Walking down the hall of a local Chinese Christian high school, I ran into a student who really didn’t want the attention. The student faked a smile and apologetically offered, “I didn’t get in…”
With this clearly discouraged senior, I in my most upbeat tone asked where he was going next year.
“Cal…as he faked another smile.
The University of California, Berkeley, aka Cal, is considered to be the most prestigious public school in this country; so many receive a fabulous undergraduate education there. I met this student earlier when I interviewed him for the Admissions Office of the private University of Pennsylvania. This student was dejected because he didn’t get accepted at Penn.
Students and their parents sometimes are intent on getting into the best college possible, and the stress from countless hours of effort takes its toll as the scholar Solomon noted: “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body” (
From my survey of mainly Asian high school students, 87 percent reported either stress or high stress resulting from the college application process; this stress applies to all grades and genders. As a pastor, I see this stress in students who are not just drowsy from dragging themselves to church in the morning, but too many also carry serious academic expectations.
As an interviewer for college, I see this stress in students who recite seemingly rehearsed sound bites concerning leadership and civic involvement. As an interviewer, I’m looking for young men and women who can contribute to the collegiate community; as a pastor I’m looking for young men and women who are interested in growing closer to Christ and to others.
The quest for college admissions can inhibit spiritual growth by taking priority; paradoxically, such earnestness does not impress in an interview as I wouldn’t want to be the freshman roommate of a student whose only goal in life is to get into a certain college. We who minister in this stress of college applications have the truth of the gospel that is greater assurance than taking the SAT five times.
Some youth pastors recognize stress in motivated academic students but feel powerless to minister there. This stress in high school students bleeds over to their parents who often struggle with this college application process, too.
For me and many, the most exciting year of life is freshman year at college; college admissions is significant and stressful, but Harvard is not as big as God. Getting into Harvard is not as fulfilling as living the abundant life promised us in Christ. God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
For many, we tend to dwell too much on rejections and fail to rejoice in the accomplishments and graces we do receive. Ask your students if the Lord has been faithful. Ask if they believe
Those who remember the Lord’s faithfulness grow closer to Christ in the midst of the stress of college applications. Those who worry less tend to do better in college admissions interviews as those people are more personable and able to grow closer to others. Life is found not in envelopes of college acceptances but in knowing all our needs are met in Christ.
