities’ role in shaping socially aware and well-rounded individuals. This imbalance risks narrowing students’ worldviews and limiting their capacity for innovation. Revitalizing interest in the humanities could promote a richer, more inclusive academic landscape, ensuring education remains a platform for personal growth and societal progress alongside career advancement.
Your Thoughts Matter
If you plan to attend college, what do you hope to gain? Are you drawn to the growing fields of business and STEM, or do you value the perspectives offered by the humanities? Do you relate to the pressures Glassman describes, and are you concerned about how they might shape your future?
This conversation is vital for reimagining the college experience. It’s an opportunity to balance ambition with authenticity, ensuring that students not only succeed professionally but also thrive personally.
