By Charlotte Levy
Editor-in-Chief
In the past, information about peers’ college decisions were spread by word of mouth or displayed on the end-of-year college map. Today, students are notified of these announcements via the Class of 2025 Instagram account (@costadecisions25).
Through this student-run Instagram page, seniors are able to submit a childhood photo of themselves along with their declared university and intended academic focus. This tradition started a few years ago and has become very popular, with last year’s page displaying the post-high school plans of 353 members of the senior class. This platform allows for students to support and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers by reposting their college profiles and commenting on their posts.
However, students who do not receive as much attention on their posts may feel discouraged or embarrassed. Additionally, being able to see college decisions instantaneously can produce a competitive environment and upset students who are disappointed with their college results or alienate students who are not pursuing a traditional four-year academic plan. This account has the potential to uplift the hard work of our student body, but it must be used as a positive tool rather than a site of comparison and conflict.
Similar Instagram accounts are created for specific colleges. These accounts are filled with photos of future students planning to attend the same university with blurbs about their interests, goals, and background. Instead of receiving a randomized roommate, future students can connect with others by scrolling through the profiles and finding people they connect with. This helps ease the anxiety that comes with the stressful college transition, as plenty of students will already be familiar with their roommates. Even if students are unable to room together, they can still use the Instagram page to reach out to people and make friendships ahead of time.
The ability to communicate with roommates prior to move-in day is also a major benefit for room arrangement. Together, students can discuss their dorm layout, which can help save money by splitting the costs of what while preventing conflicts over differing design visions. Therefore, regardless of whether or not one actually becomes friends with their roommate, they are able to plan their living space beforehand to eliminate at least some stress.
This not only relieves students of their worries surrounding a randomized roommate, but also prepares them for the future. Going through the process of reaching out to people, screening applicants, and collaborating to organize housing serves as practice for future living situations where students may search online for roommates. Although later in life students may use other, more formal online platforms, being able to take initiative and socialize will translate in all of their endeavors.
The increasingly digitized realm of college announcements and planning can ultimately streamline the college transition process when used correctly. It is key for students to foster a welcoming environment on social media rather than contribute to a popularity contest.
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