It’s that time of the year again! Seniors across the nation begin to receive acceptance letters from colleges, and with that comes Instagram feeds flooding with stories of college acceptances and friends congratulating one another. Whether you love it or hate it, care or not, this will be the norm for the next few months. 

It has become a trend over the past years to post an Instagram story with a picture of your friend and the college he or she has been accepted or have committed to. These posts are fun and a nice way to congratulate one another, but can be a recipe for comparison and disappointment to those who are not getting posted. 

Social media has become a space to brag about belongings, accomplishments and now post-high school plans. Although it is inevitable to compare yourself to others especially in such transitional periods of life, it’s important to not fall victim to jealousy or regret when seeing your peers acceptances.

It is important to celebrate your friends and peers for their hard work and accomplishments, but social media does not have to be the only way to do this. An in-person congratulation goes further than posting an Instagram story that will only be up for 24 hours. These posts are almost expected now as public celebrations are the new norm and to some teens, it is partially how they decide what college to attend. 

“It is hard to admit but after seeing the seniors last year post their friends prestigious acceptances to colleges, while applying to schools I would think about how it would look to other people if I got in there. It’s crazy that while thinking about my future I was also considering what judgment or praise other people would give me. The Instagram stories are beginning and I find myself getting anxious every time I see someone get into a school that’s a ‘reach’ for me. Staying off of social media will help me focus on myself and whatever path I choose to go down,” said senior Alfonsina Santucho. 

It’s important to be supportive of your friends and the places they will end up at. Posting for your friend on social media is a nice gesture, but should be the least important thing during such a special and memorable time in a teenager’s life. The college admission process is stressful enough as it is, so do not get caught up in comparison or the opinion of others. When choosing a school, ask yourself, “Do I want to go, or do I want people to know I go to this school?”