<p>I'm a freshman at a pretty difficult magnet school and practically everyone in my school stresses over grades, some even end up not sleeping for days. I used to be one of those people too until I realized that I don't really need to make myself unhappy. Yes, obviously, grades are important but I think everyone needs to stop freaking out about forming their life around getting accepted into a prestigious college. Maybe we should just all do the best we can, while shaping our character and finding our passions. I think that high school is more of a time to start thinking about who you are and what you really love to do, not staying up until 4 AM studying for a chemistry test. I'm just going to try and do the best I can while still making time for the things I actually love to do, not just meaningless extracurriculars for the sole purpose of taking up space on an application. I know that I'm motivated to learn and no matter what college I go to I can make opportunities happen, even though I might not end up in an Ivy League school. But I want to know what you guys think. Should high schoolers form their lives around getting accepted to a prestigious college, even if that means sacrificing their childhood and what they really love?</p>
<p>Yes. Ten Char</p>
<p>Going to ivy league schools is pointless and overrated.</p>
<p>@TeenDream</p>
<p>Pointless? No. Overrated? Yes.</p>
<p>of course you’re right. this is why I think our system in Australia, where college admissions is only dependent on year 12 exams, though flawed, is also far less contrived and allows teenagers to actually be teenagers</p>
<p>Stressing is bad. Staying up late studying and trying hard in school isn’t. Some people are self-actualized through academic success. Others are self-actualized by doing things they love.</p>
<p>everyone is self actualized by things they love, that just might happen to be academics</p>
<p>Yes but you can also be self-actualized by things you don’t love. Point being you can be self-actualized by your success in school even if you don’t necessarily like school.</p>
<p>Yes I definitely agree with Swim18, Ivy League schools aren’t pointless but they definitely are overrated. Sometimes I feel that kids think that if they go to an Ivy League school, jobs and other opportunities will just fall right into their laps. I think that high schoolers need to focus less on the name recognition and more on a school that is the right social and academic fit for them. I still want to get into a school that is great and will further me both academically and socially, but I just feel that the right place for me is not an Ivy League.</p>
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<p>No they should not, no more than grown ups should work a job they hate for a high salary or marry someone they don’t love for their looks or money. But plenty will.</p>
<p>i definitely disagree with that @ pancaked. If school isn’t your thing you should something else you love and put your energy into that</p>